Introduction

If you are searching for the best free wholesale app shopify to add B2B pricing and gated wholesale access without blowing your marketing budget, this guide explains how to pick, set up, and launch a wholesale channel that works. Many Shopify sellers can put a working wholesale workflow live using built-in Shopify tools plus a single free or low-cost app. Doing this correctly unlocks repeat large orders, higher average order value, and business accounts with net terms.

This article covers what wholesale features matter, reliable free and freemium apps to consider, a no-app approach using Shopify core features, step-by-step implementation plans, pricing examples, comparison criteria, and common pitfalls. You will get actionable checklists, a 30-day timeline for launch, and real examples of tiered discounts and minimum order quantities to test on your store.

Why add a wholesale channel on Shopify

Wholesale turns existing product demand into larger, repeatable orders.

Increases average order value quickly by selling in larger pack sizes or bundles.
Opens B2B channels like local retailers, restaurants, or resellers who buy on net terms.
Lowers customer acquisition cost per dollar sold because each wholesale customer orders more.

Most merchants see wholesale orders 3x to 10x larger than retail orders. For example, a retail average order value (AOV) of $60 can jump to $250 to $600 per order once you onboard a handful of wholesale customers. The catch is execution: wholesale requires customer segmentation, tiered pricing or volume discounts, minimum order quantities (MOQ), alternate checkout paths, and different shipping or invoicing rules.

This guide explains three practical approaches you can implement now:

Use Shopify core features and manual workflows (free).
Use a freemium app that unlocks gated pricing groups and automated discounts.
Build a separate wholesale storefront (subdomain) for a professional B2B experience.

How wholesale works on Shopify

Wholesale on Shopify is fundamentally about separating retail customers from wholesale accounts and applying different pricing, checkout rules, and shipping.

Customer segmentation: tag customers who qualify as wholesale accounts.
Price control: apply discounted price lists, bulk tiers, or hidden SKUs.
Ordering rules: set minimum order quantities, pack sizes, or order minimums.
Checkout workflow: create private storefront links, staff-only draft orders, or a gated wholesale login.
Payment terms and invoicing: offer payment on account (net 30/60) using invoices or manual capture.

Example flow for a first wholesale customer:

Prospect fills a wholesale application form on your site.
You verify business information and tag the customer as “wholesale” in Shopify.
The customer logs in to a gated wholesale storefront and sees wholesale prices or uses a discount code for their orders.
You offer net 30 payment by sending an invoice outside Shopify or by approving a draft order.

Key performance metric targets:

Conversion rate for wholesale leads: aim for 10-25% on qualified leads.
Wholesale AOV: target 3x retail AOV in the first 3 months.
Time to first paid order from sign-up: target 7 to 30 days.

best free wholesale app shopify options and how to choose one

Choosing the best free wholesale app shopify depends on three priorities: automation, customer experience, and budget. Use the following selection criteria when evaluating apps or deciding to go no-app.

Selection Criteria

Free tier availability and limits: check how many customers, product variants, or rules the free plan supports.
Price control features: tiered pricing by quantity, price lists per customer tag, or hidden wholesale SKUs.
Gating options: customer login, password-protected storefront, or application form integration.
Checkout compatibility: works with standard Shopify checkout, supports multi-currency, and does not break shipping/tax calculations.
Support and documentation: quick setup guides and responsive support are essential for B2B flows.

Practical Recommendations

If you need a quick free solution and will handle approvals manually, use Shopify core features (customer tags, discount codes, draft orders). This is zero cost and launchable in 3 to 7 days.
If you need automated tiered pricing and gating for more than a handful of customers, choose a freemium app that offers a reliable free tier for basic needs and paid plans from $10 to $30 per month as your wholesale volume grows.
If you expect high volume or need personalized price lists, consider Shopify Plus or enterprise apps, but those are not free.

Examples of typical app capabilities to compare (as of mid 2024; check Shopify App Store for current plans)

Wholesale price lists by customer tag or wholesale login.
Quantity breaks and volume discounts with visual price tables on product pages.
Minimum order enforcement and order minimum banners.
Wholesale storefront templates or gated shop pages.
Draft order and invoice support.

Checklist for Picking an App

Does the app support customer tagging or a login gate?
Can it apply different prices without creating duplicate SKUs?
Does the free plan support the number of wholesale customers you expect in month one?
Does the app work with your theme and Shopify plan?
Are there transaction fees or hidden per-order charges?

Top free and freemium wholesale apps and what they do

Below are common app types and representative names you will find on the Shopify App Store. Always check the app listing for up-to-date pricing and limits.

Lightweight free-first apps for quantity breaks and simple B2B discounts

Typical features: volume discount tables, tiered pricing, simple display on product pages.
Good when: you sell by case packs, bundles, or want visible quantity discounts.
Example apps: Quantity Breaks & Discounts by SpurIT (free plan available), Volume & Tiered Discounts apps.
Pricing range: free plan for basic tiers; paid plans $9 to $29 per month for more rules and removal of app branding.

Freemium wholesale price list apps

Typical features: price lists per customer tag, hidden wholesale prices for logged-in customers.
Good when: you need different prices per customer group and a gated experience.
Example apps: Wholesale Club by Pixel Union (popular solution with free trial or low-cost tiers), Wholesale Pricing apps that support customer tags.
Pricing range: free trial or free tier with limited customers; paid tiers $15 to $50 per month for advanced customers and multiple price lists.

Gated storefront and B2B portal apps

Typical features: separate wholesale storefront on a subdomain, account registration forms, net terms integrations.
Good when: you want a distinct branded B2B portal and approval workflows.
Example apps: apps that create wholesale storefronts or private shops (some offer free trials).
Pricing range: free trial only; paid plans commonly $29 to $99 per month.

Full B2B suites (not free but worth knowing)

Typical features: full price lists, approval workflows, purchase orders, ERP integrations.
Good when: you are scaling wholesale to a dedicated channel and want automation.
Example vendors: TradeGecko (now QuickBooks Commerce historically), Handshake, or enterprise B2B apps.
Pricing range: $50+ per month or enterprise pricing.

How to compare using a simple scoring grid (0-5)

Automation (auto-price for tagged customers): 0-5
Gating (secure wholesale login or portal): 0-5
Limits on free plan (customers/variants): 0-5
Checkout compatibility: 0-5
Support and docs: 0-5

Example: If an app scores 4 or 5 in Automation, Gating, and Checkout compatibility and offers a free tier, it is a strong candidate to start.

No-cost wholesale setup using only Shopify core features

You can operate a functional wholesale channel on Shopify without paying for an app. This approach is reliable for 1 to 50 wholesale customers and for merchants who can handle some manual work. Steps below assume you are on a standard Shopify plan.

What you get

Zero app cost.
Full control of customer visibility and discounts.
Works on any Shopify plan.

What you trade off

Manual effort for approvals and custom pricing.
Limited automation for tiered pricing at scale.

Step-by-step no-app setup (3 to 10 days)

Day 1-2: Create wholesale application and customer workflow

Add a wholesale sign-up form using Shopify Contact Form or Google Forms embedded on a private page.
Create a checklist for verification: business name, resale certificate or tax ID, and shipping address.

Day 2-4: Customer tagging and account creation

When a wholesale applicant is approved, create a Shopify customer account and add a tag “wholesale”.
Send the customer login link and welcome message outlining order minimums and payment terms.

Day 3-6: Implement pricing and order flow

Option A - Discount codes and collections

Create private wholesale collections that are visible only when logged in.
Use discount codes for wholesale pricing tiers (e.g., WHOLESALE10, WHOLESALE20).
Communicate discount code usage and limits.

Option B - Draft orders for negotiated pricing

For custom orders, create draft orders in Shopify, set custom line prices, and send invoice link for payment.
Use draft orders for net terms customers and manual invoicing.

Day 6-10: Shipping and tax rules

Create shipping profiles for wholesale with freight or flat-rate options.
Set clear tax handling and include reseller certificate instructions in onboarding.

Example pricing tiers to test

MOQ: 24 units minimum per order.
Quantity discount tiers: 10% off for 24 to 49 units, 15% off for 50 to 99 units, 25% off for 100+.
Case pack pricing: sell packs of 12 with 5% built-in discount.

Operational tips

Limit the number of active draft orders to avoid mistakes.
Create a spreadsheet to track approvals, payment terms, and next follow-up dates.

Implementation timeline to launch wholesale (30-day plan)

This timeline assumes a solo store owner or small team.

Week 1 - Planning and setup (Days 1-7)

Define wholesale targets: number of accounts, AOV, and MOQ.
Choose approach: no-app or freemium app.
Draft wholesale policy: shipping, returns, payment terms, and verification requirements.

Week 2 - Store changes and forms (Days 8-14)

Build wholesale sign-up form and private page.
Create customer tag “wholesale” and test account creation.
Prepare product descriptions that mention wholesale packs and MOQs.

Week 3 - Pricing and shipping rules (Days 15-21)

Implement either discount codes or connect and configure the chosen app.
Set shipping profiles for wholesale and test rates for large cartons.
Prepare email templates for approvals and onboarding.

Week 4 - Testing and outreach (Days 22-30)

Test the entire flow: sign up, approve, login, place wholesale order, invoice via draft order.
Contact 10-20 target prospects: local shops, repeat retail customers, or existing email list.
Monitor first orders and adjust pricing or minimums after 1 week.

Goal: First paid wholesale orders within 30 days of starting. If using a freemium app, allow 7 days to learn the app and tune rules.

Pricing examples and margin math

Run simple margin calculations to ensure wholesale pricing remains profitable.

Example product assumptions

Retail price: $30 per unit
Cost of goods sold (COGS): $10 per unit
Shipping and handling per unit on wholesale pallets: $3 per unit
Target wholesale gross margin: 30%

Wholesale price calculation

Desired gross margin formula: (Wholesale price - COGS - shipping) / Wholesale price = 0.30
Solve: Wholesale price = (COGS + shipping) / (1 - margin) = (10 + 3) / 0.70 = 13 / 0.70 = $18.57

Round up to a simple number: $19 per unit wholesale.

Volume discount logic example

Single retail unit: $30
Wholesale 24-49 units: $19 per unit (AOV for 24 units = $456)
Wholesale 50-99 units: $17 per unit (AOV for 50 units = $850)
Wholesale 100+ units: $15 per unit (AOV for 100 units = $1500)

Compare profit per order

24 units at $19: revenue $456 - COGS $240 - shipping $72 = gross profit $144 (31.6% margin)
50 units at $17: revenue $850 - COGS $500 - shipping $150 = gross profit $200 (23.5% margin)

Note: Larger orders often lower per-unit shipping costs or use freight, so update shipping assumptions for each tier.

Tip: Add a small handling fee or minimum order value (MOV) of $300 to protect margin on small wholesale orders.

Tools and resources

Use these tools and platforms to build, test, and scale a wholesale channel. Pricing listed is approximate and subject to change. Verify current pricing on vendor sites.

Shopify core features (Customer accounts, Draft Orders) - Included with Shopify plan.
Quantity Breaks & Discounts by SpurIT - Free tier available; paid plans typically $9 to $29/month for more rules.
Wholesale Club by Pixel Union - Popular app for customer-specific pricing; often offers trial or low-cost tiers. Check the Shopify App Store for current pricing.
Wholesale Gorilla - Known for wholesale storefronts and tiered pricing. Typically offers a free trial; paid from around $19/month or higher.
Google Forms or Typeform - Free for basic wholesale application forms; Typeform has paid tiers for advanced automation.
ShipStation or EasyShip - Freight and bulk shipping management; pricing starts around $9 to $25/month depending on volume.
QuickBooks or Xero - Accounting and invoicing; plans from $12 to $25/month.
Klaviyo or Omnisend - Email automation for wholesale onboarding; free tiers available for low subscriber counts.

Integration recommendations

If you use accounting software, sync wholesale sales for accurate margins.
Connect shipping apps for negotiated carrier rates on pallet and LTL shipments.
Use a CRM (customer relationship management) tool or simple spreadsheet to track credit terms and next order follow-ups.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Not separating retail and wholesale inventory

Problem: Retail and wholesale orders compete for the same stock, causing oversells.
Fix: Use Shopify inventory tracking and consider a separate location for wholesale stock or set backorder rules. Communicate lead times clearly.

Offering discounts publicly

Problem: Retail customers find wholesale prices and abuse discounts.
Fix: Gate wholesale pricing behind customer login, password, or private collections. Use customer tags and apps that hide prices unless logged in.

Ignoring shipping economics on large orders

Problem: Shipping costs eat margin on pallets or large boxes.
Fix: Calculate freight or pallet rates upfront and include shipping rules in your pricing model. Negotiate carrier rates for LTL or palletized shipments.

Underestimating onboarding time for wholesale customers

Problem: Onboarding takes longer than expected and increases churn.
Fix: Create clear onboarding templates and a one-page PDF with payment terms, minimums, and reorder steps. Aim to onboard a new account within 72 hours.

Failing to test the full checkout and invoicing flow

Problem: Broken apps or misconfigured discounts cause lost orders.
Fix: Run end-to-end tests with a test wholesale account: log in, apply discounts, complete checkout, and confirm taxes and shipping behave as expected.

FAQ

Do I Need Shopify Plus to Run a Wholesale Channel?

No. You do not need Shopify Plus to run a wholesale channel. Many merchants use Shopify core features like customer tags, discount codes, and draft orders, or a freemium app to implement wholesale without upgrading.

Can I Offer Net Terms or Invoices on Shopify?

Yes. The simplest method is to use Shopify Draft Orders to create invoices and grant net terms, or integrate a third-party invoicing app or accounting system like QuickBooks. For larger scale automated net terms, consider apps that specialize in B2B invoicing and credit.

Will Wholesale Pricing Affect My Retail Customers?

It can if not managed properly. To avoid leakage, hide wholesale prices behind a login or password, use separate collections, or apply customer tags that only show wholesale prices to approved accounts.

How Do I Set Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ) on Shopify?

You can enforce MOQs using an app that validates cart quantities or by creating case-pack SKUs and selling only those pack sizes. Some freemium apps enable MOQ rules directly; otherwise use lightweight cart validation scripts or apps.

What is a Safe Starting Discount for Wholesale?

Start with a discount that preserves at least a 25-30% gross margin after shipping. Typical starting wholesale discounts range from 25% to 40% off retail, but calculate based on COGS, shipping, and handling.

Next steps

Choose your approach

Option A: Start with Shopify core features for a no-cost proof of concept.
Option B: Install a freemium wholesale app to get automatic price lists and gating.

Build your wholesale onboarding materials

Create a one-page wholesale policy with MOQ, MOV, payment terms, and shipping rules.
Prepare a simple application form and an approval checklist.

Configure and test

Create a test wholesale customer account, tag it, and verify price visibility, cart behavior, and shipping.
Run a full order test using draft orders to simulate net terms and invoicing.

Launch outreach and measure

Contact 20 qualified local or online prospects in your first 30 days.
Track metrics: wholesale AOV, time to first order, and conversion rate from applicant to buyer. Adjust pricing and minimums after 2 to 6 weeks of real orders.

This guide gives a practical path to implement wholesale on Shopify without upfront app expenses and helps you decide when to add a freemium or paid app as you scale. Follow the checklists and timeline to get wholesale orders from day one and protect margins as volume grows.

Best Free Wholesale App Shopify Guide