When setting up your business in BriteBiz, choosing between a Multi-Company and Multi-Account structure is an important decision that impacts everything from user access to accounting integrations. While both options allow you to manage multiple companies, the most crucial difference comes down to Accounting Integrations (Xero/QBs)—and this should be the deciding factor for many businesses.

Understanding the Core Differences

Multi-Company: A Unified Approach

The Multi-Company structure allows businesses to operate multiple companies within a single BriteBiz account. This setup is ideal for businesses that want centralized control with shared settings across all companies.

Key Features:

One Login: Users have a single login for all companies they have access to.
Consistent User Permissions: Permissions are applied uniformly across all companies. If a user has editing rights for bookings, they can edit bookings in each company.
Single Email Inbox Integration: Users can only integrate one email inbox. If the integrated inbox has permission to send emails from different email addresses, these can be assigned as a default per company.
Aggregated Dashboard & Reports: Users can view data across all companies or filter by a specific company.
Shared Price Lists & Products: Products and services can be assigned to one company or made available across all companies.
Limited Accounting Integration: Only one Xero or QuickBooks (QBs) account can be connected, and it will be used for all companies. This is the biggest limitation if each company requires its own accounting integration.

Multi-Account: Separate and Distinct

The Multi-Account structure provides complete separation between businesses, as each company operates under its own BriteBiz account. This setup is best for businesses that require distinct accounting records or unique operational settings per company.

Key Features:

One Login with Switch Account Option: Users can easily switch between accounts via the top-left menu.
Flexible User Permissions: Permissions can be customized per account. A user may have full editing rights in one account but only view access in another.
Multiple Email Integrations: Users can integrate a different email inbox for each account or use the same inbox across multiple accounts.
Company-Specific Dashboards & Reports: Each account has its own dashboard and reports, with no cross-company aggregation.
Independent Price Lists & Products: Each account manages its own products and services independently.
Flexible Accounting Integration: Each BriteBiz account can be connected to a separate Xero or QuickBooks (QBs) account. This is the most significant advantage of Multi-Account—allowing each company to maintain its own financial records without overlap.

Why Accounting Integration Matters Most

If your business requires separate accounting records for each company, Multi-Account is the only viable option. Since Multi-Company allows only one Xero/QBs integration for all companies, businesses that need individual financial tracking per company must opt for Multi-Account to ensure proper bookkeeping.

However, if your companies can share a single accounting system and benefit from centralized management, Multi-Company may be the better choice for operational efficiency.

Making the Right Choice

Feature	Multi-Company	Multi-Account
Login Access	One login for all companies. A switch company option is available on the top next to "Add New" button.	One login for all accounts. A switch account option is available in the top left corner.
User Permissions	Same across all companies.	Can vary per account.
Email Integration	One inbox, can assign sending addresses per company.	Multiple inboxes per account.
Dashboard	Aggregated or per company.	Per company only.
Bookings/Inquiries	Assigned to one company, can be reassigned.	Each account handles its own bookings.
Price Lists/Products	Can be shared across companies.	Each account manages separately.
Accounting (Xero/QBs)	One accounting integration for all companies.	Separate accounting integration per account.
Reports	Aggregated or per company.	Per company only.

Final Thoughts

The choice between Multi-Company and Multi-Account ultimately comes down to how you need to manage your accounting and whether you require distinct financial tracking for each company. If a single accounting integration works for your setup, Multi-Company provides a more streamlined, centralized approach. But if you need separate financial records per company, Multi-Account is the clear winner.

Still unsure? Let’s chat! Our team is happy to help you determine which setup best suits your business needs.