Operations
How much buffer time should you leave between appointments?
Too little buffer and you're always running late. Too much and you're leaving revenue on the table. Here's how to find the sweet spot.
BookAndGo TeamPublished 20 Feb 20264 min read
Start free trialBuffer time is the gap BookAndGo enforces between appointments. It protects the end of one session from the start of the next. Pick it badly and your whole day falls apart by 11am.
What the buffer is actually for
Three things: handover time (payment, rebooking, saying goodbye), reset time (cleaning, changing linen, restocking), and slack (bathroom breaks, writing case notes, breathing).
How to calculate it honestly
Time yourself on three real appointments from end-to-end. Total elapsed time minus service duration is your minimum buffer. Add five minutes of slack. That's your real number.
Common sweet spots
- Massage therapist - 15 minutes (change room, wipe table, restock)
- Hair salon - 10 minutes (clean station, quick prep)
- Personal trainer - 5 minutes (wipe equipment, greet next client)
- Medical consult - 10 minutes (notes, handover)
- Beauty treatment - 15 minutes (sanitise, prep)