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

# Add a restaurant

> Create a new merchant, or add another location to a merchant you already have.

There are two ways to add a restaurant. Pick the one that matches the business.

| You want to add | Use |
| - | - |
| A new restaurant business that isn't in Maple yet | **New Merchant** |
| Another site for a business already in Maple | **Create Location** |

## Add a new merchant

Use this when you sign a new restaurant business. The restaurant owner gets an email invite and finishes their own account setup.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Merchants page">
    Log in at [app.maple.inc](https://app.maple.inc) at the organization level and open **Merchants**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click New Merchant">
    Enter the merchant name and the owner's email, name, and phone number.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send the invite">
    Maple creates the merchant with a first location and emails the owner. The first location is created as a
    placeholder, which setup fills in.
  </Step>

  <Step title="The owner signs up">
    The owner follows the email, creates their login, and completes the [onboarding](/onboarding) steps for the first
    location.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Each merchant has one owner. Use the restaurant owner's email, not a shared partner address, so the owner keeps control of their account.

## Add a location to an existing merchant

Use this when a restaurant business opens or adds another site.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Switch into the merchant">
    Pick the merchant from the switcher at the top of the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create Location">
    The Create Location window opens. It guides you through:

    * **Legal entity**: choose which company this location belongs to. This step shows only when the merchant already has at least one legal entity.
    * **Location details**: the location's name and phone number.
    * **Plan**: choose the plan for this location. This step is skipped when billing is arranged through Maple. Maple can prefill a location manager invite on request.
    * **Review and confirm**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set up the location">
    Continue with the [location setup checklist](/partners/location-setup).
  </Step>
</Steps>

You need admin access on the merchant to create a location.

## One merchant or several?

Create **separate merchants** when restaurants have different owners or are different brands. Each merchant has its own owner, users, and legal entity.

Add **locations to one merchant** when they are sites of the same business and the same owner runs them.

A location can't be moved to another merchant later, so decide before you create it.

## Invite people to a location

To give a manager or staff member access to a single location, open the location's settings and go to **Users & Invites**. Roles are Owner, Admin, Manager, and Staff. See [How Maple is organized](/partners/overview#who-can-do-what).


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