Lead time
Lead time (or minimum notice) is how far in advance a client must book, for example "no bookings within 2 hours of the start". It stops last-minute bookings you cannot prepare for. Many booking tools let you set it so slots inside that window never appear.
Why lead time matters
Lead time is the gap between the moment a client books and the moment the appointment starts. A minimum lead time, also called minimum notice, is the shortest gap you will accept. Without one, someone can book a 9 am slot at 8:55, while you are still commuting and have not seen what the booking is about.
It matters most for work that needs preparation or travel: a lawyer reviewing documents, a photographer reaching a venue, a home-visit physiotherapist crossing Bengaluru traffic. A short lead time suits quick online calls. A day or more suits anything you prepare for.
Work out how long you need to read a booking, prepare and get there, then add a margin. Write your notice period in the service description so clients know it before they book. If your booking tool has no minimum-notice setting, block the dates you cannot prepare for, and pair this with a buffer between sessions so the day stays calm at both ends.
Example
A Gurugram wedding photographer needs two days to scout a venue, so she keeps a 48-hour minimum lead time for pre-shoot visits and never accepts a same-day request.
Related terms
Book A Sloth turns these into one link: a booking page with upfront payment over UPI, GST invoices and automatic reminders.