# Workflow Trigger - Scheduler

> Run time‑based, contactless automations in GHL Customer Care. Schedule hourly/daily/weekly/monthly, preview next runs, skip weekends, and integrate via webhooks & apps.

- Source: https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/workflows/workflow-triggers/workflow-trigger-scheduler
- Section: Workflows / Workflow Triggers
- Reading time: 4 min
- Images: 9, each explained below

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Run automations on a precise clock with the **Workflow Scheduler Trigger** in GHL Customer Care. This contactless, time‑based trigger is ideal for operations, data hygiene, reporting, and integrations that don’t require a contact. This article shows how to use the scheduler trigger.

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**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

-   [What is the Workflow Scheduler Trigger?](#what-is-the-workflow-scheduler-trigger)[](#key-benefits-of-the-workflow-scheduler-trigger)
-   [Key Benefits of the Workflow Scheduler Trigger](#key-benefits-of-the-workflow-scheduler-trigger)[](#advanced-cron-scheduling)
-   [Advanced (Cron) Scheduling](#advanced-cron-scheduling)[](#skip-weekends-and-stop-on)
-   [Skip Weekends & Stop On](#skip-weekends-and-stop-on)[](#contactless-actions-and-skip-behavior)
-   [Contactless Actions & Skip Behavior](#contactless-actions-and-skip-behavior)[](#how-to-use-the-workflow-scheduler-trigger)
-   [How to Use the Workflow Scheduler Trigger](#how-to-use-the-workflow-scheduler-trigger)[](#example-use-cases)
-   [Example Use Cases](#example-use-cases)[](#frequently-asked-questions)
-   [Frequently Asked Questions](#frequently-asked-questions)[](#related-articles)
-   [Related Articles](#related-articles)

---

# **What is the Workflow Scheduler Trigger?**

The Workflow Scheduler Trigger is a native, **contactless** trigger that starts a workflow on a schedule you define—no contact enrollment required. It’s purpose‑built for recurring jobs like daily summaries, weekly performance posts, spreadsheet syncs, and web-hook pings. All run times follow your **account timezone**, with clear status indicators so you always know it’s working.

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## **Key Benefits of the Workflow Scheduler Trigger**

This section explains how Scheduler improves reliability and design simplicity for time‑driven automations while reducing maintenance costs compared to workarounds.

-   **Clock‑based automation**: Start workflows exactly when you need—hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, on a specific date/time, or via cron.
    
-   **Contactless by design**: Run ops tasks without enrolling contacts. Contact‑only actions are automatically skipped to avoid failures.
    
-   **Timezone aware**: Schedules run according to your **account timezone** to keep reporting and operations consistent.
    
-   **Built‑in safeguards**: **Skip Weekends** and **Stop On** (end date) help ensure compliance with business rules.
    
-   **Safe to publish**: Use **Check Trigger Schedule** to preview the next five executions before you go live.
    
-   **Integrations ready**: Pair with actions like **Webhook (Outbound)**, **Google Sheets**, **Airtable**, **Slack**, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, and task creation for powerful ops automations.
    

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## **Advanced (Cron) Scheduling**

When presets aren’t enough, use cron to describe complex cadences (lists, ranges, and step values).

-   **Syntax:** Standard cron format: \*minute \*hour \*day \*month \*weekday.  
     
    
-   **Examples:**  
     
    
    -   '0 9 \* \* 1' (Mondays at 9 AM),  
         
        
    -   '30 14 1 \* \*' (1st of month at 2:30 PM),  
         
        
    -   '0 \*/2 \* \* \*' (every 2 hours).
        

**Note:** Expressions that run more than once per hour are not allowed.

![Advanced (Cron) Scheduling (image 1 of 9)](https://jumpshare.com/share/dtCaWDBidQX9ADYTmpAO+/Screen+Shot+2025-11-03+at+7.45.45+PM.png)

**Advanced (Cron) Scheduling (image 1 of 9)**

This screenshot appears in the "Advanced (Cron) Scheduling" section of "Workflow Trigger - Scheduler". The text alongside this image reads: Note: Expressions that run more than once per hour are not allowed. This part of the guide covers 1 field, listed below. Immediately after, the guide continues: Guardrails help you respect business calendars and project timelines. Use Skip Weekends to automatically avoid Saturday/Sunday, and Stop On to end the schedule on a specific date/time.
- What this covers: Note: Expressions that run more than once per hour are not allowed.
- Fields: Examples:
- Next: Guardrails help you respect business calendars and project timelines. Use Skip Weekends to automatically avoid Saturday/Sunday, and Stop On to end the schedule on a specific date/time.

Full procedure:

1. Syntax: Standard cron format: *minute *hour *day *month *weekday.
2. Examples:

---

## **Skip Weekends & Stop On**

Guardrails help you respect business calendars and project timelines. Use **Skip Weekends** to automatically avoid Saturday/Sunday, and **Stop On** to end the schedule on a specific date/time.

-   **Skip Weekends:** Removes Saturday/Sunday occurrences from applicable schedules (Daily, Weekly, Every N days, Cron patterns that include weekends).
    
-   **Stop On:** Sets a final date/time after which **future** executions stop.
    
-   Works with Preview: both options are reflected in the next five executions list.
    

![Skip Weekends & Stop On (image 2 of 9)](https://jumpshare.com/share/3P59YuigwE5AvXXmy8nH+/Screen+Shot+2025-11-03+at+7.59.13+PM.png)

**Skip Weekends & Stop On (image 2 of 9)**

This screenshot appears in the "Skip Weekends & Stop On" section of "Workflow Trigger - Scheduler". The text alongside this image reads: Skip Weekends: Removes Saturday/Sunday occurrences from applicable schedules (Daily, Weekly, Every N days, Cron patterns that include weekends). Stop On: Sets a final date/time after which future executions stop. Works with Preview: both options are reflected in the next five executions list. Immediately after, the guide continues: Scheduler is meant for contactless operations. Steps that require a contact context won’t run; the workflow continues to the next supported step.
- What this covers: Skip Weekends: Removes Saturday/Sunday occurrences from applicable schedules (Daily, Weekly, Every N days, Cron patterns that include weekends). Stop On: Sets a final date/time after which future executions stop. Works with Preview: both options are reflected in the next five executions list.
- Controls: Skip Weekends, Stop On, future
- Next: Scheduler is meant for contactless operations. Steps that require a contact context won’t run; the workflow continues to the next supported step.

Full procedure:

1. Skip Weekends: Removes Saturday/Sunday occurrences from applicable schedules (Daily, Weekly, Every N days, Cron patterns that include weekends).
2. Stop On: Sets a final date/time after which future executions stop.
3. Works with Preview: both options are reflected in the next five executions list.

---

## **Contactless Actions & Skip Behavior**

Scheduler is meant for **contactless** operations. Steps that require a contact context won’t run; the workflow continues to the next supported step.

-   **Good fits:** Web-hook (Outbound), Custom Web-hook, Google Sheets, Airtable, Slack, Internal Email/SMS to teammates, Update/Set Custom Values, Create Task.
    
-   **Skipped in contactless runs:** Any step that explicitly needs a contact (for example, “Send SMS to Contact”).
    
-   **Result:** Skipped steps are noted in Execution Logs; downstream steps continue if they don’t require contact data.
    

---

## **How to Use the Workflow Scheduler Trigger**

Follow this guided setup to create a schedule, validate run times, and publish confidently.

1.  Go to **Automations → Workflows**.
    
    
![Step 1 of 9: Go to Automations → Workflows](https://jumpshare.com/share/aCwPpZIWNmZRBUleXbyf+/Screen+Shot+2025-11-03+at+7.27.32+PM.png)

**Step 1 of 9: Go to Automations → Workflows**

This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 9 in the "How to Use the Workflow Scheduler Trigger" section of "Workflow Trigger - Scheduler". At this point in the walkthrough you go to Automations → Workflows. For context, this section explains: Follow this guided setup to create a schedule, validate run times, and publish confidently. This part of the guide covers 6 fields, listed below. The next step is to create a new workflow or open an existing one.
- Where to go: Go to Automations → Workflows.
- Fields: Daily (one or more times in a day), Weekly (select days of week + time), Monthly (choose day 1–31 or Last + time), Every N days (e.g., every 2 days at 9:00 AM), One‑off date/time (run once), Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules
- Controls: Automations → Workflows, Add Trigger, Scheduler, Choose an interval type, Custom, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Last, Every N days, One‑off date/time, Advanced (cron‑style)
- Next: Create a new workflow or open an existing one.

Full procedure:

1. Go to Automations → Workflows.  <- this image
2. Create a new workflow or open an existing one.
3. Add Trigger → choose Scheduler.
4. Choose an interval type:
5. Set the time(s) for the selected interval.
6. Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional)
7. Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).
8. Add actions suited for contactless runs (e.g., Web-hook (Outbound), Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, Create Task).
9. Publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured times from now on.

    
2.  Create a new workflow or open an existing one.
    
3.  **Add Trigger** → choose **Scheduler**.
    
    
![Step 3 of 9: Add Trigger → choose Scheduler](https://jumpshare.com/share/Fyff2cTSkGcvObowiKSY+/GIF+Recording+2025-11-03+at+7.30.34+PM.gif)

**Step 3 of 9: Add Trigger → choose Scheduler**

This animation accompanies step 3 of 9 in the "How to Use the Workflow Scheduler Trigger" section of "Workflow Trigger - Scheduler". At this point in the walkthrough you add Trigger → choose Scheduler. For context, this section explains: Follow this guided setup to create a schedule, validate run times, and publish confidently. This part of the guide covers 6 fields, listed below. The next step is to choose an interval type.
- What to choose: Add Trigger → choose Scheduler.
- Fields: Daily (one or more times in a day), Weekly (select days of week + time), Monthly (choose day 1–31 or Last + time), Every N days (e.g., every 2 days at 9:00 AM), One‑off date/time (run once), Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules
- Controls: Add Trigger, Scheduler, Automations → Workflows, Choose an interval type, Custom, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Last, Every N days, One‑off date/time, Advanced (cron‑style)
- Next: Choose an interval type:

Full procedure:

1. Go to Automations → Workflows.
2. Create a new workflow or open an existing one.
3. Add Trigger → choose Scheduler.  <- this image
4. Choose an interval type:
5. Set the time(s) for the selected interval.
6. Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional)
7. Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).
8. Add actions suited for contactless runs (e.g., Web-hook (Outbound), Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, Create Task).
9. Publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured times from now on.

    
4.  **Choose an interval type**:
    
    -   **Custom** (Nth weekday like 2nd Friday / 4th Monday; supports multiple times)
        
    -   **Daily** (one or more times in a day)
        
    -   **Weekly** (select days of week + time)
        
    -   **Monthly** (choose day 1–31 or **Last** + time)
        
    -   **Every N days** (e.g., every 2 days at 9:00 AM)
        
    -   **One‑off date/time** (run once)
        
    -   **Advanced (cron‑style)** for complex schedules
        
        
![Step 7 of 7: Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules](https://jumpshare.com/share/Fo6XxkheAMXDd2Ssem6X+/Screen+Shot+2025-11-03+at+7.52.07+PM.png)

**Step 7 of 7: Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules**

This screenshot accompanies step 7 of 7 in the "How to Use the Workflow Scheduler Trigger" section of "Workflow Trigger - Scheduler". At this point in the walkthrough you advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules. This part of the guide covers 6 fields, listed below.
- What this covers: Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules
- Fields: Daily (one or more times in a day), Weekly (select days of week + time), Monthly (choose day 1–31 or Last + time), Every N days (e.g., every 2 days at 9:00 AM), One‑off date/time (run once), Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules
- Controls: Advanced (cron‑style), Automations → Workflows, Add Trigger, Scheduler, Choose an interval type, Custom, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Last, Every N days, One‑off date/time

Full procedure:

1. Custom (Nth weekday like 2nd Friday / 4th Monday; supports multiple times)
2. Daily (one or more times in a day)
3. Weekly (select days of week + time)
4. Monthly (choose day 1–31 or Last + time)
5. Every N days (e.g., every 2 days at 9:00 AM)
6. One‑off date/time (run once)
7. Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules  <- this image

        
5.  **Set the time(s)** for the selected interval.
    
    
![Step 5 of 9: Set the time(s) for the selected interval](https://jumpshare.com/share/pVBiIvA6UgKBZ6Z8alho+/GIF+Recording+2025-11-03+at+7.56.00+PM.gif)

**Step 5 of 9: Set the time(s) for the selected interval**

This animation accompanies step 5 of 9 in the "How to Use the Workflow Scheduler Trigger" section of "Workflow Trigger - Scheduler". At this point in the walkthrough you set the time(s) for the selected interval. This part of the guide covers 6 fields, listed below. The next step is to click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional).
- What this covers: Set the time(s) for the selected interval.
- Fields: Daily (one or more times in a day), Weekly (select days of week + time), Monthly (choose day 1–31 or Last + time), Every N days (e.g., every 2 days at 9:00 AM), One‑off date/time (run once), Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules
- Controls: Set the time(s), Automations → Workflows, Add Trigger, Scheduler, Choose an interval type, Custom, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Last, Every N days, One‑off date/time
- Next: Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional)

Full procedure:

1. Go to Automations → Workflows.
2. Create a new workflow or open an existing one.
3. Add Trigger → choose Scheduler.
4. Choose an interval type:
5. Set the time(s) for the selected interval.  <- this image
6. Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional)
7. Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).
8. Add actions suited for contactless runs (e.g., Web-hook (Outbound), Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, Create Task).
9. Publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured times from now on.

    
6.  Click on **Advanced Settings**: toggle **Skip Weekends** and set **Stop On** if you need an end date. (Optional) 
    
    
![Step 6 of 9: Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if…](https://jumpshare.com/share/3P59YuigwE5AvXXmy8nH+/Screen+Shot+2025-11-03+at+7.59.13+PM.png)

**Step 6 of 9: Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if…**

This screenshot accompanies step 6 of 9 in the "How to Use the Workflow Scheduler Trigger" section of "Workflow Trigger - Scheduler". At this point in the walkthrough you click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional). This part of the guide covers 6 fields, listed below. The next step is to preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).
- What to choose: Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional)
- Fields: Daily (one or more times in a day), Weekly (select days of week + time), Monthly (choose day 1–31 or Last + time), Every N days (e.g., every 2 days at 9:00 AM), One‑off date/time (run once), Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules
- Controls: Advanced Settings, Skip Weekends, Stop On, Automations → Workflows, Add Trigger, Scheduler, Choose an interval type, Custom, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Last
- Next: Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).

Full procedure:

1. Go to Automations → Workflows.
2. Create a new workflow or open an existing one.
3. Add Trigger → choose Scheduler.
4. Choose an interval type:
5. Set the time(s) for the selected interval.
6. Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional)  <- this image
7. Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).
8. Add actions suited for contactless runs (e.g., Web-hook (Outbound), Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, Create Task).
9. Publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured times from now on.

    
7.  **Preview** the next run times using **Check Trigger Schedule** to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).
    
    
![Step 7 of 9: Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm…](https://jumpshare.com/share/c1hKVeEQwUVrdmiomDN0+/Screen+Shot+2025-11-03+at+8.02.10+PM.png)

**Step 7 of 9: Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm…**

This screenshot accompanies step 7 of 9 in the "How to Use the Workflow Scheduler Trigger" section of "Workflow Trigger - Scheduler". At this point in the walkthrough you preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions). This part of the guide covers 6 fields, listed below. The next step is to add actions suited for contactless runs (e.g., Web-hook (Outbound), Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, Create Task).
- How to confirm: Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).
- Fields: Daily (one or more times in a day), Weekly (select days of week + time), Monthly (choose day 1–31 or Last + time), Every N days (e.g., every 2 days at 9:00 AM), One‑off date/time (run once), Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules
- Controls: Preview, Check Trigger Schedule, Automations → Workflows, Add Trigger, Scheduler, Choose an interval type, Custom, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Last, Every N days
- Next: Add actions suited for contactless runs (e.g., Web-hook (Outbound), Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, Create Task).

Full procedure:

1. Go to Automations → Workflows.
2. Create a new workflow or open an existing one.
3. Add Trigger → choose Scheduler.
4. Choose an interval type:
5. Set the time(s) for the selected interval.
6. Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional)
7. Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).  <- this image
8. Add actions suited for contactless runs (e.g., Web-hook (Outbound), Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, Create Task).
9. Publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured times from now on.

    
8.  **Add actions** suited for contactless runs (e.g., **Web-hook (Outbound)**, **Slack**, **Google Sheets**, **Airtable**, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, Create Task).
    
9.  **Publish** the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured times from now on.
    
    
![Step 9 of 9: Publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured…](https://jumpshare.com/share/PR0Wb16QDQLrlfNbR6gu+/Screen+Shot+2025-11-03+at+8.05.45+PM.png)

**Step 9 of 9: Publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured…**

This screenshot accompanies step 9 of 9 in the "How to Use the Workflow Scheduler Trigger" section of "Workflow Trigger - Scheduler". At this point in the walkthrough you publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured times from now on. This part of the guide covers 6 fields, listed below.
- How to confirm: Publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured times from now on.
- Fields: Daily (one or more times in a day), Weekly (select days of week + time), Monthly (choose day 1–31 or Last + time), Every N days (e.g., every 2 days at 9:00 AM), One‑off date/time (run once), Advanced (cron‑style) for complex schedules
- Controls: Publish, Automations → Workflows, Add Trigger, Scheduler, Choose an interval type, Custom, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Last, Every N days, One‑off date/time

Full procedure:

1. Go to Automations → Workflows.
2. Create a new workflow or open an existing one.
3. Add Trigger → choose Scheduler.
4. Choose an interval type:
5. Set the time(s) for the selected interval.
6. Click on Advanced Settings: toggle Skip Weekends and set Stop On if you need an end date. (Optional)
7. Preview the next run times using Check Trigger Schedule to confirm cadence (shows the next five executions).
8. Add actions suited for contactless runs (e.g., Web-hook (Outbound), Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, internal email/SMS to teammates, Custom Values, Create Task).
9. Publish the workflow. Scheduler will start running at the configured times from now on.  <- this image

    

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## **Example Use Cases**

-   **Sheet Refresh:** Update Airtable records every 4 hours via the Airtable integration.
-   **Routine Reports:** Send daily summaries or weekly performance emails/Slack posts.
-   **Timed Reminders:** Schedule follow-ups every morning at 8 AM.
-   **Ops Jobs:** Nightly data hygiene, syncs to Google Sheets/Asana/Slack, webhook pings.

---

## **Frequently Asked Questions**

**Q. Is Scheduler contactless?**

Yes. It does not enroll contacts. Steps that require a contact are skipped; the run continues to the next supported step.

**Q. Does Scheduler backfill missed executions?**

No. Scheduler triggers on upcoming times while the workflow is **Published**. Past occurrences are not executed retroactively.

**Q. Can I schedule multiple times in a single day?**

Yes. Daily and Custom options support multiple times.

**Q. How does “Skip Weekends” work?**

Saturday/Sunday occurrences are automatically removed from the schedule. Preview reflects this immediately.

**Q. What does “Stop On” do?**

It sets a final date/time after which future scheduled runs will stop.

**Q. What actions work best with Scheduler?**

Contactless actions such as **Web-hook (Outbound)**, **Google Sheets**, **Airtable**, **Slack**, internal notifications, Custom Values, and task creation.

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## **Related Articles**

-   [Getting Started with Workflows](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/workflows/workflow-builder/getting-started-with-workflows)
-   [Workflow Trigger - Survey Submitted](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/workflows/forms-and-surveys-workflow-triggers/workflow-trigger-survey-submitted)
    
-   [Workflow Trigger - Customer Replied](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/workflows/events-workflow-triggers/workflow-trigger-customer-replied)
    
-   [Workflow Trigger - Invoice](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/workflows/payments-workflow-triggers/workflow-trigger-invoice)
    
-   [Workflow Trigger - Trigger Link Clicked](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/workflows/contact-workflow-triggers/workflow-trigger-trigger-link-clicked)

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Documentation for GHL Customer Care. Support: support@ghlcustomercare.com