Multi-location aftermarket businesses face a constant tension: should every location charge the same, or can they vary by market? The right answer is "constrained variance" — HQ sets floors and ceilings, locations adjust within them.
The inheritance model
SalesThumb HQ uses a 3-tier catalog:
1. HQ catalog — services, base price, deposit %, warranty terms, photo templates 2. Location overrides — per-location adjustments within HQ-defined bounds 3. Per-quote overrides — front-desk adjustments per individual quote (with manager approval)
Each level inherits from the one above and overrides only what changes.
Step 1 — Define HQ-level "floor" and "ceiling"
For each service, set:
- Floor price: the minimum any location can charge
- Recommended price: the suggested retail
- Ceiling price: the maximum any location can charge
Example: Full Front PPF - Floor: $1,800 - Recommended: $2,200 - Ceiling: $2,600
A high-cost-of-living market (San Francisco, Miami Beach) charges $2,400. A lower-cost market (Tulsa, Birmingham) charges $1,900.
Settings (at HQ level) → Services → each service → Pricing tier.
Step 2 — Configure per-location bounds
For each location:
- Pick the location → Services → applicable services → adjust price within HQ bounds
- If a location wants to go below the floor, HQ must approve manually (Settings → Approvals)
- If a location wants to go above the ceiling (premium market), HQ must approve
Approvals create a paper trail.
Step 3 — Service catalog variance
Some services exist only at certain locations:
- Location 1 (HQ — full-service): tint + PPF + ceramic + detail
- Location 2 (tint-only): tint + add-ons
- Location 3 (PPF specialty): PPF + ceramic only
Settings (per location) → Services → Visible services. Hide what's not offered.
Step 4 — Discount / promotion authority
Define who can grant discounts at what level:
- HQ: any discount up to 100% off
- Location manager: up to 25% off
- Front-desk operator: up to 10% off
- Discounts above their level require manager / HQ approval
Settings → Permissions → Discount authority.
Step 5 — Reporting variance
The HQ dashboard exposes:
- Average ticket per location (vs. HQ recommended)
- Discount frequency per location
- Margin per location
You'll see patterns:
- Location 3 averaging $1,750 on a service with $1,800 floor = they're slipping below floor. Audit.
- Location 1 averaging $2,500 on a service with $2,200 recommended = they're successfully premium-pricing. Worth studying.
- Location 2 discounting 80% of jobs = front desk has authority they shouldn't.
Common questions
### Should all locations have the same price?
It's tempting from a brand-consistency standpoint but rarely optimal. Different markets bear different prices. A $89 detail in Seattle = $69 detail in Birmingham at equivalent margin.
The exception: customers who travel between locations need a consistent experience. If a customer books at HQ for $189 and then goes to location 2 expecting the same service, getting charged $229 will damage trust.
The middle path: same service, modest price variance (10-20% max), explicit per-location pricing visible on the booking page.
### What about service quality variance?
Pricing variance is fine; service variance is not. Every location should deliver the same quality at the price they charge. If location 3 is cheaper because their tint installer is less skilled, that's a problem — customers notice.