Cutoff explainer
Cutoff time rule next business day
Curious about the cutoff time rule next business day? A cutoff sets the time when “today” counts. After hours processing often moves the effective start date to the next business day so you exclude weekends and holidays correctly. This guide covers after hours handling, examples, and how to set the business day calculator.
Published: December 28, 2025 · Updated: December 28, 2025 · By FinToolSuite Editorial
Disclaimer
- Educational purposes only; not legal or financial advice.
- Examples are illustrative and simplified.
- Results depend on your inputs and assumptions and are not guaranteed.
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Quick answer: cutoff time rule next business day
- A cutoff time decides whether today counts or rolls to the next business day.
- After hours processing often starts from the next business day.
- Cutoff rules vary by team; document the time and timezone.
What a cutoff time is
A cutoff time is a daily clock time that sets the effective start date for counting business days. If you act after the cutoff, the start rolls to the next working day. Effective start date means the first business day that actually counts. Timezone matters for distributed teams; pick the timezone of the service or agreement.
Common places cutoff rules show up
- Support SLAs when tickets after 17:00 roll to next business day.
- Warehouse dispatch and courier collection cutoffs.
- Refund processing and billing operations that close daily batches.
- Payroll cutoffs and finance deadlines that avoid after-hours entries.
Worked examples
Example A: Ticket at 16:30 vs 18:30
Inputs: 17:00 cutoff, add 2 business days, weekend Sat–Sun, holidays excluded.
16:30 submission → effective start today → result in 2 working days.
18:30 submission → effective start next business day → result one day later.
Example B: Order placed after cutoff
Inputs: cutoff 15:00, add 3 business days for dispatch, weekend Sat–Sun, holidays excluded.
Placed at 14:45 → effective start today → dispatch in 3 business days.
Placed at 15:30 → effective start next business day → dispatch one day later.
Example C: Payroll request after cutoff
Inputs: cutoff 17:00, subtract 2 business days before payday, weekend Sat–Sun, holidays excluded.
Submitted 16:00 → effective start today → subtract 2 working days.
Submitted 18:00 → effective start next business day → deduction shifts by a day.
How to set it in the calculator
- Enable the cutoff time option.
- Set the cutoff time (HH:MM) and timezone for your workflow.
- Decide whether cutoff applies when subtracting business days.
- Choose weekend pattern and load holidays; add custom dates if needed.
Use the business day calculator to test before you commit to timelines.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to specify timezone for the cutoff.
- Assuming cutoff applies the same way in subtract mode without enabling it.
- Mixing cutoff rules with inclusive start date counting.
- Not writing the cutoff rule in the SLA or policy.
- Leaving weekend patterns at Sat–Sun when teams work Sun–Thu.
- Skipping holiday presets and custom closures that shift the start.
- Using different cutoffs across teams without documenting them.
FAQ
What is a cutoff time?
A daily time that decides whether today counts or rolls to the next business day.
Why does my start date change to the next business day?
Actions after the cutoff move the effective start to the next working day.
Does cutoff time affect weekends and holidays?
Yes. After-hours submissions roll into the next business day that is not a weekend or holiday.
Should I use cutoff time for shipping estimates?
Use one when courier pickup or warehouse dispatch stops at a daily time.
Does cutoff time apply when subtracting business days?
Only if you enable it. Otherwise subtract mode ignores cutoff.
Why did my completion date move by one day?
After-hours submission changed the effective start date.
Can two teams use different cutoff times?
Yes. Document each cutoff and timezone to avoid confusion.
Is this legal or financial advice?
No. This guide is educational. Confirm specifics with your advisor.
Calculate business days now
Set the cutoff time, weekends, and holidays to see the adjusted timeline in seconds.