Valentine's Day promotion background
14.Feb - 13.Mar 2026

Valentine deal

AI UNLOCKED
For new and existing customers for 3 months

Business Hours

What are business hours?

Business hours are the hours during which a business' support staff usually works. Firms create hours of operation for customers to communicate with the support staff. The response time is decided depending on the office hours.

What are business hours?

Ultimately, no one wants customers waiting for the helpdesk to reply when they are busy, asleep, or on vacation. Several business hours can be chosen from different departments. This is beneficial when agents work at various times, or in different time zones. For example, the company’s support staff is available 24 hours. Thus, workers will be only accountable for calls during their shift’s business hours.

What are the normal business hours?

Normal office hours are usually from 8 am to 6 pm. It’s typically from Monday to Friday. This applies except for legal holidays.

However, you should always keep in mind that normal office hours and days differ based on the company’s location. Different regions and countries may have varying standards for business operations.

How many business days are 48 hours?

48 hours means 2 business days. Business days are usually from Monday to Friday when the majority of professional businesses operate. This calculation excludes weekends and public holidays.

What are the working hours in the USA?

Working hours depend on the type of business:

  • Banks and official places: Usually open from 8 am to 5 pm – Monday to Friday
  • Retail stores: Often open for longer hours, even every day of the week
  • Restaurants: Vary based on the location of the business
  • General business: Usually from 9 am to 5 pm

This typically applies except for some public or legal holidays.

How can customer service software help you manage your business 24/7?

Help desk ticket systems help your agents manage all the inquiries from one place. No need for switching interfaces.

For instance, you can get all Email, Live Chat, Call center, and Social Media related inquiries in one Universal inbox. Set up and automate your LiveAgent and reach your best customer service performance!

Key Benefits of Customer Service Software:

  • Customer retention - Keep customers engaged and satisfied
  • Customer satisfaction - Provide consistent, quality support
  • Spending less on resources - Optimize your team’s efficiency
  • Time-effective - Streamline workflows and reduce response times
  • Higher profit - Improve operational efficiency and revenue
  • Customer loyalty - Build long-term relationships
  • Customer community - Foster engagement and advocacy

How does it help with your business hours?

Customer service usually works on shifts. It is hard to provide service 24/7 unless your company can afford to spend the resources to hire more employees. Customer service software, such as LiveAgent, provides a Customer portal, which can help you in many ways.

One of the most important factors is the creation of Knowledge Base articles. Providing self-service through Knowledge Base articles can provide customers assistance when the customer staff is not available.

LiveAgent office hours example

LiveAgent Business Hours Feature

LiveAgent offers a Business hours feature. This function allows you to set your office hours within the software. Setting up these helps your customer support prepare for their work shifts. It also sets up realistic customer expectations.

By configuring business hours in LiveAgent, you can:

  • Ensure SLA compliance - Meet service level agreements and avoid penalties
  • Manage customer expectations - Set realistic response times
  • Optimize team scheduling - Align support availability with demand
  • Automate workflows - Trigger actions based on business hours
  • Improve customer satisfaction - Provide consistent, predictable support

Manage support schedules effortlessly

Configure business hours and automate workflows with LiveAgent's SLA management ensuring consistent service across all time zones.

Frequently asked questions

What does a term business hours mean?

Business hours are the hours of the day when activities are usually conducted. Standard working hours vary by country. In many countries it is usually a period of time between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm (also called 9-5).

How to set business hours in LiveAgent?

To set working hours in LiveAgent, go to 'Configuration, then select the 'Automation' tab and then 'SLA'. In the next step you click 'Create level'. At this point, you can turn on and set the working hours by selecting 'Times are defined in subsequent working hours'. Then you select a time zone, set working hours for each day of the week and 'exclude holidays' in which your company does not work.

What business hours should you set?

The working hours you choose should depend on the type of your business. When setting working hours, think about your target group - at what times they will want to buy your services. But the most important thing is to include and adhere to the opening hours in all the media in which you communicate.

Learn more

Business hours features
Business hours features

Business hours features

Learn about the importance of setting business hours for SLA compliance, avoiding penalties, and enhancing customer service. Get tips on configuring business ho...

4 min read
Business hours SLA +1
Why Live Chat Is a Must-Have on Black Friday
Why Live Chat Is a Must-Have on Black Friday

Why Live Chat Is a Must-Have on Black Friday

Every year on Black Friday, retailers see a huge increase in customer interactions. Online stores often report about 57% more orders than usual during this time...

8 min read
Live Chat Black Friday +2
Holiday Email Templates
Holiday Email Templates

Holiday Email Templates

Boost your holiday sales with customizable email templates for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and more. Drive engagement with effective subject lines and targeted ...

8 min read
LiveAgent Email Marketing +1

You will be in Good Hands!

Join our community of happy clients and provide excellent customer support with LiveAgent.

Post Affiliate Pro Dashboard - Campaign Manager Interface