The hardest part of building your first app usually isn’t any single setting. It’s the blank page: what am I even building? This guide answers that. It maps common kinds of business onto a starting point, so instead of staring at an empty App Setup screen you begin from a playbook that already looks like your app.

The four base playbooks

Every MAM app grows out of one of four foundations. Pick the one that matches how your customers will use the app, then add features on top — you don’t have to choose everything up front.

• Directory — a browsable list of places, each with its own detail page, map pin, and category. This is the base when your app is fundamentally “a collection of things people look through.” See Build a local business directory app end-to-end.
• Venue — the same directory, but each listing carries more: special offers, a Chat button to message the place, and reviews and ratings, all on one detail screen. Reach for this when a listing is a destination, not just an entry. See Combine a directory, offers, chat, and reviews into one venue app.
• Shopping — a storefront built on WooCommerce: product categories, Add to Cart / Buy Now, a cart, checkout, and order history. This is the base whenever money changes hands for goods. See Build a shopping app end to end (cart, listings, checkout).
• Events — a calendar of events people RSVP to, get reminders about, and check into with a QR code at the door. See Run an events app with RSVPs, reminders, and check-in QR codes.

On top of any base, you can layer composable features: location filtering (Build a city-scoped app with geofilters), activity check-in (Set up the Activity / check-in screen), paid subscriptions (Sell subscriptions with in-app purchases), support chat (Add in-app support chat between users and your team), reviews (Collect reviews and ratings on your listings), in-app forms (Power your app forms with Gravity Forms), and more.

The nine profiles below are starting points, not rules. Find the one closest to your business, use its base and plugin set as a first draft, then bend it to fit.

Restaurant / food service

Base: Venue (browse-and-visit) — Combine a directory, offers, chat, and reviews into one venue app. Add ordering with the Shopping base (Build a shopping app end to end (cart, listings, checkout)) if customers pay in-app.

Plugins: mam-geodirectory (+ GeoDirectory) for the listing and its detail screen, mam-special-offers for daily deals, mam-reviews-manager for ratings, mam-chat-manager for messaging — or mam-woocommerce (+ WooCommerce) if you take orders.

Emphasize: the Special Offers meta box for time-boxed specials (up to four per listing); business hours and a tap-to-call button on the detail screen; reviews and star ratings; and, for ordering, the checkout Show Tip Option and Show pickup/delivery option toggles.

Feels like: a neighborhood guide to your place — hours, photos, today’s specials, and a way to reach you — that can grow into a full order-ahead app when you’re ready.

Gym / fitness studio

Base: Events for the class schedule — Run an events app with RSVPs, reminders, and check-in QR codes — layered with activity check-in and a membership paywall.

Plugins: mam-geodirectory (+ GeoDirectory + GeoDir Event Manager) for the class calendar, mam-special-offers for RSVP to a class, mam-inapp-purchase-manager (+ WooCommerce) for memberships.

Emphasize: the calendar view of upcoming classes; the I’m Going RSVP and per-attendee QR confirmation at the door; the Activity check-in screen with an allowable check-in distance (Set up the Activity / check-in screen); and subscription tiers on a paywall, with owners and staff exempted (Exempt owners and staff from the subscription paywall).

Feels like: members browse the week’s classes, tap to reserve a spot, and flash a code at the front desk — behind a membership that unlocks the app.

Church / faith community

Base: Events for services and gatherings — Run an events app with RSVPs, reminders, and check-in QR codes — combined with WordPress content screens and push notifications.

Plugins: mam-geodirectory (+ GeoDirectory + GeoDir Event Manager) for the calendar, mam-gravity-forms-manager (+ Gravity Forms) for connect cards, plus MAM Main’s WordPress content and notification screens.

Emphasize: an event calendar for services and groups; an Enable Push Notifications button so you can reach the congregation (Add an “Enable Push Notifications” button); a connect-card form (Power your app forms with Gravity Forms); a Web URL button pointing at your online-giving page (Add a Web URL button (in-app browser)); and WordPress pages or post categories for sermons and news (List a WordPress Post Category in your app).

Feels like: one place to see what’s happening this week, sign up to connect, catch a sermon, and give — with a push notification when something changes.

Chamber of commerce / association

Base: Directory of member businesses — Build a local business directory app end-to-end — with member-only content gated behind login and roles.

Plugins: mam-geodirectory (+ GeoDirectory) for the member directory, plus MAM Main’s login/accounts and role-based screens.

Emphasize: the listing claim flow so members manage their own entry; Require login before users can use your app to keep member content private; Give different roles different home screens so members and the public see different apps; and push notifications for announcements.

Feels like: a pocket member directory where the public browses businesses and signed-in members get a private home screen with their own tools and updates.

Real estate

Base: Directory where listings are properties — Build a local business directory app end-to-end — built map-first.

Plugins: mam-geodirectory (+ GeoDirectory) for the property listings, mam-geofilters for city and radius filtering, optionally mam-chat-manager to message the agent.

Emphasize: a map screen as the primary view, with list and map on paired tabs (Add a Map screen showing your listings); the geofilter picker for “properties near me” within a radius (Build a city-scoped app with geofilters); a rich listing detail with photos, address, and an embedded map; favorites so users save properties; and per-listing chat to reach the agent (Add per-listing chat so users can message a venue).

Feels like: a map full of pins you can filter to a neighborhood, tap through to full property pages, save the ones you like, and message the agent.

Nonprofit

Base: Events for programs and fundraisers — Run an events app with RSVPs, reminders, and check-in QR codes — with forms for volunteering and a giving link.

Plugins: mam-geodirectory (+ GeoDirectory + GeoDir Event Manager) for the events calendar, mam-gravity-forms-manager (+ Gravity Forms) for volunteer sign-ups, plus MAM Main’s notifications and content screens.

Emphasize: an event calendar with I’m Going RSVP; a volunteer sign-up form (Power your app forms with Gravity Forms); a Web URL button that opens your donation page in the in-app browser (Add a Web URL button (in-app browser)); an Enable Push Notifications button for campaign updates; and WordPress content screens for your story and impact.

Feels like: supporters see upcoming events, raise a hand to volunteer, tap to donate, and hear from you between events.

School / district

Base: Events / calendar — Run an events app with RSVPs, reminders, and check-in QR codes — with notifications and role-based screens for different audiences.

Plugins: mam-geodirectory (+ GeoDirectory + GeoDir Event Manager) for the calendar, MAM Main’s notifications and role-based home screens, plus mam-gravity-forms-manager (+ Gravity Forms) for forms.

Emphasize: a shared calendar of school events; an Enable Push Notifications button for alerts and closures (Add an “Enable Push Notifications” button); Give different roles different home screens so parents, students, and staff each land somewhere relevant; WordPress pages and post categories for news and handbooks (Show a WordPress Page in your app); and forms for permission slips or contact.

Feels like: a single app where each audience opens to their own home screen, with the calendar, announcements, and forms they actually need.

Salon / appointment services

Base: Venue — Combine a directory, offers, chat, and reviews into one venue app — with a booking-request form and chat.

Plugins: mam-geodirectory (+ GeoDirectory) for the salon’s detail screen, mam-gravity-forms-manager (+ Gravity Forms) for a booking-request form, mam-chat-manager for messaging, mam-reviews-manager for reviews, mam-special-offers for promotions.

Emphasize: a detail screen with hours and a tap-to-call button; a booking-request form users submit to ask for a time (Power your app forms with Gravity Forms); a Chat button to message the salon (Add per-listing chat so users can message a venue); reviews and ratings; and special offers for slow days. (There’s no built-in real-time availability calendar — bookings come in as form requests you confirm.)

Feels like: a branded page for the salon where clients see your work, request a time, message you, and leave a review.

Hotel / hospitality

Base: Venue composite as a local guide — Combine a directory, offers, chat, and reviews into one venue app — scoped to the area around the property.

Plugins: mam-geodirectory (+ GeoDirectory) for the guide listings, mam-special-offers for on-property and partner deals, mam-chat-manager for a concierge channel, mam-geofilters for location scoping, mam-reviews-manager for recommendations.

Emphasize: a directory of nearby dining and attractions as your local guide, on a map and list; special offers for the restaurant, spa, or partners; a Chat button that reaches the front desk (Add in-app support chat between users and your team); geofilters centered on the property; and WordPress pages for property info and policies.

Feels like: a digital concierge in every guest’s pocket — what’s good nearby, today’s on-property offers, and a direct line to the desk.

None of these fit?

That’s expected — these nine are common shapes, not a closed list. Every MAM app is assembled from the same parts: a base playbook plus the composable features above, each a plugin you switch on when you need it. If your business is a blend — a directory that also sells, an events app that also has memberships — you layer the pieces that apply and skip the rest.

Two things help you find your own combination:

• Start from the content type. What is the one thing your users browse — places, products, events, articles? That answer picks your base. See Add a button: the content-type picker explained and WP Page vs. Post vs. Post Category vs. Post Category URL: which to use.
• The AI Configurator (coming soon) will do this matching for you: describe your business in plain language and it will propose a base playbook, a plugin set, and the settings to emphasize — the same map you just read, applied to your specific case.

Until then, pick the closest profile above, follow its base playbook end to end, and add features one at a time.

Related articles

• Build a local business directory app end-to-end
• Combine a directory, offers, chat, and reviews into one venue app
• Build a shopping app end to end (cart, listings, checkout)
• Run an events app with RSVPs, reminders, and check-in QR codes
• Build a city-scoped app with geofilters
• Set up the Activity / check-in screen
• Sell subscriptions with in-app purchases
• Add in-app support chat between users and your team
• Collect reviews and ratings on your listings
• Add a button: the content-type picker explained