> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.payreque.st/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Booking Calendar

> Accept appointments and reservations with the booking calendar system

# Booking Calendar

Create bookable products for appointments, consultations, equipment rentals, and services. Customers select available dates and time slots during checkout.

## Overview

The booking calendar system allows you to:

* Offer time-based services and appointments
* Set available days and time slots
* Control lead time and maximum advance booking
* Manage concurrent bookings
* Automatic conflict prevention

## Creating a Booking Product

### Step 1: Create the Product

1. Navigate to **Products** → **New Product**
2. Select **Booking** as the product type
3. Fill in product details:
   * **Name**: e.g., "1-Hour Consultation"
   * **Description**: What the booking includes
   * **Price**: Amount per booking

### Step 2: Configure Availability

#### Available Days

Select which days of the week accept bookings:

* **Weekdays Only**: Monday through Friday (default)
* **Custom Selection**: Choose specific days
* **Every Day**: Include weekends

#### Time Slots

Define when bookings can be made:

```
Morning:   09:00 - 12:00
Afternoon: 13:00 - 17:00
Evening:   18:00 - 21:00
```

<Tip>
  **Multiple Time Ranges**: Add separate slots for different periods (e.g., skip lunch hours).
</Tip>

### Step 3: Booking Rules

| Setting            | Description                       | Default  |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------- | -------- |
| **Slot Duration**  | Length of each booking in minutes | 60 min   |
| **Buffer Time**    | Break between bookings            | 0 min    |
| **Lead Time**      | Minimum hours before booking      | 24 hours |
| **Max Advance**    | How far ahead customers can book  | 90 days  |
| **Max Concurrent** | Bookings allowed per slot         | 1        |

## Configuration Options

### Slot Duration

The length of each booking appointment:

* **15 minutes**: Quick consultations
* **30 minutes**: Standard meetings
* **60 minutes**: Full sessions (default)
* **120+ minutes**: Extended services

### Buffer Time

Time between bookings for preparation:

* **0 minutes**: Back-to-back bookings allowed
* **15 minutes**: Quick cleanup/prep
* **30 minutes**: Standard buffer

### Lead Time

Minimum notice required before a booking:

* **1 hour**: Same-day appointments
* **24 hours**: Next-day minimum (default)
* **48 hours**: Two-day notice
* **72+ hours**: Advance planning required

### Maximum Advance Days

How far in the future customers can book:

* **7 days**: Week ahead only
* **30 days**: Month ahead
* **90 days**: Quarter ahead (default)
* **365 days**: Year ahead

### Concurrent Bookings

How many bookings can overlap in the same time slot:

* **1**: One customer per slot (default)
* **2-5**: Small group sessions
* **10+**: Larger capacity events

## Customer Experience

### Shop View

When customers view a booking product:

1. **Calendar Display**: Interactive calendar showing available dates
2. **Unavailable Dates**: Grayed out (fully booked, closed days, past dates)
3. **Date Selection**: Click to see available time slots
4. **Time Slots**: Select from available times
5. **Add to Cart**: Booking added with date/time

### Checkout

Booking details displayed in cart:

* Product name
* Selected date
* Selected time
* Duration
* Price

### Confirmation

After payment:

* Booking confirmation email sent to customer
* Booking appears in your dashboard
* Calendar automatically updated

## Managing Bookings

### Dashboard View

Navigate to **Orders** to see bookings:

* Filter by booking status
* View booking details
* Customer information
* Date and time

### Booking Statuses

| Status        | Description                      |
| ------------- | -------------------------------- |
| **Pending**   | Awaiting payment confirmation    |
| **Confirmed** | Payment received, booking active |
| **Completed** | Appointment has occurred         |
| **Cancelled** | Booking was cancelled            |
| **No Show**   | Customer didn't attend           |

### Updating Bookings

From the order details:

* View customer contact information
* Add internal notes
* Update booking status
* Cancel if needed

## Payment Page Bookings

Booking products also work on payment pages:

1. Share payment page link with product parameter
2. Customer sees booking calendar on payment page
3. Selects date and time
4. Completes payment
5. Booking confirmed

## Best Practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Set Realistic Lead Time" icon="clock">
    Give yourself enough notice to prepare for appointments
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use Buffer Time" icon="pause">
    Add buffer between bookings for breaks and prep work
  </Card>

  <Card title="Limit Advance Booking" icon="calendar">
    Don't allow bookings too far ahead if your schedule changes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Enable Reminders" icon="bell">
    Set up email reminders for upcoming bookings
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Use Cases

### Consultations

* **Duration**: 30-60 minutes
* **Lead Time**: 24-48 hours
* **Buffer**: 15 minutes
* **Concurrent**: 1

### Equipment Rentals

* **Duration**: Full day (480 minutes)
* **Lead Time**: 24 hours
* **Buffer**: 0 (overnight return)
* **Concurrent**: Based on inventory

### Group Classes

* **Duration**: 60-90 minutes
* **Lead Time**: 2-4 hours
* **Buffer**: 30 minutes
* **Concurrent**: Class capacity (e.g., 10)

### Meeting Rooms

* **Duration**: 30-60 minute blocks
* **Lead Time**: 1 hour
* **Buffer**: 15 minutes
* **Concurrent**: 1 per room

## Timezone Handling

All bookings use your configured timezone:

* **Default**: Europe/Amsterdam
* **Display**: Times shown in customer's local context
* **Storage**: All times stored in configured timezone

<Warning>
  **Timezone Consistency**: Ensure your booking timezone matches your business location to avoid confusion.
</Warning>

## Integration with Orders

When a booking is purchased:

1. **Order Created**: Contains booking details in order items
2. **Booking Record**: Separate booking record created
3. **Calendar Updated**: Slot marked as taken
4. **Notifications**: Confirmation emails sent

For subscription products with booking:

* Initial booking made at checkout
* Recurring bookings handled separately

## Troubleshooting

### No Available Slots Showing

* Check if all days are marked as unavailable
* Verify time slots are configured
* Ensure lead time isn't too long
* Check if max advance days is too short

### Double Bookings

* Verify max concurrent is set to 1
* Check buffer time settings
* Ensure proper slot duration

### Booking Not Created After Payment

* Check webhook is receiving payments
* Verify product type is "booking"
* Review order for booking data

## Related Topics

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Creating Products" icon="box" href="/products-and-pricing/creating-products">
    Set up different product types
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order Management" icon="shopping-cart" href="/shop-and-checkout/order-management">
    Manage orders and bookings
  </Card>

  <Card title="Payment Page" icon="credit-card" href="/payment-processing/payment-forms">
    Accept bookings via payment links
  </Card>

  <Card title="Email Templates" icon="envelope" href="/invoices/email-templates">
    Customize booking confirmations
  </Card>
</CardGroup>