What does COB mean?
COB is an acronym for close of business, which is the end of the business day. Most companies in the United States use traditional business hours and close their doors around 5pm Eastern Standard Time. This is also the time when the stock market closes, so it’s the end of the day for many businesses in this sector.
Differences between the meaning of EOD and COB
While COB and EOD are often used interchangeably to refer to the end of the business day, COB almost always means the end of the business day in relation to Eastern Standard Time. On the other hand, EOD means end of day and refers to the end of the business day in the sender’s time zone. For example, if a manager in Kansas emails a remote employee in Florida asking for a task to be completed by EOD, the task would be due at the end of the day in the company’s primary time zone, which would be 5pm Central Standard Time.
Why do companies use acronyms in communication?
Businesses use abbreviations to save time and communicate efficiently with clients and employees. If a manager regularly assigns deadlines to employees, acronyms make it easier to quickly specify due dates. Clients can also use acronyms to notify employees of meeting dates or project deadlines while saving time and avoiding the need to type long words or sentences.
What is a business day?
Business days are non-holiday weekdays. In America, business days run from Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. When mentioning business days or business hours, companies sending emails or other communications are usually referring to their own time zone unless they’re using the phrase “close of business.” Business days apply to traditional workdays and hours. For example, when using COB, business professionals don’t consider Saturday a business day, even if the business is open then.
When to use COB in the workplace
The COB abbreviation is a great time-saver, but sometimes, you need to clarify a specific time and date with clients or employees if they’re unsure of the acronym or your time zone. Use COB for existing clients and employees if you’ve already clarified the meaning of COB with them. Use the acronym COB when:
- Giving an employee a deadline
- Requesting projects or actions from clients by the end of the business day in Eastern Standard Time
Related: New employee welcome email examples
How to use COB in the workplace
Correctly using the acronym COB at work depends on who you’re speaking to and where they’re located. It’s important to remember what COB stands for since phrases like “COB of business” are redundant. Here are a few examples of how to use COB correctly in the workplace.
Setting employee deadlines
COB is often used when setting deadlines for employees or potential hires. It’s particularly helpful when you need a certain task completed by a fixed time. If you’re sending a list of to-do items or repetitive tasks to multiple employees, using the acronym COB can help you save time and reduce the amount of typing you or your staff members need to do. For example:
Hi Taylor,
Upcoming tasks for you to complete this week are:
- Prepare financial reports by Tuesday COB
- Create a profit report presentation by Thursday COB
- Sort through and organize company financial records by Friday COB
Related: Types of Work Schedules for Employees: A Manager’s Guide
Communicating with local contacts
For local contacts, use COB when describing a deadline for a project or important task in an email. Here’s an example:
Hello Mr. Johnson,
I am writing to follow up after our marketing meeting. To proceed, we need some additional details from your team. Please provide the following:
- Budget estimation for upcoming projects
- Contact information for your human resources director
Please submit these details by COB on Tuesday, July 14.
Sincerely,
Paige Anderson
Communicating with out-of-state clients
When communicating with clients or suppliers who are out of the state or out of the country, you can still use COB to give deadlines. Make sure to specify the time, especially if it’s a new business relationship or your first time using the COB acronym with that individual or organization. Whether you’re communicating with a supplier in India or a client in London, include specifics for your location to avoid confusion. For example:
Please submit this information to us by COB (5pm EST).
Related: Introduction Emails to New Clients: Do’s and Don’ts
Other common workplace acronyms
Businesses may use many other workplace acronyms in place of or alongside COB. Other common terms that have a similar meaning include:
- End of business day (EOD): This synonym for COB is used to represent the end of the workday for employees, excluding weekends.
- End of play (EOP): Commonly used in place of COB, EOP references the time that the stock market closes. It’s most common in the financial industry.
- Close of play (COP): This term has the same meaning as COB and EOP. It refers to the end of the business day or the time the financial markets close. It’s also used in sports.
Frequently asked questionsabout COB
What else does the COB acronym stand for?
COB typically stands for close of business when used in the public or private sectors, including government agencies, educational institutions and branches of the military. In the Navy, the COB acronym may refer to the chief of boat, a senior adviser who works with the commanding officer. It’s also used in the insurance industry to describe the coordination of benefits, a financial allocation system that occurs when beneficiaries are eligible for coverage through multiple health plans.
What time is close of business?
In the United States, close of business is typically 5pm Eastern Standard Time unless specified otherwise. It may also refer to the local business closing time at the company’s home office if it’s in another time zone. Employers and managers should develop a definition for their organization and communicate their expectations to ensure that deadlines are met. This is particularly important when dealing with suppliers, clients or remote workers who are in different parts of the country or the globe.
What are normal or reasonable business hours?
In most English-speaking countries, business hours typically run from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Legal definitions for reasonable business hours vary, but most sources expect businesses to be accessible throughout the day, starting one hour before opening and continuing one hour after closing. Other sources consider 8am to 8pm to be standard business hours, and limited hours may be expected on Saturdays. In some industries, 24-hour service may be the norm, so the company may never officially close.
