Set realistic service duration and booking buffers

A calendar with every gap available is not necessarily a good calendar. A 45-minute service may also require greeting, payment, notes, and preparation for the next customer. If those minutes are invisible, the whole day drifts late.

Measure the complete appointment

Time several real sessions from arrival until the space or worker is ready for the next person. Record the core service separately from setup, cleanup, and follow-up. Look at busy days and unusually long sessions, not only the average. For a new service, start with a cautious duration and revise it after a few weeks of real use.

Match buffers to the service

A remote consultation may need only a few minutes for notes. An in-person service may need room preparation. Set buffers by service and by the resources involved. If two workers share one room or tool, model that shared capacity so the system cannot promise it twice.

Review the pattern

After two weeks, count late starts and identify where the schedule first slips. Adjust the specific service that creates the delay instead of blocking the whole calendar. See our capacity guide for keeping published hours and availability aligned.