Shopify B2B and wholesale for Australian brands

Shopify's native B2B tools let you create company profiles with locations and buyers, assign catalogues with their own prices, set payment terms and let buyers log in to order. Shopify has expanded these tools beyond Plus, though with limits, such as the number of catalogues. Plus has the fuller feature set. We check your needs against the plan before recommending anything, because plan details change.

The main design choice is one store or two. A single store with B2B features keeps products, stock and content in one place and is easiest to run. A separate wholesale store makes sense if wholesale uses very different products, branding or tax handling. We explain the trade-off in plain terms before building anything.

A custom theme can add the wholesale features that buyers expect, such as quick order forms, case-size ordering and pricing displayed by pack. See custom Shopify themes.

1. Step 1

   Step 1: Define your trade terms

   Price tiers, minimums, case sizes, payment terms, shipping rules and who qualifies. We write these down so the build matches reality.

2. Step 2

   Step 2: Choose the model

   Native B2B, a B2B app, or a separate store. We pick based on catalogue size, plan and how much customisation you need.

3. Step 3

   Step 3: Build catalogues and accounts

   We create price lists, load existing wholesale customers as companies, and set terms for each.

4. Step 4

   Step 4: Wholesale experience

   A login and application flow, a quick-order layout, clear ex-GST pricing and order confirmation that doubles as a tax invoice.

5. Step 5

   Step 5: Automate

   Shopify Flow tags wholesale orders, flags large ones, notifies your team and routes to the right fulfilment location.

Retail prices in Australia show GST included. Trade buyers usually expect prices ex GST, with GST added at checkout or on the invoice. We configure this so each customer group sees the right price and receives a compliant tax invoice. Your accountant should confirm the invoice details. For general store setup see Shopify GST setup in Australia.

Payment terms are the part many brands want. Net terms let a cafe order now and pay in 14 or 30 days. They bring credit risk and chasing, so we link orders into your accounting system, such as Xero or MYOB, to make invoicing and reconciliation straightforward. See Shopify apps and integrations.

Shipping for trade orders differs. Pallets and cartons may travel with StarTrack or a freight carrier, not Australia Post. We set wholesale shipping rules separately from retail, and for stores selling to New Zealand retailers we use Shopify Markets to manage currency and rates.

Online wholesale will not suit every business. If you have a handful of large accounts with negotiated terms, a phone call and an invoice may be simpler. Shopify is a strong fit when you have many small trade buyers who reorder regularly.

Wholesale also needs rules you can live with. Cheap trade prices that undercut your own retail store will cause conflict with stockists. We help you set price floors and visibility so that does not happen. See Shopify Plus if you need the deeper B2B set.