Availability Rules
Availability rules control when customers can book appointments. Configure your working hours, buffer times, and booking limits to match your business operations.
Working Hours
Set the days and times you are available for appointments. Bookora uses these hours together with your calendar availability to determine bookable slots.
| Day | Available | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Yes | 9:00 AM — 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | Yes | 9:00 AM — 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | Yes | 9:00 AM — 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | Yes | 9:00 AM — 5:00 PM |
| Friday | Yes | 9:00 AM — 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | Yes | 10:00 AM — 2:00 PM |
| Sunday | No | — |
Buffers
Buffer times create gaps between appointments to give you breathing room. This is useful for:
- Preparation time — Time to review notes or prepare materials before an appointment
- Cleanup time — Time to clean up after in-person appointments
- Travel time — Time to move between locations if you offer mobile services
- Overrun protection — Prevents appointments from being scheduled back-to-back
Example buffer configuration:
Buffer before appointment: 10 minutes
Buffer after appointment: 15 minutes
Maximum Bookings
Set limits on how many appointments can be booked to prevent overload:
Daily Limit
Maximum number of appointments per day. Once the limit is reached, no more bookings are accepted for that day.
Concurrent Limit
Maximum number of appointments at the same time (useful for group sessions or multi-staff businesses).
Advance Notice
Minimum time before an appointment can be booked (e.g., customers must book at least 2 hours in advance).
Advance Booking Window
How far in advance customers can book (e.g., up to 30 days ahead).
Special Dates
Manage holidays and special dates easily:
- Block specific dates — Mark dates as unavailable (holidays, vacations)
- Override hours — Set different hours for specific dates
- Recurring blocks — Block recurring time slots (e.g., lunch break)
Best Practice
Start with generous availability and tighten as needed. Monitor your booking patterns to find the optimal balance between availability and workload.