Shopify B2B: Features and Setup Guide for Wholesale

Introduction

Shopify has transformed B2B selling with native wholesale features. Whether you're adding wholesale to your D2C brand or building a dedicated B2B store, Shopify provides powerful tools to manage business customers. This guide covers everything you need to know about Shopify B2B.

Shopify B2B Overview

Shopify B2B is available on Shopify Plus and includes:

  • Company accounts and customer management
  • Custom price lists and volume discounts
  • Net payment terms
  • Quantity rules and purchase limits
  • Draft orders and quick order forms
  • B2B-specific checkout customizations

Setting Up B2B on Shopify

Step 1: Enable B2B Features

In your Shopify admin:

  • Go to Settings > B2B
  • Enable B2B features
  • Configure your default settings

Step 2: Create Companies

Companies represent your B2B customers:

  • Add company name and contact information
  • Assign locations for shipping
  • Set payment terms (Net 15, Net 30, etc.)
  • Configure tax exemptions if applicable

Step 3: Set Up Price Lists

Create custom pricing for B2B customers:

  • Percentage discounts — e.g., 20% off retail
  • Fixed prices — Set specific prices per product
  • Volume pricing — Tiered discounts based on quantity
  • Assign to companies — Different prices for different customers

Step 4: Configure Payment Terms

B2B customers expect flexible payment:

  • Net 15, 30, 60, or 90 days
  • Due on receipt
  • Custom terms
  • Automatic payment reminders

Key B2B Features

Company Accounts

Unlike consumer accounts, B2B company accounts support:

  • Multiple buyers per company
  • Spending limits per buyer
  • Location-based shipping
  • Order approval workflows

Volume Discounts

Encourage larger orders with quantity rules:

  • Minimum order quantities
  • Case pack requirements
  • Tiered pricing (buy 10+ for 10% off, 50+ for 20% off)
  • Maximum order limits

Quick Order Forms

B2B buyers need efficiency:

  • CSV upload for bulk ordering
  • Product search with variants
  • Recently ordered products
  • Saved order templates

Draft Orders

Sales reps can create orders on behalf of customers:

  • Apply custom discounts
  • Add notes and tags
  • Send invoice or payment link
  • Partial payments supported

B2B vs D2C: Hybrid Stores

Many brands sell both B2B and D2C. Shopify supports this with:

  • Blended stores — Single store with B2B catalog access
  • Expansion stores — Dedicated B2B store linked to main store
  • Markets — Geographic segmentation for B2B regions

B2B Checkout Customizations

Optimize checkout for B2B buyers:

  • PO number fields
  • Company billing information
  • Multiple shipping addresses
  • Shipping account numbers (FedEx, UPS)

Common B2B Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Complex Pricing

Solution: Use Shopify's price list feature with percentage or fixed pricing. For very complex scenarios, consider apps like SparkLayer or B2B Wholesale Solution.

Challenge: Customer Onboarding

Solution: Create a wholesale application form. Vet customers before granting B2B access. Use apps to automate the approval process.

Challenge: Order Minimums

Solution: Configure quantity rules at the product or variant level. Display minimums clearly on product pages.

Recommended B2B Apps

Extend Shopify's B2B capabilities:

  • SparkLayer — Full B2B portal solution
  • Wholesale Gorilla — Simple wholesale pricing
  • BSS: B2B & Wholesale Solution — Comprehensive features
  • QuickBooks/Xero integration — Accounting automation

Conclusion

Shopify B2B provides powerful native tools for wholesale selling. With proper setup, you can serve business customers efficiently while maintaining your D2C operations. The key is understanding your customers' needs and configuring Shopify accordingly.

Need help setting up Shopify B2B? Contact EcomLadder for expert B2B implementation tailored to your business requirements.