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# Open Availability vs. Offer Times

When you create a client-specific booking link, choose how the client finds an appointment time.

- **Open Availability:** the client browses your available calendar and chooses a time.
- **Offer Times:** you select **2–6 specific times**, and the client chooses one of those options.

![Open Availability lets the client browse the calendar. Offer Times lets the artist select two to six options first.](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/b/6/b/f/b6bf11da1ce5e000/open-availability-vs-offer-tim_120v1kc.png)

## Which mode should I use?

Choose **Open Availability** when you are happy for the client to pick from your available schedule. It gives them more flexibility without exchanging possible times.

Choose **Offer Times** when you want to narrow the choices. For example, offer Monday at 9 AM or 11 AM for a particular session.

Both modes create a booking link. Creating the link alone does not reserve an appointment.

## Choose a mode and create the link

Sign in as an artist and choose **Your studio**. Start with the intended client's approved request.

1. Open **Requests**, find the request, and choose **View Details** from its action menu. Choose **Send link**, then **Create Link**.
2. Check **Client**, **Project**, **Session length**, **Link Expires In**, **Appointment Type**, and **Location**. A selected project can preset the service. Check the location even if one is already selected.
3. For **Open Availability**, choose that option under **Scheduling mode**. You do not need to select individual times. Continue to step 5.

   ![Step 3: Choose Open Availability to let the client browse your available calendar.](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/b/6/b/f/b6bf11da1ce5e000/open-availability-vs-offer-tim_1lnj8nu.png)

4. For **Offer Times**, choose that option under **Scheduling mode**. Pick a date, then select **2–6 times**. Choose another date if needed, and review the selected times before continuing.

   ![Step 4: Pick a date and select the times to offer. In this example, September 14 has 9 AM and 11 AM selected.](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/b/6/b/f/b6bf11da1ce5e000/open-availability-vs-offer-tim_82f6c4.png)

5. Review **Prep send policy** and the delivery options. Leave **Send via email now** and **Send via SMS now** off if you only want to create the link.
6. Choose **Create Booking Link**. Wait for **Booking Link Created!**, then use **Copy** and choose **Done**.

For the full setup and link-management steps, see [Creating Booking Links for Clients](https://help.useapprentice.com/en/article/creating-booking-links-for-clients-3h7mp8/).

## What does the client see?

With **Open Availability**, the client sees a calendar. They can move between weeks, choose an available time, and select **Next**. Check the timezone shown beneath the calendar.

With **Offer Times**, the client sees your selected options. They choose one, then select **Next** to continue booking.

![The client chooses one of two offered times, then selects Next.](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/b/6/b/f/b6bf11da1ce5e000/open-availability-vs-offer-tim_1cyr373.png)

Selecting a time is part of booking. The client still needs to complete the remaining booking steps.

## If the choices are not right

- **Too few offered times:** select at least two before creating an Offer Times link.
- **The calendar does not show the times you expected:** check the selected location, session length, and [availability schedule](https://help.useapprentice.com/en/article/configuring-your-availability-schedule-hfgqvb/).
- **You want to offer a time outside your usual availability:** the form has an **Include times outside availability** switch. Those times have an amber border. Review them carefully before selecting them.
- **A time is rejected later:** choose a later eligible time. An offered option does not bypass advance-booking rules or guarantee that confirmation will succeed.
- **You need to replace a link:** revoke the specific old link and create a new one with the intended mode and times.

## Related articles

- [Creating Booking Links for Clients](https://help.useapprentice.com/en/article/creating-booking-links-for-clients-3h7mp8/)
- [Configuring Your Availability Schedule](https://help.useapprentice.com/en/article/configuring-your-availability-schedule-hfgqvb/)
- [Using the Public Booking Page](https://help.useapprentice.com/en/article/using-a-public-booking-page-29qwyc/)