Franchises

You can only add branches from the front end.
https://wpgeodirectory.com/docs/franchise-manager-add-on/#adding

Creating 2 different franchises in the backend, means that you created 2 main listings.
So it will never show up in any “select franchise” list, because it is a main listing and not a branch listing.

Franchise: set of 1 main listing and its branches
Main listing: the head or parent of the franchise
Branch listing: A child listing of the main listing.

Thanks

You can only add branches from the front end.

Unless you created the franchise from the front as follows, it will never show up in the “select franchise” list.

When I go to the main listing where it says add franchise and the new form opens up, I try to add the branch into the form where it say franchise and it doesn’t recognize the name – nothing that I type in is recognized.

Because unless you created it as a BRANCH listing from the frontend, the listing has no way of knowing it is a BRANCH listing. You need to create the BRANCH listing as follows:

1. Create a listing, make sure to choose for it to be a franchise
2. That means that listing will be a MAIN listing
3. Then, in FRONTEND only, go to that MAIN listing and click “add a franchise”
4. In the “select franchise” list, select “Add a NEW franchise”

Only then will the BRANCH listing be connected to the MAIN listing.

Thanks

If I make a regular listing on the front end, can that become a branch?

No, only listings added as branches can be branches. But you can manipulate the database as explained here: https://wpgeodirectory.com/docs/changing-franchises/

A listing itself cannot be a “franchise”, it can only be a main listing or a branch listing.
Selecting a listing to be a “franchise” sets it automatically as the main listing, so you can add branches to it.

Franchise: set of 1 main listing and its branches
Main listing: the head or parent of the franchise
Branch listing: A child listing of the main listing.

I don’t know what I am doing incorrectly that makes it not found in the franchise field.

You are not creating the branch listing using the “Add a franchise” link. Once created as a normal listing, it can never be a branch listing [unless you manipulate the database, see above].

So if a listing is already created it cannot become a branch listing. It must be created directly from the main listing in order to be connected in that way. Right?

Correct.

So if I want to connect a listing to an existing listing, it can be connected through the linking on the side bar. In that case, you can only have one listing linked. Correct?

Now I think you are talking about linking different custom post types? You cannot connect two listings in the same CPT except for using the Franchise Manager:
https://wpgeodirectory.com/docs/linking-custom-post-types/

And as far as events, can you have many events connected to a place listing?

Yes, correct: https://wpgeodirectory.com/docs/linking-events-to-places/

Thanks