How to change booking cut-off time, allowable cancellation time and booking time frame

How to change booking cut-off time, allowable cancellation time and booking time frame

These settings let you create rules that control when customers can book or cancel online.

By adjusting the booking cut-off time, allowable cancellation time and booking time frame, you ensure your booking system works automatically to manage availability and reduce last-minute changes. This helps your calendar stay organised and your business run smoothly.

1️⃣ Open the Booking Preferences for your service

  • Go to Inventory > Services.

  • Click Edit on the service you want to update.

  • Select the Booking Preferences tab.


2️⃣ Adjust the booking cut-off time, allowable cancellation time and booking time frame

At the top of the Booking Preferences tab, you’ll find three key settings that control how your online bookings and cancellations work:

  • Cut-off Time
    Also called lead time, this is the minimum time before the service starts that customers can still make a booking.
    Example:
     • If set to none, customers can book right up to the start time—even a minute before.
     • If set to 24 hours, bookings must be made at least a day in advance.

     Setting a cut-off time helps prevent last-minute bookings that may disrupt your schedule.

  • Allowable Cancellation Time
    This sets how far in advance customers can change or cancel their bookings through the customer portal.
     • If no payment is associated with the booking, customers can only change or cancel before this time.
     • If payments are involved, this works alongside your cancellation refund policy, which you can set here: How to Activate Online Payments.

     This helps manage cancellations fairly and protects your revenue.

  • Booking Time Frame
    This controls how far ahead customers can book your service.
     • The default is 365 days, meaning customers can book up to a year in advance.
     • You can adjust this to suit your business, whether limiting bookings to a shorter period or allowing longer-term scheduling.

Enter the values that best suit your business and customer needs.




3️⃣ Save your changes

Scroll down and click Update to save your changes.


Troubleshooting & FAQs

Can I set different cut-off or cancellation times for specific staff or resources?

No, these settings apply at the service level and affect all staff and resources assigned to that service.
What happens if I set the cut-off time too short?

Customers may still be able to book very close to the service start time, which may lead to issues if you require enough notice time to prepare.
Can customers cancel after the allowable cancellation time?
The rules set in the Booking Preferences tab only apply to customer self-service via the online portal. They do not restrict changes or cancellations made by you through the Calendar. For last-minute changes or cancellations outside the allowable time, you may want to ask your customers to contact you directly.
 

Need Help?

If you need assistance, contact our support team:
💬 Live Chat: Click the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
📧 Email: support@nabooki.com


    • Related Articles

    • Can Customers Change or Cancel Their Bookings?

      Customers may be able to modify or cancel their bookings depending on your cancellation and rescheduling settings. ✅ You can configure these options in your service settings. ✅ Customers can only make or modify bookings within the allowed timeframe. ...

    • How to Create & Configure a Service

      A service in Nabooki represents the activities, classes, appointments, or experiences that customers can book. Whether you offer tours, fitness sessions, or professional appointments, this guide will help you set up your services and configure their ...

    • How to Offer a Service for a Limited Time Period Only

      Limiting the availability of a service is useful for: Seasonal offerings (e.g., winter tours, holiday promotions). One-time events or workshops (e.g., a photography masterclass or special retreat). Trial or promotional services (e.g., introductory ...

    • How to Create a Booking Timetable Using Sub-Services

      Sub-services allow businesses to offer multiple booking options that share a common schedule. This is particularly useful for group fitness classes, workshops, or activities where customers can choose different booking types, such as casual visits or ...

    • Booking Cancellation Settings

      Businesses have different policies regarding cancellation periods, booking lead time and how far into the future customers can add bookings. Nabooki makes setting these time limits very easy and uses them to prevent bookings being scheduled inside of ...