# Categories, brands and units (with sub-units)

> Build a 3-level category tree, manage brands with logos, and set up units and sub-units such as a box of 12 pieces or a strip of 10 tablets.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/categories-brands-units/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

Categories, brands and units keep your catalog tidy: they drive the POS category buttons, product filters, reports, discounts and your online store menus. This page explains the 3-level category tree, brand logos, and units with sub-units (for packs, cartons, strips and weights).

**Tip:** 
Each of these pages has an **Import prebuilt** button with ready-made lists for your industry. See [Import prebuilt](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/import-prebuilt/).

## Categories (3-level tree)

Open **Products › Categories**. You see your tree with each category's code (for example **C118**), level badge (**L1**, **L2**, **L3**), product count, and buttons to add a sub-category (**+**), edit, move, switch on or off, and delete.

![Categories page with search, All categories filter, Expand all, Collapse all, Import prebuilt and Add category buttons, and a list of main categories such as Beverages, Café Menu, Dairy & Bakery with level badge, product count, add, edit, move, on/off switch and delete](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/categories-tree.BgKpdNWI.png) (web app page: `/taxonomies?type=product`)
*The category tree. Counts at the top show main, sub and sub-sub categories.*

1. Click **Add category** for a main category, or the **+** on a row to add a sub-category under it.
2. Type the name. Optionally add a code, image and website details.
3. Save. The tree refreshes.
4. To reorder, drag the **⋮⋮** handle. To nest, drop a category onto another one. Moving a category moves its sub-categories and its products with it.
5. Use the switch to turn a category off. Its sub-categories are switched off too. To turn one back on, its parent must be on; you are asked whether to switch on only this one or also its sub-categories.

On the product form you choose **Category**, **Sub category** and **Sub-sub-category**, and a product belongs to the deepest one you pick. The products list **Category** filter matches any level.

## Brands

Open **Products › Brands**. Each brand has a logo, an **Active** switch, a **Website** badge and a **Web-ready** score for your online store. Click **Add** for a new brand (name, logo, description, and website details), or **Import prebuilt** for well-known brands by industry.

![Brands page with Import prebuilt and Add buttons, Status filter, and a table of brands with Logo, Brands, Status switch Active, Website badge On website, Web-ready percentage and Edit / Delete](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/brands-list.DVOej9tM.png) (web app page: `/brands`)
*Brands with status, website badge and web-ready score.*

Switching a brand off hides it from the product form, the POS and the website; it stays in reports.

## Units and sub-units

Open **Products › Units**. The list shows **Name**, **Short name** and **Allow decimal**.

![Units page listing Bag (10), Box (12), Carton (12), Carton (24), Carton (6), Dozen, Kilogram with Allow decimal Yes, Pack (5), Pieces and Tray (24)](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/units-list.DiU4bdPA.png) (web app page: `/units`)
*Base units like Pieces and Kilogram, plus pack sub-units like Box (12) = 12 Pc(s).*

### Add a base unit

1. Click **Add**.
2. Type the **Name** (for example Kilogram) and **Short name** (kg).
3. Set **Allow decimal** to **Yes** for things sold by weight or length (1.25 kg), **No** for pieces.
4. Save.

### Add a sub-unit (pack, box, carton)

1. Make sure **Enable Sub Units** is ticked in **Settings › Business Settings › Product**.
2. In **Products › Units**, click **Add**, type the name (for example Box) and short name.
3. Tick **Add as multiple of other unit**, type how many (for example 12) **times base unit** and pick the base unit (Pieces).
4. Save. On each product that comes in boxes, pick the box in **Related Sub Units**.

At the POS or on a purchase you can then choose the unit on the line: sell 1 Box and stock drops by 12 Pieces. The price per box is the piece price × 12.

![Import prebuilt units window showing the Weight group with Gram and its sub-units Kilogram (already added), Quintal, Metric Ton and Tola with their conversion to Gram](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/prebuilt-units-details.85m0w5L3.png) (web app page: `/units`)
*Import prebuilt units come with their conversions, for example 1 Kilogram = 1000 Gram.*

### Example: pharmacy units

| Unit | Type | Means |
|---|---|---|
| Tablet | Base unit | Stock is counted in tablets |
| Strip of 10 (Tablet) | Sub-unit | 1 strip = 10 tablets |
| Box of 20 (Tablet) | Sub-unit | 1 box = 20 tablets (2 strips) |

A customer can buy 3 loose tablets, 1 strip or 1 box. The selling price you set is per tablet; the strip and box prices are worked out from it.

## Variations and warranties

Two more lists live in the same menu:

- **Products › Variations** – templates such as Size or Colour used by [variable products](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/variable-products/).
- **Products › Warranties** – warranty terms (name, duration) you can pick on a product and print on invoices.

## Related pages

  - [Import prebuilt](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/import-prebuilt/) — Ready-made categories, brands and units.
  - [Add a product](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/add-products/) — Use your lists on a product.
  - [Prices and discounts](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/prices-and-discounts/) — Discounts by brand or category.
  - [Business settings](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/business-settings-overview/) — Enable sub-units, brands and categories.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many category levels can I have?

Three levels - category, sub-category and sub-sub-category, for example Electronics › Televisions › Smart TVs.

### Can I move a category under another one?

Yes. Drag the handle and drop a category onto another one. Its sub-categories and its products move with it, as long as the tree stays within 3 levels.

### What happens when I switch off a category?

Switching off a category also switches off everything under it. It disappears from the product form, the POS and your website, but stays in reports.

### Why can't I delete a category?

A category can't be deleted while it has sub-categories or products at any level. Move or recategorise them first, or switch the category off.

### What is a sub-unit?

A sub-unit is a bigger or smaller pack of the same item, defined as a multiple of a base unit, for example Box (12) = 12 Pieces. You can sell or buy in either and stock is kept in the base unit.

### How do I sell loose tablets, strips and boxes?

Use a base unit Tablet with sub-units Strip of 10 (Tablet) and Box of 20 (Tablet), and pick them in Related Sub Units on the product. Pharmacy products from the Product Library are set up this way automatically.

### Where do I turn sub-units on?

In Settings › Business Settings › Product, tick Enable Sub Units. The Product Library turns it on for you the first time it imports a product with sub-units.