Operating Hours Setup

Operating Hours Setup

Setting up operating hours is essential for managing table bookings and restaurant operations. This guide will help you configure your restaurant's schedule, including regular hours, special hours, and date overrides.

What are Operating Hours?

Operating hours define when your restaurant is open for business. They control:

• When customers can make table bookings
• When tables are available for reservation
• When KOT orders can be placed
• When the public booking portal accepts reservations

Accessing Operating Hours

To set up operating hours:

1. Navigate to Settings → Restaurant Settings
2. Click on Operating Hours or Business Hours
3. You'll see a weekly schedule interface

Setting Default Operating Hours

Configure standard hours for each day of the week:

1. Select a day from the weekly schedule (Monday, Tuesday, etc.)
2. Click Add Hours or Set Hours
3. Enter the Opening Time (e.g., 11:00 AM)
4. Enter the Closing Time (e.g., 10:00 PM)
5. If your restaurant is closed on a day, select Closed or leave hours empty
6. For split hours (lunch and dinner), click Add Another Time Slot
7. Repeat for each day of the week

Split Hours Configuration

If your restaurant has break periods (e.g., closed between lunch and dinner):

1. For the selected day, add the first time slot (e.g., 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM)
2. Click Add Another Time Slot
3. Add the second time slot (e.g., 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM)
4. The system will automatically handle the break period between slots

Special Hours for Holidays

Configure different hours for holidays or special occasions:

1. Click on Special Hours or Holiday Hours
2. Click Add Special Hours
3. Select the Date for the special hours
4. Enter the Opening Time and Closing Time
5. If closed on that date, select Closed
6. Add a Description (e.g., "New Year's Day", "Christmas")
7. Click Save

Date Overrides

Override operating hours for specific dates:

1. Navigate to Date Overrides section
2. Click Add Override
3. Select the Start Date and End Date (or single date)
4. Choose the override type:
   • Closed: Restaurant is closed on these dates
   • Custom Hours: Set specific hours for these dates
   • Extended Hours: Extend hours beyond normal operating time
5. If custom hours, enter the opening and closing times
6. Add a reason or description for the override
7. Click Save

Break Times

Configure break periods during operating hours:

1. In the operating hours for a day, you can set break times
2. Specify Break Start Time and Break End Time
3. During break times, bookings may be restricted or limited
4. This is useful for staff breaks or preparation periods

Time Zone Settings

Ensure your time zone is correctly configured:

• Check that your restaurant's time zone matches your location
• Operating hours will be displayed in your local time zone
• Customer bookings will be shown in the restaurant's time zone

Applying Changes

After setting up operating hours:

1. Review all hours for each day of the week
2. Verify special hours and date overrides
3. Click Save or Update Operating Hours
4. Changes will take effect immediately

Viewing Operating Hours

You can view your operating hours in several ways:

• Settings Page: View the complete weekly schedule
• Calendar View: See hours displayed on a calendar
• Public Booking Portal: Customers can see available booking times
• Booking Calendar: View hours when creating bookings

Best Practices

• Set realistic operating hours based on your actual business operations
• Plan ahead for holidays and special events
• Use date overrides for temporary schedule changes
• Keep operating hours updated as your business evolves
• Consider seasonal variations in your hours
• Communicate special hours to customers in advance
• Test booking availability after setting hours to ensure they work correctly

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Restaurant Closed on Mondays

• Select Monday in the weekly schedule
• Mark it as Closed or leave hours empty

Scenario 2: Extended Hours on Weekends

• Set Saturday and Sunday with extended hours (e.g., 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM)
• Keep weekday hours shorter (e.g., 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM)

Scenario 3: Holiday Closure

• Use Date Override to mark specific holidays as closed
• Add description like "Christmas Day - Closed"

Next Steps

After setting up operating hours:

• Activate Restaurant Features you need
• Create Restaurant Floors
• Set up Tables on each floor
• Test the booking system to verify hours are working correctly
• Update hours as needed based on business requirements