> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://watermelon.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Setting up business hours

> Learn how to set your business hours and create an out-of-office message so customers know when your live team is available

## **Setting Business Hours**

Business hours let your AI Agent know when live agents are available to step into a conversation and enables a smooth handover between automated and human support.

<Info>
  Business hours settings are available in Starter, Advanced, Business and Enterprice licenses.
</Info>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Locate the Business Hours Settings" titleSize="p">
    Go to **Settings** in the top right corner, then select **Business hours** from the panel on the left.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/watermelon/VTFysYMuUbS-6dcn/images/business-hours/business-hours-settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=VTFysYMuUbS-6dcn&q=85&s=7b45419f8485a0e0cd64a1693e1c4b4f" alt="Business Hours Settings" width="2922" height="1390" data-path="images/business-hours/business-hours-settings.png" />
    </Frame>

    <Info>
      The ability to set multiple business-hour schedules (for different teams, regions, or channels) is currently in development and will be available in a future update!
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the Schedule" stepNumber={2}>
    Select which days and times you are available. Untick a day to mark it as fully closed.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/watermelon/VTFysYMuUbS-6dcn/images/business-hours/business-hours-schedule.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=VTFysYMuUbS-6dcn&q=85&s=09e72de04e278a6bfbad8002f0673c07" alt="Business Hours Schedule" width="2922" height="1390" data-path="images/business-hours/business-hours-schedule.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Business hours apply only to live human support availability. Your AI Agent will remain active and continue responding at all times, even when your team is offline.
</Note>

## **Setting an Out-of-Office Message**

<Warning>
  Your out-of-office message is only shown to end users who send a message when no live agents are available and your AI Agent is not active or forwards the conversation.
</Warning>

To set it up:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Business Hours Settings">
    Go to **Settings** in the top right corner, then select **Business hours** from the panel on the left.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/watermelon/VTFysYMuUbS-6dcn/images/business-hours/business-hours-settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=VTFysYMuUbS-6dcn&q=85&s=7b45419f8485a0e0cd64a1693e1c4b4f" alt="Business Hours Settings" width="2922" height="1390" data-path="images/business-hours/business-hours-settings.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the Out of Office Message" stepNumber={2}>
    Select Out of office message tab at the top. Turn the message to "**On**", then enter the message customers should see when contacting you outside of business hours

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/watermelon/VTFysYMuUbS-6dcn/images/business-hours/business-hours-out-of-office.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=VTFysYMuUbS-6dcn&q=85&s=ee80cfd157a42caf334c5c08db07dbc2" alt="Business Hours Out Of Office" width="2922" height="1390" data-path="images/business-hours/business-hours-out-of-office.png" />
    </Frame>

    <Tip>
      Include your business hours in the message so users know when they can expect a reply. For example, *"Thanks for reaching out! Our team is currently offline. We’re available Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00. We’ll get back to you as soon as we’re online again."*
    </Tip>
  </Step>
</Steps>