# Chapter 7 — Branches & Headquarters

*This chapter is for **multi-branch churches** with a head office (HQ) account.*

## 7.1 Multi-branch model explained

```
Head Office (HQ)
  ├── Branch A (e.g. North Campus)
  ├── Branch B (e.g. South Campus)
  └── Branch C (e.g. City Centre)
```

| Layer | Manages |
|-------|---------|
| **HQ** | Branches, designations, localization, consolidated finance, HQ announcements |
| **Branch** | Members, attendance, local finance, events, local users/roles |

HQ does **not** enter member or attendance data — branches do that locally.

---

## 7.2 Create a branch

**Menu:** Branch Management → **Branches**

*Figure 7.1 — HQ branches list with analytics cards and filters (multi-branch plans only)*

> **Note:** The Branches module is only available on **multi-branch** subscription plans. Single-congregation churches will not see this menu item.

### Step-by-step

1. Open **Branches** → click **Add Branch**.
2. Fill in:
   - **Branch name** (e.g. "North Campus")
   - **Address** and contact details
   - **Country**
   - **Region / District / Area / Zone** (if localization is set up)
3. Click **Save**.

### Branch limits

Your plan sets the maximum number of branches. If you reach the limit, contact your platform provider to upgrade.

---

## 7.3 Edit branch details

1. Open **Branches** → click the branch name.
2. Click **Edit**.
3. Update fields → Save.

### Activate or deactivate

1. On the branch detail or list, toggle **Status**:
   - **Active** — branch users can sign in and operate
   - **Inactive** — branch is suspended; users cannot access

---

## 7.4 Branch admins and passwords

### Add a branch admin

1. Open the branch detail page.
2. Click **Add Admin**.
3. Enter name, email, password.
4. Save — admin can sign in and manage the branch.

### Reset branch admin password

1. On branch detail → **Admins** section.
2. Click **Reset Password** for the admin.
3. Enter new password → confirm.

---

## 7.5 Branch analytics and filters

The branches list page shows **KPI cards**:

| Card | Shows |
|------|-------|
| Total branches | Count of all branches |
| Active / Inactive | Status breakdown |
| Total members | Combined member count across branches |

### Filters

| Filter | Use |
|--------|-----|
| Status | Active or inactive |
| Country | Filter by country |
| Region / Area / District / Zone | Geographic hierarchy |
| Search | Free text on branch name |

Click **Apply** to refresh. Click **Clear** to reset.

---

## 7.5 Designations (org-wide titles)

**Menu:** Designations → **Designations**

Designations are official roles or titles in your organisation (Pastor, Elder, Deacon, Treasurer, etc.).

### Designation types

Each designation has a **type** (category). Built-in types are provided; you can add your own:

1. Open **Designations → Add** (or edit an existing designation).
2. On the **Designation type** field, use the **searchable dropdown** to pick a type.
3. Click the **+** button next to the dropdown to **add a new type** in the modal.
4. Enter the type name → **Save** — it is stored for your church and appears in the list immediately.

Types are saved in the database per church, so existing churches keep working when new types are added.

### Create a designation

1. **Designations → Add**.
2. Select **designation type**, enter name and other details.
3. Use searchable dropdowns for gender, marital status, ministry type, and status where shown.
4. Save.

### Assign to a person

Designations are assigned at branch level through **Leadership** or member profiles.

---

## 7.7 Localization (geographic hierarchy)

**Menu:** Localization → Regions / Districts / Areas / Zones

Build a geographic structure for organizing branches:

```
Region (e.g. South East)
  └── District (e.g. Kent)
       └── Area (e.g. Maidstone)
            └── Zone (e.g. Central)
```

### Create each level

1. Open the level (e.g. **Regions**) → **Add**.
2. Enter name.
3. Save.
4. Repeat for Districts, Areas, Zones — linking each to its parent.

Branches are tagged with their region/area/district/zone for filtering and reporting.

---

## 7.8 What HQ does vs what branches do

| Task | HQ | Branch |
|------|----|--------|
| Manage members | ✗ | ✓ |
| Record attendance | ✗ | ✓ |
| Create branches | ✓ | ✗ |
| Org-wide designations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Geographic structure | ✓ | ✗ |
| HQ announcements | ✓ (create) | ✓ (read) |
| Local events/services | ✗ | ✓ |
| Local finance | View (with access) | ✓ (enter) |
| Common fund | ✓ (view pool) | ✓ (submit) |
| Branch users/roles | Org-level users | Branch-level users |
| Subscription/billing | ✓ | ✓ (own plan) |

---

[← Chapter 6](06-events-communication.md) | [Next: Chapter 8 — HRM →](08-hrm.md)
