Speako supports different location types because not every business takes bookings in the same way. A restaurant location is organised around tables and seating, while a service-business location is organised around staff, services, and service categories.
Choosing the right mode matters because it changes what you see in the dashboard and what setup tasks Speako expects you to complete.
The practical difference
| If your location is... | Speako focuses on... | Dashboard areas you should expect |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant | Seating and table capacity | Tables, Zone Tags, Floor Plan |
| Service business | People, services, and bookable work | Team Members, Job Titles, Services, Categories |
Both types still use shared areas such as Bookings, Customers, AI Agent, Organization, Settings, and Help.
Choose restaurant mode when seating is central
Restaurant mode is the better fit when bookings depend on tables, seating capacity, or zones. In this mode, Speako shows restaurant-specific table setup and the Setup Guide includes Set up your tables.
Restaurant starter data may include table-related configuration such as zone tags, tables, a default floor plan named Main Area, and table status tags. You should still review all starter data before using it with customers.
Choose service-business mode when appointments depend on staff or services
Service-business mode is the better fit when customers book a service, appointment, consultation, session, class, or other staff-based work. In this mode, Speako shows team and service catalogue areas, and the Setup Guide includes Setup your booking resources.
Service-business starter data may include service categories, services, job title tags, staff members, staff availability, and staff-to-service links. Review these carefully because they affect what can be booked.
⚠️ Important: The mode you choose affects navigation and setup guidance. Do not choose restaurant mode only because your business has a physical venue, and do not choose service-business mode if table capacity is the core booking resource.
How this affects the AI Agent
The AI Agent depends on the same operational setup your dashboard uses. For restaurants, table and seating details are part of the context the business needs to configure. For service businesses, staff, services, categories, and availability are more important.
If the wrong mode is selected, the AI Agent may be missing the type of booking structure your business actually needs.
If you are unsure
Think about what a customer is really trying to reserve:
- If they reserve a table, seating area, or dining time, restaurant mode is usually the better fit.
- If they reserve a service with a person, team member, or appointment slot, service-business mode is usually the better fit.
When in doubt, choose the mode that matches the resources you need to manage every day, not the broad industry label you use for marketing.