Shopify Plus B2B Setup: Your Complete Guide to Wholesale Features
Selling to other businesses is different from selling to regular shoppers. Business buyers need custom prices. They want to order in bulk. They need payment terms.
Shopify Plus has built-in B2B features. You can run both retail and wholesale from one store. No need for separate websites or complex setups.
This guide walks you through B2B setup on Shopify Plus. You will learn about company accounts, price lists, and all the features that make wholesale work.
Why B2B on Shopify Plus?
The B2B market is growing fast. Shopify reports that B2B sales on their platform grew 109% year-over-year in Q1 2025. By 2030, global B2B ecommerce is expected to hit over $25 trillion.
Shopify Plus gives you native B2B tools. This means they are built into the platform. You do not need to add extra apps or build custom solutions.
Key benefits include:
- One Platform: Manage retail and wholesale together
- Native Features: Built-in tools that work reliably
- Scalable: Grows with your business
- Familiar Interface: Same Shopify admin you already know
Core B2B Features on Shopify Plus
Here is what you get with Shopify Plus B2B:
Company Profiles
Company profiles are the center of B2B on Shopify. Each business customer gets their own profile.
Company profiles include:
- Company Name and Details: Basic info about the business
- Multiple Locations: Different shipping and billing addresses
- Contact Management: Add multiple buyers under one company
- Role-Based Permissions: Control who can order and who can approve
- Payment Terms: Custom terms for each company
- Order History: Track all orders from that company
You can set up companies manually or let them request accounts through your store.
Price Lists
Not all customers pay the same price. Price lists let you set different pricing for different customers.
What you can do with price lists:
- Fixed Prices: Set exact prices for products
- Percentage Discounts: Apply a discount across products
- Volume Pricing: Lower prices for larger quantities
- Currency-Specific: Different prices for different currencies
- Company-Specific: Assign price lists to specific companies
You can have as many price lists as you need. Assign them to companies or customer groups.
Custom Catalogs
Sometimes you do not want certain customers to see all products. Custom catalogs control what each buyer sees.
With custom catalogs you can:
- Hide Products: Show only products relevant to each buyer
- Create Collections: Group products for specific customers
- Combine with Pricing: Link catalogs to price lists
- Control by Company: Different catalogs for different companies
A clothing brand might show one line to retailers and another to distributors. Catalogs make this easy.
Payment Terms
Business buyers often need time to pay. Net terms let them order now and pay later.
Payment term options:
- Net 15, 30, 60, 90: Pay within that many days
- Due on Receipt: Pay right away
- Custom Terms: Set any terms you need
- Deposit Requirements: Collect partial payment upfront
You assign payment terms at the company level. When they check out, the terms apply automatically.
Multi-Contact Accounts
Companies often have multiple people who order. Multi-contact accounts handle this well.
How it works:
- One company profile with multiple contacts
- Each contact has their own login
- Set permissions for each contact
- Control who can order vs who can only browse
- Track orders by contact
This is perfect for larger companies with purchasing teams.
Setting Up B2B on Shopify Plus
Here is how to get started:
Step 1: Enable B2B Features
In your Shopify admin:
- Go to Settings
- Find B2B settings
- Enable the features you need
This unlocks the B2B tools in your admin.
Step 2: Create Your First Company
Add a company profile:
- Go to Customers in your admin
- Click on Companies
- Create a new company
- Add company details
- Add at least one contact
Fill in everything you know about the company. You can add more later.
Step 3: Set Up Locations
Companies often have multiple addresses:
- In the company profile, add locations
- Include shipping addresses
- Add billing addresses
- Set a default location
This makes checkout easier for buyers with multiple sites.
Step 4: Create Price Lists
Set up your B2B pricing:
- Go to Products then Price Lists
- Create a new price list
- Add products and set prices
- Choose fixed prices or percentage off
- Save your price list
You can create multiple price lists for different tiers.
Step 5: Assign Prices to Companies
Connect companies to their pricing:
- Open a company profile
- Go to the pricing section
- Assign a price list
- Set payment terms
- Save changes
When contacts from that company log in, they see their prices.
Step 6: Build Custom Catalogs (Optional)
If you need to control product visibility:
- Create a new catalog
- Add products or collections
- Assign to companies
- Test that it works correctly
Catalogs are optional but useful for complex B2B needs.
2025 B2B Updates
Shopify keeps adding B2B features. Recent updates include:
Better Draft Orders
You can now create draft orders for B2B customers more easily. This helps when you take orders by phone or email.
Deposit Collection
Collect deposits on B2B orders. Useful for large orders or new customers.
Customer Account Extensions
New tools for the customer account area:
- Quoting workflows for custom pricing
- PDF invoices that look professional
- Better order history views
Self-Serve Returns
B2B customers can now manage returns themselves. This reduces work for your team.
More App Support
More apps now work with B2B. The ecosystem is growing to support wholesale needs.
Running Retail and Wholesale Together
One big advantage of Shopify Plus B2B is running both from one store.
How It Works
- Regular customers shop normally
- B2B customers log in to see their prices
- Same products, different experiences
- One admin to manage everything
Keeping Things Separate
You can control the experience:
- Different prices for retail vs wholesale
- Products only shown to B2B buyers
- Minimum order quantities for wholesale
- Different payment options
The Benefits
Running everything together means:
- Less work managing multiple stores
- Consistent branding
- Shared inventory counts
- Easier reporting
What B2B Does Not Include
Be aware of some limitations:
Accelerated Checkouts
These do not work with B2B mode:
- Shop Pay
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
B2B buyers use the standard checkout.
Subscriptions
Subscription products are not compatible with B2B currently.
Some Third-Party Apps
Not all apps work with B2B features. Check app compatibility before buying.
Store Credit
Store credit does not work in B2B mode currently.
Pricing Considerations
Shopify Plus starts around $2,300 per month. This includes B2B features.
If Shopify Plus is too expensive, you have options:
- Use wholesale apps on lower plans
- Apps cost $20-50 per month typically
- Some features will be limited
- Good for starting out
But for serious B2B, Plus gives you the most complete solution.
When to Get Help
B2B setup can be simple or complex. Consider getting help if:
You Have Complex Pricing
Many price lists, volume tiers, and special deals take time to set up correctly.
You Need Integrations
Connecting to your ERP or CRM might need custom work:
- Syncing customer data
- Automating orders to fulfillment
- Connecting to accounting software
You Have Many Customers to Migrate
Moving hundreds of B2B customers takes planning:
- Data migration
- Testing access
- Training customers on new system
You Want Advanced Features
Some things need development work:
- Custom quoting systems
- Complex approval workflows
- Special reporting needs
Best Practices for B2B Success
Keep these tips in mind:
Start Simple
You do not need everything on day one:
- Begin with basic price lists
- Add complexity over time
- Learn what customers actually need
Communicate with Customers
Let B2B customers know about the new system:
- Send login instructions
- Explain how to find their prices
- Offer support during transition
Train Your Team
Your team needs to know the system:
- How to create companies
- How to adjust prices
- How to handle problems
Monitor and Adjust
Watch how things work:
- Are customers finding their prices?
- Are orders coming through?
- What questions do customers have?
Adjust based on what you learn.
FAQ
Do I need Shopify Plus for B2B?
For full native B2B features, yes. You can use apps for basic wholesale on lower plans, but Plus gives you the complete solution.
Can I have both retail and B2B customers?
Yes. This is a key feature of Shopify Plus B2B. Regular customers shop normally. B2B customers log in to see their pricing.
How many price lists can I create?
There is no hard limit. Create as many as you need for different customer tiers or regions.
Can customers see retail prices?
You control this. You can hide retail prices from logged-in B2B customers or show both for comparison.
Do payment terms work automatically?
Yes. Once you set payment terms for a company, they apply automatically at checkout.
Can I import existing B2B customers?
Yes. You can import company data and customer lists. For large migrations, you might want help with the process.
Conclusion
Shopify Plus B2B gives you powerful tools for wholesale selling. Company accounts, price lists, custom catalogs, and payment terms all work together.
You can run retail and wholesale from one store. Manage everything in one admin. Keep one set of products and inventory.
Getting started is straightforward. Enable the features. Create companies. Set up pricing. You can add more complexity over time.
For complex B2B needs or large migrations, consider getting expert help. The right setup makes a big difference in how smoothly things run.
B2B ecommerce is growing fast. With Shopify Plus, you are well-positioned to capture that growth. Start setting up your B2B features today and open a new channel for your business.