Shopify B2B on Basic, Grow and Advanced: 2026 Setup Guide for Wholesale Catalogs and Pricing

What Changed for Shopify B2B in 2026?

Shopify originally positioned its native B2B suite primarily as a Shopify Plus capability. In April 2026, the company announced that foundational B2B features were rolling out to Basic, Grow and Advanced plans at no additional feature fee.

For a smaller wholesaler or a brand adding trade sales to an existing D2C store, this can reduce dependence on:

• password-protected wholesale pages;
• manually maintained discount codes;
• duplicate products containing trade prices;
• spreadsheets used as price lists;
• draft orders created for every buyer;
• third-party applications that replace the complete customer experience;
• separate stores created only to hide wholesale pricing.

The native model connects B2B customers to company records, company locations, catalogs, payment terms and checkout settings. A signed-in buyer can then receive the products, prices and purchasing conditions assigned to the company location they represent.

Native does not automatically mean simple. A B2B project still needs decisions about store architecture, customer migration, catalog segmentation, payment terms, tax exemptions, shipping, permissions, integrations and testing.

Shopify B2B on Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus

Shopify states that B2B functionality is included at no extra cost on Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus, although different variable platform fees can apply to B2B and D2C orders. Feature availability still varies by plan.

The three-catalog limit deserves special attention. It is not three catalogs per buyer. Shopify currently describes it as up to three active catalogs across all B2B markets for Basic, Grow and Advanced stores. Assigning all three to one market uses the complete allowance.

Before upgrading to Plus, calculate whether you genuinely need customer-specific catalogs, unlimited catalog segmentation, partial payments, deposits or advanced storefront personalization. Compare the cost with the operational value instead of upgrading only because Plus has a longer feature list. Our guide to Shopify fees and transaction costs explains why the complete cost stack matters.

Blended Store or Dedicated B2B Store?

The first architecture decision is whether B2B and D2C buyers should use one Shopify store.

Blended B2B and D2C store

A blended store serves retail and wholesale customers from one Shopify environment. A visitor who is not connected to a company location receives the normal D2C experience. An authenticated B2B buyer receives the relevant catalog, pricing and checkout conditions.

Potential benefits include:

• one product database;
• one inventory source;
• shared content and theme maintenance;
• centralized analytics and integrations;
• less duplication between retail and wholesale operations.

Potential difficulties include:

• testing two customer experiences in one theme;
• separating prices, products and content correctly;
• discount rules that must distinguish B2B from D2C;
• applications that behave differently for company customers;
• checkout settings that affect both audiences.

Dedicated B2B store

A dedicated store is built only for wholesale buyers. It can use a B2B-focused theme, restrict access and simplify navigation around bulk ordering, reorders and account-specific purchasing.

A separate B2B store can make sense when:

• the wholesale catalog is substantially different;
• trade buyers need a different brand or domain;
• the product data and integrations are operationally separate;
• most content should be unavailable to retail visitors;
• B2B workflows would make the D2C theme unnecessarily complex.

The disadvantage is duplication. Products, inventory, integrations, SEO decisions, theme work and reporting may need to be coordinated across two stores.

How Companies, Locations and B2B Customers Work

Shopify B2B does not treat every wholesale buyer as an ordinary customer with a discount tag. The system uses three connected records.

Company

The company is the parent organization. It can represent a retailer, distributor, corporate customer or other business buying from you.

Company location

A location represents the specific business unit or purchasing location. Each location can have its own:

• shipping and billing address;
• tax information and exemptions;
• catalog access;
• payment terms;
• checkout settings;
• contacts;
• market assignment.

A company with branches in three countries might therefore use three locations with different pricing, currency, delivery and tax conditions.

B2B customer

The customer is the individual who purchases for the company. A person must be associated with a company location before Shopify treats the purchase as B2B.

This relationship is critical. Shopify warns that if an order or draft order does not have the correct B2B customer and company location, D2C commercial terms can apply.

Customer accounts are required

Shopify B2B requires the current customer-accounts system. Legacy customer accounts are not supported. Buyers sign in using the email address linked to their company location and a one-time code sent by email, so they do not need a conventional stored password.

After signing in, a buyer can access the products, prices and account capabilities available to the selected company location. Users associated with multiple locations can choose which business location they are purchasing for.

How Shopify B2B Catalogs and Wholesale Pricing Work

A B2B catalog controls which products a group of wholesale buyers can purchase and what they pay.

Product availability

A catalog can contain all products or only selected products. In a blended store, this can help separate:

• D2C-only products;
• wholesale case packs;
• trade-exclusive variants;
• regional products;
• products restricted to a dealer tier.

Overall price adjustment

You can apply an overall percentage increase or decrease to products in a catalog. For example, a wholesale market might receive a 25% reduction from retail prices.

Fixed prices

Individual products and variants can have fixed prices. Shopify states that a fixed price overrides the catalog’s general percentage adjustment.

Example:

The fixed price wins for that product.

What happens when several catalogs apply?

Catalog priority can depend on whether catalogs are assigned through markets or directly to company locations. Shopify documents rules that can display the lowest applicable price or the more specific company-location price. This is one of the most important areas to test before launch.

Do not assume that creating an additional discount catalog always makes pricing safer. Overlapping catalogs can cause a buyer to see a lower amount than expected.

CSV management

Shopify supports catalog export and import using CSV. This is useful for large price lists, but it also introduces risk. Always:

1. export the current catalog first;
2. keep a dated backup;
3. edit a small controlled sample;
4. use Preview import;
5. verify fixed prices, percentage adjustments and quantity rules;
6. test the result as a buyer.

Quantity Rules and Volume Pricing

Wholesale buyers often need minimum order quantities, case increments and price breaks. Shopify B2B supports these through catalogs.

Quantity rules

Quantity rules can define:

• minimum quantity;
• maximum quantity;
• required purchasing increments.

Example:

• minimum: 12 units;
• increment: 6 units;
• maximum: 120 units.

Valid quantities are therefore 12, 18, 24 and so on, up to 120.

Volume pricing

Volume pricing creates unit-price breaks at defined quantities.

Shopify notes that applying volume pricing makes the product price fixed, so the catalog’s overall adjustment does not also apply. Model expected prices before importing a large catalog.

Theme compatibility

The theme must communicate quantity requirements and price breaks clearly. Test product pages, quick-order interfaces, cart validation and error messages on mobile as well as desktop.

A buyer should know the minimum and increment before clicking Add to cart. Discovering a rule only after an error creates unnecessary friction.

Payment Terms, Vaulted Cards and B2B Checkout

B2B orders frequently use commercial terms that differ from retail checkout.

Payment terms

Payment terms can define when payment is due, such as:

• due on fulfillment;
• net 7;
• net 15;
• net 30;
• net 45;
• net 60;
• due on a fixed date.

Confirm who receives terms, how overdue orders are handled, whether staff can override terms and how the accounting or ERP system records the due date.

Vaulted cards

Eligible B2B buyers can store a card for future purchases. Define who is permitted to use a saved method and make sure company contacts understand the authorization process.

Accelerated checkout limitations

Shopify’s current B2B considerations list accelerated checkouts such as Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Amazon Pay as incompatible with B2B. Do not promise retail-wallet behavior to wholesale buyers without testing the exact plan and checkout.

Draft orders

Sales staff can create B2B draft orders for orders received by phone or email. The draft needs the correct company location so that pricing, payment terms and checkout settings are applied correctly.

Shopify currently documents a maximum of 500 line items for B2B orders and 200 line items for draft orders. Large wholesale catalogs should be tested against these limits.

Shipping, Tax and B2B Markets

B2B pricing is only one part of the purchasing agreement. Shipping and tax can change the final order value substantially.

Shipping

Decide whether wholesale customers receive:

• standard store rates;
• free shipping above a threshold;
• weight-based freight;
• carrier-calculated rates;
• manual freight quotations;
• location-specific delivery methods.

Local delivery and pickup options have B2B limitations. Split inventory and fulfillment locations can also create unexpected rates. Our guide to multiple Shopify shipping charges explains how profiles and locations can combine costs.

Tax

A company location can contain tax information and exemptions. Validate:

• tax registration;
• resale or exemption documentation;
• billing and shipping country;
• tax ID format;
• whether prices are tax-inclusive;
• how exemption status reaches accounting systems.

Shopify tax calculation does not replace professional tax advice. Confirm legal and filing obligations with a qualified adviser.

B2B Markets

B2B markets group company locations so that catalogs, currency and experience settings can apply to a defined segment. Non-Plus plans use markets to assign their limited active catalogs. Shopify currently requires merchants to activate B2B with Markets through feature test drive.

Plan the segmentation before creating catalogs. Three catalogs can support meaningful groups such as:

1. domestic trade buyers;
2. international distributors;
3. strategic or high-volume accounts.

If the business needs a unique price list for dozens of individual customers, the non-Plus architecture might be too restrictive.

Important Shopify B2B Incompatibilities and Limits

Review limitations before promising a wholesale experience. Shopify’s current documentation identifies incompatibilities including:

• accelerated checkout methods;
• local delivery in normal online B2B checkout;
• pickup points;
• tipping;
• subscriptions;
• legacy customer accounts;
• Agentic Storefronts for B2B-only products;
• some third-party apps;
• legacy checkout.liquid customizations.

Some capabilities such as gift cards, abandoned checkouts and pickup in store can be turned off by default for B2B and might require Shopify Support to activate. In a blended store, configuration changes can affect both B2B and D2C customers.

Applications require special attention. An app can recognize ordinary customer tags but not Shopify company locations or B2B catalogs. Test applications that control:

• discounts;
• subscriptions;
• loyalty;
• product bundles;
• tax exemption;
• shipping rates;
• returns;
• ERP synchronization;
• email marketing;
• checkout customization.

If several apps overlap with native B2B features, perform a Shopify app audit before adding another wholesale tool.

Step-by-Step Shopify B2B Setup

Step 1: Choose the store architecture

Decide between a blended store and a dedicated B2B store. Document the reasons, affected systems and ownership.

Step 2: Review the plan’s B2B feature matrix

Confirm catalog limits, storefront personalization, payment capabilities, permissions and fees. Do this before designing a process that the plan cannot support.

Step 3: Activate customer accounts

Move to Shopify’s current customer-accounts system. Legacy customer accounts cannot support B2B orders.

Step 4: Define company data

Create a data model for company name, locations, contacts, tax information, payment terms, shipping addresses, catalog group and approval status.

Step 5: Design B2B markets and catalogs

Group buyers by genuinely different commercial rules. Avoid using a separate catalog when a simpler shared price adjustment will work.

Step 6: Configure products and prices

Set product availability, overall price adjustments, fixed prices, quantity rules and volume breaks. Export a backup before bulk changes.

Step 7: Configure payment terms

Assign terms only after finance has approved the rules. Decide how credit limits and overdue accounts are managed outside Shopify if the native system does not cover them.

Step 8: Configure tax and delivery

Verify exemptions, shipping rates, markets, currencies and fulfillment locations.

Step 9: Customize the buying experience

Show wholesale information clearly: pack sizes, minimum quantities, net pricing, expected delivery, account contacts and reorder options.

Step 10: Connect operations

Test ERP, accounting, warehouse, CRM and email integrations with company and location data. Native B2B becomes valuable when orders no longer require manual re-entry.

Shopify Flow can automate tagging, notifications and operational actions around B2B orders. See our guide to Shopify Flow and practical store automations.

How to Test Shopify B2B Before Launch

Shopify recommends creating a test company, location, catalog and B2B customer, then placing a real test order.

Create a test matrix

Test at least these situations:

Test the complete order

1. Sign in using a test B2B customer.
2. Select the intended company location.
3. Confirm product visibility.
4. Check product and variant prices.
5. Test minimum quantities and increments.
6. Trigger every volume price break.
7. Add items from different shipping profiles.
8. Confirm tax treatment.
9. Check payment terms and available methods.
10. Place the order.
11. Verify confirmation emails.
12. Check ERP, accounting and fulfillment synchronization.
13. Test reorder and return flows.

Repeat the test on mobile. Wholesale buyers often reorder from phones while working in a warehouse, showroom or store.

Shopify B2B Migration and Launch Checklist

1. Inventory current wholesale customers, contacts and locations.
2. Clean duplicate company records.
3. Choose blended or dedicated architecture.
4. Review plan limits and fees.
5. Map customers to companies and company locations.
6. Define B2B markets.
7. Design no more catalogs than the plan supports.
8. Export and validate wholesale prices.
9. Define quantity rules and volume breaks.
10. Approve payment terms with finance.
11. Collect and validate tax-exemption data.
12. Configure shipping and fulfillment.
13. Activate current customer accounts.
14. Update account links and buyer instructions.
15. Audit third-party app compatibility.
16. Test ERP, CRM, accounting and warehouse integrations.
17. Create representative test companies.
18. Place test orders for each segment.
19. Train sales and support staff.
20. Monitor pricing errors, failed orders and manual work after launch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shopify B2B available on the Basic plan?

Yes. Shopify expanded foundational B2B features to Basic, Grow and Advanced plans in 2026. Plan-specific limits still apply.

Do I need Shopify Plus for wholesale?

Not necessarily. Non-Plus plans can use companies, B2B customer accounts, catalogs, pricing, quantity rules, volume pricing, payment terms and other foundational features. Plus is still required for unlimited catalogs and some advanced capabilities.

Does Shopify charge extra for B2B?

Shopify says B2B features are included at no additional feature cost on supported plans. Different variable platform fees can apply to B2B and D2C orders, so confirm current commercial terms.

How many B2B catalogs can I create without Plus?

Basic, Grow and Advanced stores can currently assign up to three active catalogs across all B2B markets. Shopify Plus supports unlimited catalogs.

Can I assign a unique catalog to every company on Basic?

Direct catalog assignment to individual company locations is a Plus capability. Non-Plus plans assign their limited catalogs through B2B markets.

Can retail and wholesale customers use one Shopify store?

Yes. A blended store can serve D2C visitors and authenticated B2B company customers from one environment. Products, prices, discounts, apps and checkout behavior must be tested for both audiences.

Do B2B buyers need passwords?

Shopify’s current customer accounts use the buyer’s email address and a one-time code. Legacy customer accounts are not compatible with Shopify B2B.

What is a Shopify B2B company location?

It represents a business purchasing location and can have its own contacts, addresses, tax settings, catalog access, payment terms and checkout configuration.

Can Shopify B2B set minimum order quantities?

Yes. Quantity rules can define minimum, maximum and increment values for products or variants in B2B catalogs.

Can I offer wholesale volume discounts?

Yes. Volume pricing can set different unit prices at defined quantity breaks. Shopify notes that volume pricing creates a fixed price, so the catalog’s overall percentage adjustment does not also apply.

Can B2B customers use Shop Pay or Apple Pay?

Shopify currently lists accelerated checkout methods such as Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Amazon Pay as incompatible with B2B checkout.

Are subscriptions compatible with Shopify B2B?

No. Shopify currently lists subscriptions as incompatible with B2B.

Can Shopify B2B customers use payment terms?

Yes. Merchants can assign payment terms to eligible company locations and orders. The correct company location must be associated with the buyer or draft order.

What happens if several catalogs contain different prices?

Shopify applies catalog-priority rules that can use the lowest price or a more specific company-location price, depending on assignment. Test every overlapping catalog combination.

Does Shopify B2B work with Agentic Storefronts?

B2B-only products are not supported by Agentic Storefronts. Keep wholesale-restricted products and pricing separated from public D2C discovery.

How should I test a Shopify B2B store?

Create a test company, location, catalog and customer. Sign in as that customer and place a complete order while checking pricing, quantity rules, tax, shipping, payment terms and integrations.

Final Recommendation

Shopify B2B on Basic, Grow and Advanced can be enough for a business with a small number of meaningful wholesale segments and straightforward purchasing rules.

Choose Plus when operational requirements—not marketing language—justify it: unlimited catalogs, direct company-level assignment, advanced payment flows, deeper segmentation or more sophisticated storefront control.

Whichever plan you use, the implementation should begin with companies, locations, catalog logic and test cases. A native feature does not protect the business from incorrect price lists, overlapping catalogs, missing tax data or unsupported checkout applications.

Explore more practical Shopify development and troubleshooting guides for stores, themes, automation, checkout and integrations.

Official Sources and Further Reading

• Shopify: Native B2B features for more merchants
• Shopify Help Center: Getting started with B2B
• Shopify Help Center: B2B requirements and considerations
• Shopify Help Center: Overview of B2B features
• Shopify Help Center: B2B catalogs and pricing
• Shopify Help Center: Quantity rules and volume pricing
• Shopify Help Center: B2B customer accounts
• Shopify Help Center: Testing a B2B setup