# Café step 1: settings, branches and modules

> Create a location per café branch, switch on Kitchen and Modifiers (Tables only if you serve at tables), and set POS V2 to the café style with big tiles.

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

Start by giving each branch its own location, switching on only the modules a café needs, and making POS V2 the café-style till.

> **How to turn it on**
> 1. **Plan:** Kitchen, Modifiers and Tables are included with the restaurant features. Offline POS and some extras depend on your plan.
> 2. **Switch:** Settings › Business Settings › Modules: Kitchen, Modifiers (and Tables if you serve at tables), then Update Settings
> 3. **Permission:** Admins change settings. Cashiers need the sell permissions; baristas need View kitchen display.

## Before you start

- Business name, currency, time zone, logo and tax rates are set ([Business settings](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/business-settings/)).

## 1. One location per branch

1. Open **Settings › Business Locations** and click **Add** for each branch.
2. Give each one its address, invoice scheme and receipt layout.
3. Open **Settings** on each location and pick **POS featured products**: your best sellers, shown as quick buttons on that branch's POS.

More: [Add multiple locations](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/locations/), [Restaurant step 1](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/step-1-business-and-locations/).

## 2. Switch on the café modules

1. Open **Settings › Business Settings** and click the **Modules** tab.
2. Turn on **Modifiers** and **Kitchen**. Turn on **Tables** only if guests are served at tables, and **Types of service** if takeaway has its own prices or packing charge.
3. Click **Update Settings**. The **Restaurant** menu appears.

The full list of restaurant switches is in [Restaurant step 2](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/step-2-turn-on-restaurant-modules/).

## 3. Make POS V2 the café till

1. Open **Settings › Business Settings** and click the **POS** tab.
2. In the **POS V2** section, set **POS opened by the POS button and the menu** to **POS V2 (new)**.
3. Set **POS style** to **Café / bakery — big product tiles**. Use **Style per location** if one branch works differently.
4. Under **Product view**, choose the **Product tile size**, and tick **Show product pictures**, **Show prices on product tiles** and **Show the Favourites tab (featured products of the location)**.
5. Click **Update Settings**.

Every option is explained on [POS V2](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/pos-v2/).

## 4. Import the café basics

Use **Import prebuilt** on **Products › Categories**, **Restaurant › Modifiers**, the kitchen stations in **Restaurant › Restaurant settings** and **Settings › Types of service** to start from a café template, then rename and re-price. See [Restaurant step 3](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/restaurant/step-3-import-prebuilt-restaurant-setup/).

## Tips and mistakes to avoid

- Don't switch on modules you won't use; each one adds buttons cashiers must learn.
- Pick a touch screen of at least 10 inches for the till; tiles are made for fingers.

## Next step

  - [Step 2: A fast tile menu](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/cafe/step-2-quick-menu/)
  - [POS V2](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/pos-v2/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Which POS should a café use?

POS V2. Its café / bakery style shows big product tiles that are quick to tap on a touch screen. POS V1 stays available and each screen links to the other.

### Do I need the Kitchen module without a kitchen?

Turn it on if baristas should see drink orders on a screen, or if you want open tabs. If you only sell at the counter and hand drinks over at once, you can leave it off.

### Can each branch use its own POS style?

Yes. Under Style per location you can give a branch its own style, or leave it on Same as business.

### Can I import a ready-made café setup?

Yes. Categories, modifier sets, kitchen stations and types of service each have an Import prebuilt button. See the restaurant guide's prebuilt step for the full picture.

### Where is the switch for the POS that opens from the POS button?

In Settings › Business Settings › POS, under POS V2, choose POS opened by the POS button and the menu. Sell › POS then opens that version.