How many clients can I see in a day?

With an 8-hour day, 30-minute lunch and 60-minute average service time, you can see a maximum of 7 clients. In reality, aim for 80-90% capacity (5-6 clients) to account for no-shows, late arrivals and overruns. Running at 100% capacity leaves no room for flexibility and causes stress.

Should I aim for 100% capacity?

No. Running at 100% capacity means any disruption cascades through the day. Aim for 80-90% booking rate. Leave one slot per day as a buffer for walk-ins, overruns or rest. This also allows time for admin, social media, retail conversations and maintaining your workspace between clients.

How can I increase daily capacity without working longer?

Reduce average service time through efficiency (better preparation, streamlined processes). Use an assistant for shampoo and finishing tasks. Offer different service lengths (express and premium). Use processing time productively. Improve your booking system to reduce gaps. Cut down no-shows with deposit policies.

Should I vary appointment lengths?

Yes, mixing service lengths maximises capacity. Shorter services (30 min cuts) fit more clients in but at lower prices. Longer services (2hr colour) have higher prices but fewer per day. The ideal mix depends on your pricing — aim for the combination that maximises daily revenue rather than client count.

CutCalcs

Daily Capacity Calculator — Maximum Client Bookings

Calculate maximum daily client capacity based on service durations and working hours.

Working Hours

Avg Service Time

Lunch Break

Avg Service Price

How We Calculate This

This calculator determines maximum daily client capacity by dividing available working time by average service duration.

The formula

Available mins = (Working hours x 60) - Lunch break

Max clients = Available mins / Average service time

Max revenue = Max clients x Average service price

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always perform a strand test before chemical services.