# Branches

> Locations with their own hours, tax defaults, floor, stock, staff and prefixes.

Source: https://sofra.tablixai.com/docs/branches

Section: Set up your restaurant

A branch is a physical location. You always have at least one: the **head office** created when the restaurant was made. Only owners can add, edit or deactivate branches.

> **Available on Basic and above:** The Free plan has a single branch. Multiple branches are available from Basic.

## Add a branch

1. **Open Branches.** Go to **Management → Branches** and choose **Add Branch**.
2. **Enter the basics.** Name (required), code, parent branch (optional, to build a hierarchy), contact person, phone and email.
3. **Add address and GPS.** Street, city, state, country, ZIP, and optional latitude and longitude.
4. **Set hours and timezone.** Opening and closing time, timezone and currency. Overnight service is supported (for example 18:00 to 02:00). Hours drive reservation availability.
5. **Set operations.** Seating capacity, number of tables, assigned kitchens and warehouses (as free text names), and delivery zones.
6. **Set document defaults.** Order prefix (for example `ORD`), invoice prefix (`INV`), receipt header and footer, tax rate and service charge rate defaults, and whether online orders are allowed.

_Screenshot: The branch form: details, hours, tax and billing defaults._

## The branch page

Open a branch to see a profile page with these sections:

- **Details**: contact, location and operations, plus receipt and invoice information.
- **Floor areas**, **Departments** and **Roles** that belong to this branch.
- **Staff with branch access**: assign staff to the branch and set their role here. See [Staff, roles & departments](https://sofra.tablixai.com/docs/staff-roles).
- **Branch tax rules**: assign taxes and set which order channels each applies to. See [Taxes & service charges](https://sofra.tablixai.com/docs/taxes-charges).
- **Branch menu config**: assign menus and override items. See [Branch menu customization](https://sofra.tablixai.com/docs/branch-menu).

## Closed days

A branch can be closed on certain **weekdays** and on specific **dates** (with a reason, such as a holiday). Reservations cannot be booked on closed days, and the public booking page reflects them.

## Deactivating a branch

- The head office cannot be deleted.
- A branch with active child branches cannot be deactivated until the children are.
- Deactivating hides the branch; it does not erase its orders or history.

## Working in a branch

The **branch selector** at the top of the app sets the branch you are working in. Orders, tables, reservations, stock and printing all follow it. Owners and all-branch staff can switch between branches; branch-limited staff see only the branches they have been given.