diff --git a/.changelogs/1.1.3/239_add_optional_delay_time_until_service_starts.yml b/.changelogs/1.1.3/239_add_optional_delay_time_until_service_starts.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d711dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelogs/1.1.3/239_add_optional_delay_time_until_service_starts.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+feature:
+  - Add optional wait time parameter to delay execution until the service takes action (by @gyptazy). #239
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5419175..74be9ac 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -267,6 +267,10 @@ The following options can be set in the configuration file `proxlb.yaml`:
 |  | `schedule` |  |  | `Dict` | Schedule config block for rebalancing. |
 |  |  | interval | 12 | `Int` | How often rebalancing should occur in daemon mode.|
 |  |  | format | hours | `Str` | Sets the time format. [values: `hours` (default), `minutes`]|
+|  | `delay` |  |  | `Dict` | Schedule config block for an optional delay until the service starts. |
+|  |  | enable | False | `Bool` | If a delay time should be validated.|
+|  |  | time | 1 | `Int` | Delay time until the service starts after the initial execution.|
+|  |  | format | hours | `Str` | Sets the time format. [values: `hours` (default), `minutes`]|
 |  | log_level |  | INFO | `Str` | Defines the default log level that should be logged. [values: `INFO` (default), `WARNING`, `CRITICAL`, `DEBUG`] |
 
 
@@ -307,6 +311,10 @@ service:
   schedule:
     interval: 12
     format: hours
+  delay:
+    enable: False
+    time: 1
+    format: hours
   log_level: INFO
 ```
 
diff --git a/config/proxlb_example.yaml b/config/proxlb_example.yaml
index 1235d22..234bc3a 100644
--- a/config/proxlb_example.yaml
+++ b/config/proxlb_example.yaml
@@ -33,4 +33,8 @@ service:
   schedule:
     interval: 12
     format: hours
+  delay:
+    enable: False
+    time: 1
+    format: hours
   log_level: INFO
diff --git a/proxlb/main.py b/proxlb/main.py
index 6d5eb56..ec1a7ca 100644
--- a/proxlb/main.py
+++ b/proxlb/main.py
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ def main():
     # Update log level from config and fallback to INFO if not defined
     logger.set_log_level(proxlb_config.get('service', {}).get('log_level', 'INFO'))
 
+    # Validate of an optional service delay
+    Helper.get_service_delay(proxlb_config)
+
     # Connect to Proxmox API & create API object
     proxmox_api = ProxmoxApi(proxlb_config)
 
diff --git a/proxlb/utils/helper.py b/proxlb/utils/helper.py
index 1ab6bbc..748cac7 100644
--- a/proxlb/utils/helper.py
+++ b/proxlb/utils/helper.py
@@ -145,6 +145,39 @@ class Helper:
 
         logger.debug("Finished: get_daemon_mode.")
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_service_delay(proxlb_config: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        """
+        Checks if a start up delay for the service is defined and waits to proceed until
+        the time is up.
+
+        Parameters:
+            proxlb_config (Dict[str, Any]): A dictionary containing the ProxLB configuration.
+
+        Returns:
+            None
+        """
+        logger.debug("Starting: get_service_delay.")
+        if proxlb_config.get("service", {}).get("delay", {}).get("enable", False):
+
+            # Convert hours to seconds
+            if proxlb_config["service"]["delay"].get("format", "hours") == "hours":
+                sleep_seconds = proxlb_config.get("service", {}).get("delay", {}).get("time", 1) * 3600
+            # Convert minutes to seconds
+            elif proxlb_config["service"]["delay"].get("format", "hours") == "minutes":
+                sleep_seconds = proxlb_config.get("service", {}).get("delay", {}).get("time", 60) * 60
+            else:
+                logger.error("Invalid format for service delay. Please use 'hours' or 'minutes'.")
+                sys.exit(1)
+
+            logger.info(f"Service delay active: First run in: {proxlb_config.get('service', {}).get('delay', {}).get('time', 1)} {proxlb_config['service']['delay'].get('format', 'hours')}.")
+            time.sleep(sleep_seconds)
+
+        else:
+            logger.debug("Service delay not active. Proceeding without delay.")
+
+        logger.debug("Finished: get_service_delay.")
+
     @staticmethod
     def print_json(proxlb_config: Dict[str, Any], print_json: bool = False) -> None:
         """