The Rise of B2B Ecommerce on Shopify

While D2C ecommerce has been evolving to be better at delivering quick and seamless shopping experiences, so too has B2B commerce been undergoing a massive transformation in its own right.

B2B, the unseen force behind how goods move, keeps stores stocked, and consumers' needs satisfied, is what powers and moves the world economy. But what was once dominated by faxed purchase orders, trade shows, and manual invoicing has rapidly moved online, transforming into a digital experience that mirrors modern retail in both ease and convenience.

This move has digital commerce B2B projected to grow to over $25 trillion USD by 2030 as more businesses are turning to ecommerce platforms to handle bulk sales, restocks, and build lasting trade partnerships that are stronger than ever, thanks to ecommerce’s natural ease. Among these platforms, Shopify has emerged as a major player in B2B.

Today, Shopify holds a significant ecommerce market share, powering over 10–11% of all ecommerce platforms globally. In North America, Shopify takes a majority share, accounting for nearly one in three ecommerce websites.

With Shopify's dedicated B2B platform, native to Shopify Plus, Shopify is not only redefining what’s possible for wholesale ecommerce, it’s also making B2B accessible to brands that once relied on spreadsheets or separate systems to manage their wholesale orders. With Shopify, brands can now handle D2C and B2B under the same unified Shopify dashboard.

For many modern merchants, B2B ecommerce on Shopify represents a simpler, smarter, and more connected way to sell to other businesses.

In this article, we’ll explore what makes Shopify the best platform for B2B ecommerce, how brands use it to manage wholesale and direct-to-consumer (DTC) operations together, and why Shopify B2B has become an easy choice for many businesses looking to scale efficiently.

If you’re thinking about adding wholesale or trade sales to your Shopify store, Ecommerce Pro can help you set up and optimize your business with Shopify B2B. Get Your FREE QUOTE.

Table of Contents

    Why Shopify B2B Is Changing the Wholesale Game

    For a long time, wholesale and B2B operations were handled separately from retail or DTC ecommerce. Businesses relied on custom portals, manual order forms, or outdated ERP systems. But Shopify B2B changes everything by consolidating the D2C experience with B2B.

    B2B ecommerce on Shopify lets brands manage both wholesale and consumer sales under one unified dashboard. Instead of working two systems, businesses can operate a single storefront with tailored experiences for each type of customer—simplifying logistics, pricing, and product management.

    Examples of enterprise-level businesses on Shopify that do just that: 

    You’ll notice on their website that they have a navigation link that leads visitors to their wholesale site.

    This unified experience is part of what makes Shopify one of the best platforms for B2B ecommerce—it bridges the gap between retail and wholesale, creating a seamless environment for every kind of buyer, and every kind of business wanting to expand into B2B.

    More from the Blog: Shopify Plus Wholesale Guide: How to Set Up Shopify B2B

    The Advantage of Running DTC and B2B on One Platform

    One of the biggest advantages of B2B ecommerce on Shopify is that it enables merchants to manage both retail and wholesale from the same dashboard.

    For many brands, separating DTC and B2B used to mean doubling the work, running operations across two systems, two inventories, two order systems, two customer databases. But Shopify B2B lets you run everything together. This makes it easier to keep stock levels accurate, manage production planning, and maintain consistent brand messaging across channels. The unified experience amounts to better efficiency, and it makes B2B more accessible to those who have previously run D2C operations exclusively, lowering the bar of entry.

    From fashion and beauty labels to food producers and home goods companies, thousands of merchants are already leveraging Shopify B2B to serve both audiences effectively. It’s a solution that supports efficiency while keeping the customer experience cohesive, no matter who is buying.

    Overall, it’s a scalable commerce ecosystem for most, if not all, business models. That’s what solidifies its place as the best platform for B2B ecommerce for modern brands.

    Why Growing Brands Choose Shopify for B2B Ecommerce

    As B2B ecommerce continues to evolve, more growing brands are adopting Shopify B2B for its reliability, speed, and scalability. After all, it is the most used ecommerce platform in North America, and holds a significant market share across the globe. Shopify’s popularity and ease of use speak to millions of brands looking to enter both the D2C and B2B space.

    Here’s why both growing and industry-leading brands are choosing B2B ecommerce on Shopify:

    • Market trust: Shopify dominates the ecommerce landscape, giving merchants a stable platform that was built on trust and cutting-edge expertise.
    • Great infrastructure: Shopify offers powerful built-in hosting, security, and automatic updates, ensuring smooth operations.
    • Extensive app ecosystem: With thousands of apps available, brands can customize how their business and brand run.
    • Shopify Plus advantages: Gain access to advanced ecommerce tools, from multi-storefront management, international selling, and personalized wholesale experiences through Shopify Plus.
    • Simplified operations: Businesses that once needed custom-built wholesale sites can now manage everything within the Shopify ecosystem. You can say goodbye to clunky complexity.
    • Strategic scalability: Shopify B2B is cost-effective, easy to manage, and built for growth. 

    Who Benefits Most from B2B Ecommerce on Shopify?

    From growing brands to enterprise-level giants, Shopify B2B was built with today’s merchants and modern commerce as a whole, where brands sell to both individuals and to business clients, often from the same product catalog.

    Here’s how B2B ecommerce on Shopify supports every stage of growth:

    • Small and mid-sized merchants: Easily set up wholesale operations using Shopify’s built-in tools, offering bulk pricing, trade accounts, or custom payment terms—no need for additional B2B software.
    • Enterprise-level brands on Shopify Plus: Gain advanced capabilities such as multi-storefront management, regional pricing, and account-based access, all managed from one central dashboard.
    • Manufacturers and DTC-first brands: Use Shopify B2B to expand into wholesale and reach new markets—like retailers, gyms, salons, or distributors—without complex technical setups.

    Ultimately, what this spells out is flexibility. Shopify B2B was built with the flexibility to serve both growing brands and enterprises equally well.

    The Future of B2B Ecommerce on Shopify

    Shopify is known for being a platform that adapts quickly, and that's one of its greatest strengths. Once known for just being a DTC powerhouse, it’s becoming the central hub for all kinds of commerce, giving all manner of businesses the chance to expand and push the boundaries of their frontiers.

    With the launch of Shopify B2B, they've shown a commitment to serving this growing B2B segment, offering them all the tools, but without the former complexity. When we stop to consider the combination of power, flexibility, and user-friendliness of Shopify as a whole, it's what cements its reputation as the best platform for B2B ecommerce moving forward.

    More from the Blog: A Simple Guide to International Ecommerce with Shopify (2025)

    Conclusion: Why We Recommend Shopify B2B

    Shopify B2B empowers brands by giving them exactly what they want and need in order to succeed: a powerful and advanced platform that allows them to sell smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

    Shopify has also effectively eliminated the barriers that run between wholesale and retail, giving merchants a single, scalable platform to run and control their entire operation from a single place.

    Today, B2B commerce isn’t what it used to be. With the rise of digital-first wholesale and direct-to-business sales, brands now have the opportunity to expand their reach like never before with the help of Shopify B2B. For these reasons, Shopify has proven itself to be the best platform for B2B ecommerce, helping brands of every size join the future of wholesale.

    Ready to expand into B2B? If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, Ecommerce Pro, certified Shopify B2B & Wholesale Agency, can help you launch or optimize your Shopify B2B store. Get your  FREE QUOTE.
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    Written by Bella Piccioli

    Bella Piccioli is a Content Writer at Ecommerce Pro, a top Shopify Plus Partner agency. She creates SEO-optimized content that drives brand growth on Shopify and develops educational materials on the latest eCommerce trends and strategies.