Closure & outage notices

How it works

1. 1 Say what's happening: closed for the day, opening late, closing early, closed for a while, or something out of service, like the elevator or the card machine.
2. 2 Say when, why, and what people can do instead: call, order online, use another entrance, come to your other location.
3. 3 It writes the door sign, the Google change, a post with its image, a website banner, a voicemail greeting, texts and an email for customers, and a message for your team. Tick each one off as it goes out.
4. 4 When you're back, the Reopening tab lists everything you put up, so you can take it all back down. A calendar reminder can tell you when.

Free, with no account. Every notice is written in your browser from your answers. Nothing you type is sent to us. Remember is off unless you turn it on, and then keeps the notice and what you've ticked off on this device only. The made-up example is never kept. The calendar reminder holds a date and your to-do list, nothing else, and “Hear it” only uses a voice built into your device.

Good to know

Special hours or temporarily closed?

For a day or a few days, set special hours on your Google Business Profile: they show the change and end by themselves. For a week or more, or when you don't know yet when you'll reopen, we suggest marking the business temporarily closed instead. That one stays until you switch it back, so set a reminder.

When something accessible is out of service

Ontario's accessibility rules for customer service ask businesses to give notice when something people with disabilities rely on is temporarily out, like an elevator, a ramp, an automatic door or an accessible washroom. The notice says why, how long it's expected to last, and what people can use instead, and goes somewhere they'll see it: at the door, on your website, or both.

Why the sign says the date, not “today”

A sign that says “Closed today” is wrong the next morning if nobody takes it down. The door sign and website spell out the day instead, and can carry the time they were printed, so people can tell the notice is current.

Sending staff home

Under Ontario's three-hour rule, someone who regularly works more than three hours a day, who shows up for a shift and works less than three hours, is generally owed at least three hours' pay. There are exceptions, such as a storm or power failure beyond your control. Check the rule for your situation, and tell people before they set out.

In English and French

Each notice can be written in both. The French is written for you, so have a French speaker read it before it goes up. Texts with accents like ê or ç can split into more messages; “Plain letters” swaps them so the text fits.

Rules as of October 2026. Guidance, not legal advice.