> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.fieldpulse.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Customer Account Structures:  Parent/Child vs. Multi-Location

> Compare Parent/Child accounts and Multi-Location so you pick the right structure for billing control versus multiple service addresses.

In this article, we’ll explore two important account structures in FieldPulse: the Parent/Child Relationship and our Multi-Location Feature.

## Differences at a Glance

| **Feature**                | **Parent/Child Relationship**                                 | **Multi-Location**                                                                                     |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Primary Purpose**        | To manage hierarchical billing control (who ultimately pays). | To manage multiple service addresses under one customer.                                               |
| **QuickBooks Sync Impact** | Parent and Child sync as distinct customers.                  | Only the original account / Customer Record syncs. Additional locations are only housed in FieldPulse. |
| **Billing Flexibility**    | Flexibility to override billing by job.                       | Billing is always tied to the original customer.                                                       |
| **Best for**               | Property management and flexible billing needs.               | Commercial customers with multiple locations.                                                          |

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# Parent/Child Relationships

## What are they?

The Parent/Child structure is a **hierarchical system** where one main account oversees several smaller accounts.

* **Parent**: The primary account, like a corporate office or property management company. This is usually the main billing entity.

* **Child**: The individual service location, such as a specific condo unit or property site.

## When should I use them?

This structure is ideal when you need corporate oversight and tracking. This relationship also allows for both entities to operate as separate customers in QuickBooks.

## Scenario Examples

* **Property Management**: A management company (Parent) oversees multiple apartment complexes (Children).

* **Condo/Unit Billing**: The management company is the Parent, but bills individual homeowners or tenants (Children) directly.

* **Corporate Contracts**: A restaurant chain, like "Cheesecake Factory," where multiple locations are managed under one corporate umbrella.

## Key Advantages

* **Flexible Job-Specific Billing**: The system allows you to bill specific service addresses (Child) while having the option to bill the main corporate office (Parent) if needed.

## How to Set Them Up

To establish a Parent/Child relationship:

1. Go to the Parent customer's record (e.g., the management company).

2. Navigate to the *Related Customer* tab.

3. Select *Link Customer* or *Create Customer* to establish the Child account.

4. To set the default billing: Ensure the correct billing address is selected on the Child's profile. Use the *Use Separate Billing Address* toggle if you want to override the default Parent address.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/fieldpulse/Gqs0Xf5pYiOu91Qj/static/images/_api/13404051-customer-account-structures-parent-child-vs-multi-location/01.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=Gqs0Xf5pYiOu91Qj&q=85&s=684ec906760be62298211bb83b5e84fb" alt="Related Customer tab linking a Child account to a Parent customer" width="2564" height="498" data-path="static/images/_api/13404051-customer-account-structures-parent-child-vs-multi-location/01.png" />

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# Multi-Location Feature

## What is it?

Multi-Location is a feature that allows you to add multiple service addresses to a single primary customer record.

* All service histories are tracked under the original customer account, but these additional addresses **do not** sync to QuickBooks—they stay within FieldPulse.

## When should we use this?

Use this feature when a single customer, often in a commercial setting, has multiple locations. This helps maintain a clean QuickBooks customer list by only syncing the main account name and financial transactions.

## Scenario Examples

* **Commercial Complexes**: Track jobs by specific tenant locations without cluttering your QuickBooks records.

* **Simple Location Tracking**: Keep your QuickBooks customer list clean while providing detailed service data for internal use.

## Key Advantages

* **Clean QuickBooks Sync**: Maintain one customer record in QuickBooks for all financial transactions, preventing unnecessary data clutter.

## How to Set This Up

To set up Multi-Location on a Customer Record:

1. Go to the original customer's record.

2. Navigate to the *Address* section of the Customer Record.

3. Add additional service addresses by clicking the add *Additional Location* button.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/fieldpulse/Gqs0Xf5pYiOu91Qj/static/images/_api/13404051-customer-account-structures-parent-child-vs-multi-location/02.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=Gqs0Xf5pYiOu91Qj&q=85&s=76452e22de75d5ae2260804ace5e83e8" alt="Customer record Address section with Add Additional Location button" width="2558" height="1458" data-path="static/images/_api/13404051-customer-account-structures-parent-child-vs-multi-location/02.png" />

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**Have additional questions?**

*Contact us at [support@fieldpulse.com](mailto:support@fieldpulse.com) or use the chat feature in the bottom right corner of your screen.*
