Shopify wholesale configuration starts with commercial rules: who buys, which catalogue applies, how quantities work, when payment is due and who handles exceptions. Test those rules against a realistic buying scenario before choosing a plan, apps or integrations. Wholesale does not automatically mean that every business needs Shopify Plus.
Separate market pricing from customer-specific pricing
As checked on 9 September 2026, Shopify B2B is available on Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus. The first three plans allow up to three active catalogue assignments across B2B markets and require new Shopify Markets. Direct catalogue assignment to a particular company or location is a Plus feature. Confirm eligibility against the current plan documentation and your store configuration.
Ask sales whether prices are shared across a market or negotiated separately for individual customers. “One price list for European wholesale buyers” and “two companies in the same market have different contract prices” are different requirements. Do not reduce both to an ambiguous request for customer segmentation.
Record the buying rules before configuring them
For each rule, identify its source, owner and scope. These are suggested requirements to document, not a list of features that every system provides natively.
- Companies and locations: identify the contracting company, delivery locations and contacts allowed to order for each location. A company name alone is insufficient for a multi-site buyer.
- Catalogues and prices: record products, eligible buyers or markets, currency and expiry. Check that your plan supports the intended assignment method.
- Quantities and packaging: specify minimum quantities, increments and case-pack requirements. Test actual product variants rather than relying on a “sold by the case” label.
- Payment arrangements: decide between immediate payment and terms, identify who approves terms and assign overdue-payment follow-up. Commercial approval is separate from entering a field in the system.
- Exceptions: name the people authorised to change prices, resolve stockouts, amend addresses and approve refunds. State which systems must then be updated.
Example: a coffee retailer with three locations
This is a hypothetical configuration exercise, not a client case study or performance claim. One company buys coffee drippers for three shops. Head office negotiates prices, while each shop receives its own deliveries. Map the company and locations first, decide whether they share catalogues and pricing, then assign buying access for each location.
Suppose a case contains six units and orders must use whole cases. Test orders for six units, twelve units and a quantity that breaks the rule. A product-page label alone does not prove that the cart and order enforce case quantities.
If one location needs a separate negotiated price, establish whether the catalogue assignment model supports it before choosing an upgrade, a revised process or an evaluated app. Hiding prices in the storefront is not a substitute for enforcing customer pricing.
Keep finance controls distinct from automation
Payment terms are not a complete credit-management process. If the business requires credit limits, approval of excess exposure or holds on overdue accounts, identify whether Shopify, an app, the ERP or a manual procedure enforces each rule. Assign a team to resolve conflicts between sales and finance records.
Retain at least one normal test order and one exception case. Reconcile the buying location, quantity, actual price, payment arrangement and fulfilment status. If ERP synchronisation fails, establish which record is authoritative before correcting or retrying it. Repeatedly overwriting an unknown state can make reconciliation harder.
Frequently asked questions
Must I buy Plus before selling wholesale?
Not necessarily. Define the specific requirements, including market versus customer-specific catalogues, and check current plan capabilities. Direct company or location catalogue assignment is an important Plus distinction.
Should I install apps before documenting the buying rules?
Document the rules first. A clear gap makes it possible to judge whether an app solves the requirement and who will maintain its data.
When should I delay opening access to every buyer?
Resolve incorrect customer prices, unclear location permissions, unassigned payment responsibilities or unreconciled orders before expanding access.
What follows configuration?
Run a staged order acceptance process with sales, finance and fulfilment owners. Do not limit approval to a storefront review.