Gaps between bookings: preparation, breaks and dead-gap protection
How to keep time for preparation before a booking and a break after it, and how YEMISCE stops clients from leaving short gaps in your day that nobody can book.
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Preparation before and break after a bookingAn exampleWhere the gaps applyDead-gap protectionWhere protection appliesFAQBetween clients you often need some time: tidy up, air the room, prepare tools or simply take a breath. YEMISCE has two settings for this — preparation before a booking and a break after it. A third one, dead-gap protection, makes sure your schedule is not left with short holes that none of your services fit into.
All three are in “Settings” → “Booking”, in the “Online booking” block.
Preparation before and break after a booking
- “Preparation before booking” — how many minutes before each booking the specialist must be free.
- “Break after booking” — how many minutes after each booking the specialist stays free.
Both accept 0 to 720 minutes in steps of 5. The default is 0.
An example
Preparation is 10 minutes and the break is 15 minutes. The specialist works 9:00–18:00 and the service lasts 60 minutes.
- The first booking can start no earlier than 9:10: the 10 minutes of preparation must also fit into working hours.
- If a booking runs from 10:00 to 11:00, the next client can come no earlier than 11:25: 15 minutes of break after the first booking plus 10 minutes of preparation for the next one.
- The last booking must end by 17:45 so the break fits before the end of the day.
Where the gaps apply
- On your page: clients only see times where both the service and the gaps fit.
- When a client reschedules on their own.
- In the calendar: if you create or move a booking so that it overlaps another booking's preparation or break, YEMISCE will not save it and shows “This time overlaps another booking.”
- In the calendar's “List” view: free gaps are already shown with preparation and breaks taken out.
Dead-gap protection
A dead gap is a free piece of time shorter than your shortest service. For example, your shortest service is 45 minutes, and 30 minutes are left between two bookings. Nobody will ever book that time.
When “Protect against dead gaps” is on, YEMISCE does not offer a client a time that would leave such a gap before or after their booking. Clients see slightly fewer options, but bookings sit closer together with no unsellable pauses.
The shortest service is the shortest duration among the services clients can book online — those with both “Active” and “Show in online booking” on. Specialists' “Individual duration” counts too: if someone performs a 60-minute service in 30 minutes, the shortest duration is 30. Gaps are measured including preparation and breaks.
Protection is on by default. To turn it off, untick the option and click “Save”.
Where protection applies
- On your page when clients book.
- When a client reschedules on their own.
- When you publish a free window as “Open today”.
It does not affect bookings you create in the calendar yourself: you can place a booking at any free time.
FAQ
Why can't a client see the time right after the previous booking?
Most likely the break after the booking, the preparation for the next one or dead-gap protection is in the way. Check these options in “Settings” → “Booking”. Other causes are covered in Why a client can't see free time.
Can I set a separate gap for one service?
No, gaps are set for the whole business.
Does the client see preparation and break time?
No. The client only sees their start time and the service duration.
Do group sessions respect the gaps too?
Yes, like any other booking for the specialist. Clients can still join a session that has already started filling up while places remain — see Group bookings.