Nothing rattles a client's confidence faster than a scheduling mix-up. The good news: Check Cherry blocks most double bookings for you automatically, and a few settings let you close the rest of the gaps.
What Check Cherry blocks automatically
Out of the box, Check Cherry keeps your appointments from overlapping with:
- Other appointments. Once a time slot is booked, it disappears from your scheduling calendar so no one can grab it twice.
- Your bookings. If you are tied up with an event, that time is blocked from new appointments. How aggressively this happens is up to you (more on that next).
It also respects the buffer time and minimum notice on each scheduling calendar, so back-to-back meetings always leave you room to breathe. See Setting up your appointment scheduling calendars for those controls.
Bookings: assigned only, or all?
Each scheduling calendar has a conflict-prevention setting that decides when a booking blocks you from taking an appointment. It is the single most important setting for avoiding collisions, and the right choice depends on the size of your team.
- All bookings. Any booking on the company calendar blocks that time. Best if you are a solo operator. If you are running an event from 5 to 7, you do not want a client scheduling a consultation in the middle of it.
- Assigned bookings only. A booking blocks you only when you are listed as staff on it. Best for larger teams, where your crew works the events while you stay free to take meetings.
Rule of thumb: if you personally work every event, choose all bookings. If you have a team covering events, choose assigned bookings only.
Block off your own time
For everything outside of bookings and appointments, you can block time yourself:
- Blockout dates and staff time off. Mark vacations, days off, or any window you do not want booked. See How do I set blockout dates?
- Weekly availability. Set the days and hours each scheduling calendar is open, so clients never see times you do not actually work, like early mornings or weekends.
You can reach both from the sales calendar (Add New > Blockout Date(s) or Staff Time Off) or by clicking your name and choosing Set Booking Availability.
Sync your personal calendar
Your life outside Check Cherry can block appointment times too. Connect your Google Calendar and Check Cherry will pull in those events and treat them as busy, so no one can book you during a dentist visit or your kid's soccer practice.
This is especially handy for recurring commitments. Add them once to your Google Calendar and Check Cherry keeps those slots closed automatically. For setup, see How do I sync my calendar with Check Cherry?