# Mart step 1: locations, warehouse and retail settings

> Add each shop and your warehouse as business locations and set the business settings a grocery store needs - sub units, stock accounting and POS options.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/mart/step-1-locations-and-warehouse/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

A grocery business usually has more than one place that holds stock: the shop floor, a second branch, a back store or a warehouse. In SmartPOS Hub each of these is a **business location**. This step adds your locations and sets the business settings a mart needs before you import products.

## Before you start

- You are the owner or an admin.
- You have the address of each shop and warehouse.

## Add your shops and warehouse

1. Open **Settings › Business Locations** and click **Add**.
2. Enter the **Name** (for example "F-10 Markaz" or "Central Warehouse"), address, city and phone.
3. Choose the **Invoice scheme** and **Invoice layout for POS** for receipts printed there.
4. Optional: pick a **Price Group** if this branch sells at its own prices.
5. Save, and repeat for every shop and the warehouse.

![Business Locations list with three shops and a central warehouse in Pakistan, each with its own location ID](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/mart-business-locations.DhQi2_5v.png) (web app page: `/business-location`)
*A grocery chain with three shops and a central warehouse.*

Full field reference: [Locations](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/locations/).

## Retail settings to check

Open **Settings › Business Settings** and check these tabs. Click **Update Settings** once at the end.

| Tab | Setting | Recommended for a mart |
|---|---|---|
| **Business** | **Stock Accounting Method** | FIFO (First In First Out) |
| **Business** | **Currency precision** / **Quantity precision** | 2 / 2 (allows 0.25 kg) |
| **Product** | **Enable Sub Units** | On, to sell packs and cartons |
| **Product** | **Enable Product Expiry** | On, if you sell dairy, bakery or other dated goods |
| **Product** | **Enable Brands**, **Enable Categories**, **Enable Sub-Categories** | On |
| **Purchases** | **Enable Lot number** | On, if you track batches |
| **POS** | **Enable Weighing Scale** | On, if your scale prints barcodes ([step 4](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/mart/step-4-barcodes-scales-and-labels/)) |
| **Payment** | **Cash Denominations** | Your currency's notes, for cash counting ([step 5](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/mart/step-5-fast-checkout/)) |
| **Modules** | **POS**, **Purchases**, **Stock Transfers**, **Stock Adjustment** | On |

See [Business settings](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/business-settings/) for every option.

## Tips

- **Name locations by area**, not "Shop 1": the name shows on transfers, reports and the Shopper app.
- **One register per till.** Each cashier opens their own cash register at their location.
- **Plan who works where.** Users can be limited to certain locations in their role; see [Users and roles](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/users-and-roles/).

  - [Step 2: Product Library Mart catalog](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/mart/step-2-product-library-mart-catalog/)
  - [Back to the mart overview](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/mart/overview/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Should my warehouse be a business location?

Yes. A warehouse that holds stock is a location like a shop. Receive purchases there and send stock to shops with stock transfers. You can keep it off the POS by not opening a register there.

### Can each branch have different prices?

Yes. Assign a selling price group to a location, or use price groups for wholesale customers. See Price groups.

### Which stock accounting method should a grocery use?

FIFO (first in, first out) suits most groceries because older stock is sold first and profit follows real purchase costs.

### Why turn on sub units?

So you can buy and sell the same product in pieces, packs and cartons, for example a carton of 12 or a single bottle, while stock is always counted in pieces.

### Can a product be sold only in some branches?

Yes. Each product has its business locations; untick the branches that should not sell it.