Chains

In short

A chain is a business whose branches are grouped into areas and regions, each looked after by its own manager. Having several branches doesn't make you a chain: you become one when you add your first area, because that's when someone other than the owner needs to look after a group of branches.

Which are you?

	One pharmacy	A few branches	A chain
Looks like	One premises	2 or more branches, the owner looks after all of them	Branches grouped into areas, areas into regions
Who oversees branches	The owner	The owner, from All branches	Area and regional managers, each for their group; head office for the whole
Who approves over a limit	The branch manager up to their limit, then the owner	The branch manager up to their limit, then the owner	Up the chain: branch manager, area manager, regional manager, owner, by your approval rules
Prices for some branches	—	A price list given branch by branch	Price lists by region; branches ask their area manager for their own price
Your guide	Owner	Owner, plus the overview	The guides below

A warehouse that stocks your branches is separate from all this: any business with 2 or more branches can add one, whether or not it's a chain. See Set up a warehouse.

When to become a chain

Add areas when the owner can no longer keep an eye on every branch, and you want managers who each look after a group: visiting their branches, approving what they ask for, and answering for them. Start in Settings › Group your branches (Regions, areas and managers). Until then everything works as it does now. Once you have areas, every new branch goes into one.

The chain guides

• Head office: the owner and head-office team. The whole business, how it's organised, who approves what, prices and warehouses.
• Area or regional manager: the branches you look after, visits, and what your branches ask you to approve.
• Warehouse team: replenishment, picking, checking and sending transfers.

A branch manager at a branch a warehouse supplies: see At a supplied branch.