Selling B2B (business-to-business) online is a completely different game than selling to regular consumers. Your buyers are purchasing managers, business owners, and procurement teams who need features like bulk pricing, purchase orders, net payment terms, and custom catalogs. Not every ecommerce platform supports these requirements, and trying to force a B2C platform into B2B use is a recipe for frustration.
I’ve been building ecommerce businesses for over 15 years at E-Commerce Paradise, and many of my high-ticket dropshipping clients sell to both consumers and businesses. When you’re selling commercial equipment, professional tools, or wholesale products, you need a platform that can handle the complexity of B2B transactions without requiring a bunch of expensive workarounds.
In this guide, I’ll break down the best ecommerce platforms for B2B selling based on built-in wholesale features, custom pricing capabilities, and real-world B2B functionality. If you’re new to selling high-ticket products online, check out our comprehensive guide to high-ticket dropshipping for the fundamentals.
Quick Comparison: Best B2B Ecommerce Platforms
| Platform | Best B2B Feature | Starting Price | Transaction Fees | Our B2B Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BigCommerce | Best Built-in B2B | $39/mo | 0% | 9.5/10 |
| Shopify | Best B2B Ecosystem | $39/mo | 0% with Shopify Payments | 9.0/10 |
| WooCommerce | Most Customizable | Free (hosting extra) | 0% | 8.5/10 |
| Shift4Shop | Free B2B Features | Free (US) | 0% | 8.0/10 |
| Squarespace | Best Design for B2B Brands | $33/mo | 0% | 7.0/10 |
| Wix | Simplest B2B Setup | $29/mo | 0% | 6.5/10 |
1. BigCommerce: Best Overall B2B Ecommerce Platform
BigCommerce is the clear winner for B2B ecommerce, and it’s not even close. While other platforms require apps and workarounds for B2B functionality, BigCommerce builds it directly into the platform. Customer groups, custom pricing tiers, purchase order payments, quote management, and restricted product catalogs are all available natively.
The customer group feature is the foundation of BigCommerce’s B2B capabilities. You can create unlimited customer groups (Wholesale, VIP, Distributor, Regional, etc.) and assign different pricing, product access, and payment methods to each group. A wholesale buyer logging into your store sees completely different prices than a retail customer, all managed from one storefront.
Purchase order support is another major differentiator. Many B2B buyers need to submit purchase orders rather than paying by credit card. BigCommerce supports this natively, allowing approved business accounts to place orders against a PO number and pay on net terms (Net 30, Net 60, etc.). On Shopify, you’d need a paid app for this functionality.
The zero transaction fees on all plans matter even more for B2B. B2B orders tend to be large, often $5,000, $10,000, or more. A 1% to 2% transaction fee on those order values adds up to thousands of dollars per month in fees you don’t need to be paying. According to Digital Commerce 360, B2B ecommerce sales in the US exceeded $2 trillion in recent years, and BigCommerce has positioned itself as a leading platform for capturing that market.
Quote management is built in as well. B2B buyers often want to request a quote before placing a large order. BigCommerce lets customers submit quote requests directly from product pages, and you can negotiate pricing and convert approved quotes into orders, all within the platform.
Who BigCommerce Is Best For
BigCommerce is the best choice for any business that sells primarily or significantly to other businesses. If you need customer-group pricing, purchase orders, quotes, or restricted catalogs, BigCommerce handles all of it natively. The zero transaction fees make it especially attractive for high-value B2B orders.
2. Shopify: Best B2B App Ecosystem
Shopify doesn’t have as many built-in B2B features as BigCommerce, but Shopify Plus (the enterprise plan at $2,000+/month) includes a powerful wholesale channel. For stores on standard Shopify plans, B2B functionality comes through the app ecosystem, and there are some excellent options available.
Shopify’s B2B on Shopify Plus lets you create a separate wholesale storefront alongside your retail store, with custom pricing, payment terms, and minimum order quantities. For businesses doing serious B2B volume, Shopify Plus is a powerful solution. The downside is the price tag, which puts it out of reach for smaller businesses.
For standard Shopify plans, apps like Wholesale Pricing Discount, Bold Custom Pricing, and SparkLayer add B2B functionality at a fraction of the cost. These apps let you set up customer-specific pricing, tiered discounts, minimum order requirements, and wholesale registration forms. The app approach works well, but it means managing additional monthly costs and potential compatibility issues between apps.
According to Shopify’s B2B documentation, Shopify Plus merchants process billions in wholesale transactions annually. The platform handles B2B well at the enterprise level, and standard-plan stores can achieve solid B2B functionality through apps.
Who Shopify Is Best For
Shopify is the right choice if B2B is a secondary channel alongside your primary B2C business, or if you’re large enough to justify Shopify Plus for a dedicated wholesale experience. The app ecosystem gives you flexibility to add B2B features as you need them. I help set up hybrid B2B/B2C stores through our turnkey service, and Shopify’s flexibility makes these setups straightforward.
3. WooCommerce: Most Customizable B2B Solution
WooCommerce with the right plugins can create the most customized B2B experience of any platform. Plugins like WooCommerce B2B, Wholesale Suite, and B2BKing add role-based pricing, tax exemptions, minimum order amounts, tiered pricing tables, and quote request functionality.
The advantage of WooCommerce for B2B is that you have unlimited flexibility. Need a custom quote-to-order workflow? Build it. Need ERP integration with your inventory system? There’s a plugin or custom integration for that. Need a completely separate wholesale portal with different branding than your retail site? WordPress multisite makes it possible.
For hosting, I recommend ScalaHosting for WooCommerce B2B stores because managed WordPress hosting handles the performance demands of large product catalogs and high-value transactions that B2B buyers expect.
The tradeoff is the same as always with WooCommerce: you need technical skills or a developer to set it all up. B2B sites are inherently more complex than B2C stores, so the development investment is higher. But the result is a fully tailored B2B experience that no hosted platform can match.
Who WooCommerce Is Best For
WooCommerce is the best choice for B2B businesses that need highly customized workflows, ERP/CRM integration, or a completely bespoke purchasing experience. If you have specific B2B requirements that off-the-shelf platforms can’t meet, WooCommerce’s open architecture lets you build exactly what you need. Browse our high-ticket niches list for B2B-friendly product categories.
4. Shift4Shop: Best Free B2B Platform
Shift4Shop includes built-in B2B features on its free US plan, making it the most cost-effective option for businesses just getting started with B2B ecommerce. Customer groups, tiered pricing, and purchase order management are all included without any monthly fee.
The platform supports RFQ (request for quote) functionality, customer account approval workflows, and the ability to hide prices from non-logged-in visitors (a common B2B requirement). For a free platform, the B2B feature set is impressively comprehensive.
The limitations are in design and ecosystem. The themes are less modern than BigCommerce or Shopify, and the app marketplace is smaller. But if you’re a US-based B2B seller who needs functional wholesale capabilities without any platform costs, Shift4Shop delivers real value.
Who Shift4Shop Is Best For
Shift4Shop is ideal for US-based B2B sellers who want to launch a wholesale ecommerce operation with zero platform costs. The built-in B2B features compete with platforms costing $39+/month, making it a smart choice for bootstrapped businesses. For the legal foundation of your B2B business, review our business formation checklist.
5. Squarespace: Best Design for B2B Brands
Squarespace isn’t traditionally considered a B2B platform, but it works well for B2B companies that need a professional brand presence with basic ecommerce functionality. Think professional services firms, creative agencies, or specialty product companies that sell to businesses but have relatively simple purchasing workflows.
Squarespace doesn’t have wholesale pricing, purchase orders, or customer group features. But the design quality creates a professional impression that matters in B2B sales. Business buyers evaluate your website’s professionalism as a signal of your company’s quality. A beautifully designed Squarespace site communicates credibility in a way that a basic or outdated-looking website never can.
Who Squarespace Is Best For
Squarespace works for B2B companies with simple purchasing workflows that prioritize brand presentation. If your B2B sales process is more consultative (buyers contact you for quotes and custom orders) rather than self-service, Squarespace’s stunning design can serve as your digital storefront while the actual transactions happen offline or through invoicing.
6. Wix: Simplest Setup for Light B2B Selling
Wix offers basic B2B capabilities through its member pricing and wholesale features. You can create price lists for registered business customers and offer tiered discounts. It’s not as robust as BigCommerce or even Shift4Shop, but for a small business that occasionally sells wholesale alongside retail, it handles the basics.
According to Forbes Advisor, Wix excels in ease of use, which extends to its B2B features. Setting up wholesale pricing tiers is straightforward, and the platform handles it without requiring technical skills or developer help.
Who Wix Is Best For
Wix is suitable for small businesses where B2B sales are a minor part of the overall business. If you primarily sell retail but occasionally fulfill wholesale orders, Wix’s basic B2B features may be sufficient. For any business where B2B is a significant revenue channel, look at BigCommerce, Shopify, or WooCommerce instead.
Essential B2B Ecommerce Features
B2B ecommerce has unique requirements that B2C platforms often overlook. Here’s what matters most.
Customer-Specific Pricing
Different business customers need different prices based on their volume, relationship, and account status. Your platform must support customer groups or role-based pricing that automatically shows the right prices to the right buyers. This is the single most important B2B feature, and it’s the main reason BigCommerce leads this category.
Purchase Order and Net Terms
Business buyers don’t always pay by credit card at checkout. Many need to submit purchase orders and pay on net terms (Net 30 is the most common). Your platform needs to support these payment methods to serve B2B customers properly. Platforms that only support immediate credit card payment create friction that drives business buyers to competitors who offer terms.
Quote and RFQ Management
Large B2B orders often start with a quote request. The buyer asks for pricing on a specific quantity or configuration, you provide a quote, they negotiate or approve, and then the quote converts to an order. A platform with built-in quote management streamlines this workflow and prevents deals from falling through the cracks.
Minimum Order Quantities
Wholesale sellers often require minimum order quantities or minimum order values. Your platform should let you set these at the product level or account level. This prevents small, unprofitable orders and ensures that your wholesale channel actually makes financial sense. When building your supplier relationships through the process outlined in our supplier sourcing guide, keep in mind that many suppliers have their own minimums that you’ll need to factor into your B2B pricing.
Tax Exemption Handling
Many B2B buyers are tax-exempt. Your platform needs to handle tax-exempt accounts, store exemption certificates, and apply the correct tax treatment automatically. Manually managing tax exemptions on a per-order basis is error-prone and time-consuming.
How We Ranked These Platforms
I ranked these platforms based on the strength of their B2B features (both built-in and available through apps), ease of implementation, total cost of ownership for B2B functionality, and real-world B2B performance from stores I’ve built and managed. My team at E-Commerce Paradise handles stores through our management service that serve both B2B and B2C customers, so these recommendations are grounded in practical experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ecommerce platform for wholesale?
BigCommerce is the best ecommerce platform for wholesale selling because it includes customer-group pricing, purchase order support, quote management, and restricted catalogs built into every plan. Shopify Plus is also excellent for wholesale but costs $2,000+/month. For standard Shopify plans, apps can add wholesale functionality at a lower cost.
Can I sell B2B and B2C on the same platform?
Yes, BigCommerce, Shopify, and WooCommerce all support hybrid B2B/B2C selling. The key is customer groups that show different prices and product catalogs to different buyer types. A retail customer sees retail prices, while a logged-in wholesale account sees wholesale prices, all from the same store. BigCommerce handles this most seamlessly out of the box.
Do I need a separate website for B2B?
Not necessarily. Most platforms support customer-group pricing that lets you run B2B and B2C from a single storefront. However, some businesses prefer a separate wholesale portal for a cleaner customer experience. Shopify Plus offers a dedicated wholesale channel, and WooCommerce can support multisite setups for complete separation.
What payment methods do B2B buyers need?
B2B buyers commonly need purchase order/invoice payment, net terms (Net 30/60/90), ACH/wire transfer, and traditional credit card processing. Some B2B transactions also use third-party financing or trade credit services. Make sure your platform supports at least purchase orders and net terms in addition to standard payment methods.
Final Thoughts
B2B ecommerce is growing faster than B2C, and businesses that sell online to other businesses have a massive opportunity right now. The platform you choose determines how smoothly you can serve business buyers with the features they expect.
For the strongest built-in B2B capabilities, BigCommerce is the clear winner. For the largest ecosystem with B2B apps, Shopify gives you flexibility to add features as you grow. And for maximum customization of your B2B workflows, WooCommerce lets you build exactly what you need.
If you want guidance on building a B2B ecommerce operation, our coaching program covers strategy for both B2B and B2C businesses. Join the E-Commerce Paradise community to connect with other entrepreneurs building wholesale and B2B channels. I wish you guys the best of luck out there, and I’ll see you in the next one.
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
