# How to add a platform sub-account

> Add an Amazon sub-account as a separate Merca store, use the main account's node, and approve the sub-account in Account records before relaunching.

Source: https://merca.getchrovia.com/en/docs/platform-subaccount

Some platforms let one main account have multiple sub-accounts. For Amazon, a sub-account should usually use the same node as the main account, so Amazon sees the same network environment.

Merca protects each node by default: on one IP, each platform allows only one login. A sub-account belongs to the same Amazon account setup, but its login name is different, so the first launch is blocked. After you confirm it is a real sub-account under the same main account, allow it from the node's **Account records**.

Before you start, make sure the main account already has a node. This example uses main account `merca_amazon_gs_01@outlook.com` and Amazon sub-account `merca_amazon_gs_sub_01@outlook.com`.

## Add the sub-account as a store

1. Open **My stores** and click **Add store**.
2. Set **Platform** to **Amazon**, then choose the site this sub-account uses.
3. Enter the Amazon sub-account in **Username** and **Password**.
4. For **Node**, choose the same node used by the main account.

This saves the sub-account as a separate store, while keeping it on the same node as the main account.

![Add the Amazon sub-account with the same node](https://merca.getchrovia.com/docs/screenshots/platform-subaccount-add-store.webp)

## The first launch is blocked

Go back to **My stores** and click **Launch** on the sub-account store. If this node already has a main account record for the same platform, Merca shows: **Another account already uses this platform on this node.**

This protection is expected. It prevents the same IP from accidentally signing in to an unrelated Amazon account.

![First launch blocked by login protection](https://merca.getchrovia.com/docs/screenshots/platform-subaccount-launch-blocked.webp)

## Allow it in Account records

1. Open **Nodes** from the sidebar.
2. Find the node used by the sub-account and open **Account records**.
3. Find the blocked Amazon sub-account and click **Allow**.

Only allow sub-accounts that you know belong to the same main account setup. Don't allow unrelated store accounts.

![Allow the sub-account in account records](https://merca.getchrovia.com/docs/screenshots/platform-subaccount-allow.webp)

After you allow it, the sub-account shows as **Allowed**. The main account and sub-account can both stay allowed on the same node.

![Main account and sub-account approved](https://merca.getchrovia.com/docs/screenshots/platform-subaccount-allowed.webp)

## Launch again and sign in

Go back to **My stores** and click **Launch** on the sub-account store again. After the store window opens, sign in to Amazon with the sub-account.

![Sign in to Amazon with the sub-account](https://merca.getchrovia.com/docs/screenshots/platform-subaccount-sign-in.webp)

## Manage it later

The allow record is stored on that node. When this Amazon sub-account keeps using the same node later, it won't be blocked by the one-login-per-platform rule again.

If you no longer want the sub-account to share this node, go back to the node's **Account records** and delete its record. A deleted row no longer takes part in checks. While the main account's record is still there, launching the sub-account is blocked again. The row stays as **Deleted** and cannot be restored.