Availability & Hours

Set your business hours so AI assistants can tell customers when you're open.

Why Hours Matter

Accurate hours help AI assistants:

  • Answer "are they open now?" questions

  • Recommend businesses based on current availability

  • Set customer expectations

  • Reduce frustration from incorrect information


Regular Hours

Set your standard weekly schedule.

Format

Hours are in 24-hour format (00:00 - 23:59) or 12-hour format with AM/PM.

Example:

Monday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Closed Days

If you're closed on certain days:

Split Hours

For businesses with breaks:


Special Hours

Holidays

Set specific hours for holidays:

Examples:

  • Christmas Day: Closed

  • Thanksgiving: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

  • New Year's Day: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Seasonal Changes

If your hours change by season:

Summer Hours (June - August):

Winter Hours (December - February):

Special Events

Temporary hour changes:

  • Private events

  • Renovations

  • Staff training days

  • Community events


Best Practices

Be Accurate

Incorrect hours frustrate customers:

  • Update immediately when hours change

  • Account for prep/closing time

  • Be realistic about last seating/service times

Be Specific

Help customers plan their visit:

  • Note if kitchen closes before business

  • Mention last seating times for restaurants

  • Indicate appointment-only periods

Be Current

Keep hours up-to-date:

  • Review monthly

  • Update for seasons

  • Adjust for holidays

  • Communicate changes


Common Scenarios

Appointment-Only

24/7 Operations

Seasonal Business

Variable Hours


Time Zones

Your hours are displayed in your local time zone based on your business location.

Example:

  • Business in Portland, OR: Pacific Time (PT)

  • Business in New York, NY: Eastern Time (ET)

AI assistants automatically convert to the customer's time zone when needed.


Last Call / Last Seating

If you stop serving before closing:

Restaurant Example:

Service Business Example:

Add this information in your business description or exclusive content.


Temporary Closures

Planned Closures

For renovations, vacations, or events:

  1. Update your hours in advance

  2. Add a note about the closure

  3. Include reopening date

  4. Consider adding to exclusive content

Example Note:

Emergency Closures

For unexpected closures:

  1. Update hours immediately

  2. Add explanation if appropriate

  3. Provide estimated reopening

  4. Update when situation changes


Tips for AI Optimization

Use Consistent Formatting

AI assistants parse hours better with consistent formatting:

  • ✅ "7:00 AM - 6:00 PM"

  • ✅ "07:00 - 18:00"

  • ❌ "7am-6pm" (works but less clear)

  • ❌ "7-6" (ambiguous)

Include Context

Help AI provide better recommendations:

  • "Open late Friday-Saturday for dinner service"

  • "Early morning hours for commuters"

  • "Extended hours during summer season"

Note Special Circumstances

Mention important details:

  • "Closed first Monday of each month for staff training"

  • "Open 30 minutes early for online order pickup"

  • "Happy hour 4-6 PM daily"


Common Mistakes

  1. Outdated Hours: Not updating after changes

  2. Ambiguous Times: "Open late" without specific hours

  3. Missing Holidays: Not accounting for holiday closures

  4. Timezone Confusion: Not specifying timezone for multi-location businesses

  5. Inconsistent Info: Hours differ from website/door sign


Verification

Double-check your hours:


Impact on Discovery

"Open Now" Searches

Customers often ask AI:

  • "Coffee shops open now near me"

  • "Is [business name] open today?"

  • "What time does [business name] close?"

Accurate hours ensure you appear in these searches.

Recommendation Quality

AI assistants consider hours when making recommendations:

  • Won't recommend closed businesses

  • Prioritize businesses open longer

  • Match hours to customer needs


Next: View your analytics →

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