How Service Duration Controls Available Time Slots in the Scheduler
In the PhotoBiz Scheduler, the Service Duration setting determines how long each appointment lasts and how frequently available time slots appear for your clients.
WHAT IS SERVICE DURATION?
The Service Duration is the length of time your schedule will block off for each appointment.
For example:
- 15-minute service = 15-minute time blocks
- 60-minute service = 1-hour time blocks
- 180-minute service = 3-hour time blocks
HOW IT AFFECTS BOOKING TIMES
Whatever duration you set becomes the spacing for available appointment times.
Examples:
| Service Duration | Booking Times Shown |
|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 9:00, 9:15, 9:30, 9:45, etc. |
| 30 minutes | 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, etc. |
| 60 minutes | 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, etc. |
| 180 minutes | 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, etc. |
So if you set a 60-minute duration, your clients will see one-hour intervals between available appointments — not every 15 minutes.
HOW TO GET MORE FREQUENT TIME OPTIONS
If you want your clients to choose start times in smaller increments (like every 15 minutes), your Service Duration must match that spacing. For example:
- To show start times every 15 minutes, the service must be 15 minutes long
- A 30-minute service shows start times every 30 minutes
- A 90-minute service shows start times every 90 minutes
The system only offers one time slot per service duration window. It does not offer overlapping or staggered appointments.
TIPS FOR MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY
- Create multiple versions of the same service with different durations if needed (e.g., 30, 60, 90 mins)
- Make sure your Hours of Operation cover enough time for the longest service
- Use Policies to control how far in advance someone can book or cancel
