Compare the operating models
In this fictional example, Lin buys for company Q. Lee and Wong book domestic visits for household H. All remain individual people. Q and H describe different customer relationships; a shared email or address does not establish either by itself.
| Business requirement | Company plus contacts | Household plus people |
|---|---|---|
| Q purchasing | Q owns the commercial account | No supplied household purpose |
| H home service | Invents an unnecessary company | H links Lee/Wong and visits |
| Personal identity | Lin stays a person linked to Q | Lee/Wong remain distinct |
Work through the chosen model
Store people separately from companies and households. Relationship fields explain supplied roles. Orders select the agreed customer; notifications select a contact. Household grouping alone grants no access to another member’s records.
- Identify the supplied relationship
- Link people with roles
- Choose customer and contact for the job
Grouping helps joint service but adds relationships to maintain. Begin with actual service/billing responsibility, not inferred family status.
Create two relationship records and three people: Q with Lin, H with Lee/Wong. Company purchasing and home service remain separate histories.
When the other model fits
Unrelated tenants share an address but purchase independently. Must they form one household?
Show the worked answer
No. Keep independent relationships unless a supplied joint-service purpose requires grouping.