Set pickup hours and prep time

When a customer orders, the storefront offers ASAP plus evenly spaced pickup times that start after your prep buffer. The buffer keeps customers from arriving before their food or order is ready. Pickup slots are not yet tied to a posted-hours schedule, so turning ordering off when you close is part of your closing routine.

Before you start

Time how long a typical order actually takes at your busiest hour — that's your real prep time.

Steps

Know your current prep buffer — New accounts start with a modest default (about 15 minutes). Customers see slots starting after this buffer.
Ask support to adjust the buffer if needed — If orders take longer than the offered slots, have the buffer raised to match reality.
Turn ordering off at close — In Settings → Online Ordering, uncheck the enable box at close and re-enable at open (see “Set business hours”).
Watch your first week — If customers routinely wait at pickup, your buffer is too short.

Common mistakes

Leaving ordering on overnight and opening to stale, unacknowledged orders.
Setting an aspirational prep time instead of a realistic one.

Troubleshooting

Customers pick times you can't hit.

The prep buffer needs to be longer — contact support with the number you want.

When to contact support

You want the prep buffer or pickup window changed.
You need automated open/close hours for the storefront.