# Choose a multi-location or 3PL setup
URL: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/90200000000405-choose-a-multi-location-or-3pl-setup
Canonical: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/90200000000405-choose-a-multi-location-or-3pl-setup
Markdown: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/90200000000405-choose-a-multi-location-or-3pl-setup.md
Updated: 2026-07-20

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.starshipit.com/llms.txt).

> Compare child accounts, Ship from store, Ops Manager, and WMS to choose the right setup for your operation.

Choose how to structure Starshipit when you operate across multiple locations, retail stores, brands, warehouses, or 3PL clients.

## Understand the options

These options solve different parts of a multi-location operation and can be used together.

| Option | Choose it when | What it adds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Linked accounts (child accounts)** | A location, brand, workstation, or 3PL client needs its own access or settings. | A parent account with linked child accounts. The account type controls which settings are separate or inherited. |
| **Ship from store** | You want retail stores to fulfil online orders using local inventory. | A fulfilment model that routes an order to the appropriate store and child account. Your commerce platform, OMS, or Starshipit rules can participate in routing. |
| **Ops Manager** | You need to monitor and manage multiple Starshipit accounts without switching between them individually. | Central visibility across locations and brands, including orders, exceptions, carriers, users, rules, billing, and supported routing or inventory features. |
| **Starshipit WMS** | You need to control stock and physical warehouse operations, not only shipping. | Inventory, warehouse locations, receiving, putaway, picking, packing, replenishment, stocktakes, and stock movements connected to Starshipit Shipping. |

## Choose a common setup

### Multiple warehouses or dispatch locations

Start with a child account for each location that needs separate pickup addresses, couriers, printers, integrations, or other settings. Add Ops Manager when the central team needs one operational view across those accounts.

Add Starshipit WMS when you also need location-level inventory control and guided warehouse workflows.

### Third-party logistics

Use a 3PL child account for each client that needs separate settings. Add Ops Manager when you need central monitoring, configuration, exception management, or billing across the client accounts.

### Ship from retail stores

Use Ship from store when online orders should be fulfilled by retail locations. Stores are generally represented by child accounts, while your commerce platform, OMS, or rules determine which store receives an order.

Add Ops Manager when head office needs central visibility and control across the store network.

### One warehouse that needs inventory control

Use Starshipit WMS when the main requirement is tracking where stock is stored and controlling receiving, picking, packing, replenishment, and stock movements. You do not need child accounts solely to use WMS.

## Set up your chosen model

1. [Choose a child account structure](/articles/360000553016-choose-an-account-structure-for-multiple-locations-or-3pl-clients-child-accounts) if you need separate accounts.
2. [Set up a child account](/articles/360001575375-set-up-an-account-for-a-location-brand-or-3pl-client-child-accounts).
3. Follow the relevant operating guide:
   - [Configure a 3PL workflow](/articles/115000180963-configure-starshipit-for-a-3pl-workflow)
   - [Set up Ship from store](/articles/9000119980047-set-up-ship-from-store)
   - [Learn what Ops Manager does](/articles/15100000000001-what-is-ops-manager)
   - [Learn what Starshipit WMS does](/articles/14700000000001-what-is-starshipit-wms)

:::note
If more than one option matches your operation, that does not mean the features overlap unnecessarily. Child accounts define the account structure, while Ship from store, Ops Manager, and WMS add different operational capabilities around that structure.
:::