# FAQs

URL: https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/bigcommerce/faqs
Applies to: BigCommerce

Answers to common questions about SparkLayer on BigCommerce: plans and billing, development stores, themes, B2B-only products and managing B2B orders.

## Plans and billing

**Which SparkLayer plans can I use on BigCommerce?**

Every SparkLayer plan from Starter to Enterprise works with BigCommerce. See [Plans and features](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/plans-and-features.md) and the [SparkLayer pricing page](https://www.sparklayer.io/pricing/).

**How does billing work?**

When you sign up, our team contacts you to discuss the most suitable plan. Billing is monthly, with the option to pay annually.

**How do I choose or change my plan?**

You can install SparkLayer on BigCommerce without choosing a plan first. Our team then contacts you about next steps. Once your plan is active, we can move you up or down a plan as your needs change.

## BigCommerce setup

**Where do I find the SparkLayer BigCommerce app?**

In the [BigCommerce App Marketplace](https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/sparklayer-b2b-wholesale/). See [Install SparkLayer on BigCommerce](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/bigcommerce/install.md).

**Which BigCommerce plan do I need?**

SparkLayer needs BigCommerce customer groups, so it works on BigCommerce Plus, Pro and Enterprise. You need an active BigCommerce store.

**Can I use SparkLayer on a development store?**

Yes. On a development or test store, we can turn on a developer mode so you can use SparkLayer before you start a billing plan. [Contact us](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/support.md) to set this up.

**Can I run retail (DTC) and B2B on the same store?**

Yes. You can install SparkLayer on your existing retail BigCommerce store and run both from it. We call this a hybrid setup. When B2B customers sign in, they see the SparkLayer [frontend interfaces](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/storefront.md) with their prices and ordering options. Try it on our [BigCommerce demo store](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/bigcommerce.md#try-the-bigcommerce-demo-store).

## Store setup

**Can you install SparkLayer on my BigCommerce store for me?**

Yes, free of charge. To ask our team, click **Request installation** at **Storefront > Widgets** in the SparkLayer Dashboard ([open](https://app.sparklayer.io/configuration/frontend/core)), or **SparkLayer Wholesale > Storefront > Widgets** in the Shopify app, or **Install SparkLayer for me** in the app in BigCommerce. We can usually do this within 1–2 working days. We then offer an onboarding session to walk you through how everything works. See [Request free installation](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/support.md#request-free-installation).

**Does SparkLayer work with any BigCommerce theme?**

Yes, SparkLayer works with all BigCommerce themes, including fully customised ones. Our team can add the code snippets for you, free of charge.

**How does SparkLayer affect my BigCommerce theme?**

The SparkLayer widgets (B2B pricing, the cart and the My Account area) only load when a customer in a B2B customer group signs in. Everyone else sees your store as it is today, so you control exactly who sees B2B prices and can place B2B orders.

**I already use a wholesale or B2B app. Can I still use SparkLayer?**

Yes. SparkLayer can run alongside it, so you can try SparkLayer first and uninstall the other app when you're ready. If the other app changed your theme's code, you can ask its developer to remove those changes, but you don't have to.

## Payments

**Can customers use my existing BigCommerce payment methods?**

Yes, when they choose **Pay Online by Card** at the SparkLayer checkout. They're then taken to the BigCommerce checkout, which shows every payment method you've set up in BigCommerce (such as PayPal or Affirm). Any payment method BigCommerce supports can be used this way.

## Products

**How do I hide products or set up B2B-only products?**

A few options work well together:

- **Limit what a customer group can see.** In BigCommerce, edit the customer group and, under **Group Access**, untick **Customers in this group can see products in all categories across all channels**. Then tick only the categories the group should see.
- **Create a B2B-only collection** and send customers to it when they sign in. B2B-only products need to be separate products in BigCommerce, each with its own SKU.
- **Leave products out of your price lists.** If a SKU has no B2B price, B2B customers can't buy it.
- **Customise your theme** to hide or show products with custom code.

**Can I base B2B prices on my BigCommerce prices?**

Yes. An automatic price list can use your BigCommerce prices (such as your retail price) and apply a discount, for example 20% off. It can also allow for your BigCommerce tax setup, whether your prices include or exclude tax. See [Managing pricing](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/pricing/managing-pricing.md).

**How do I set up pre-order and back-order products?**

You can't on BigCommerce. BigCommerce doesn't allow stock to go below zero, so SparkLayer can't take orders for stock that isn't available yet. See [BigCommerce limitations](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/bigcommerce/limitations.md#products-and-stock).

You can still show stock status messages and "due in" dates, so customers know when stock arrives. See [Stock display](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/storefront/stock-display.md).

**Do my products need SKUs?**

Yes. SparkLayer matches B2B prices to products by SKU, so a product without a unique SKU can't show B2B prices. You can add SKUs to products one at a time, or in bulk with BigCommerce's product import or bulk edit.

**Can I keep B2B and retail stock separate?**

Not completely. When retail and B2B run from the same store, they share the same stock. SparkLayer can [reserve stock](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/storefront/stock-display.md#reserving-stock) for retail customers, which stops B2B customers ordering too much of a product. But BigCommerce has no way to stop retail customers ordering from your stock.

To separate stock fully, either create B2B-only products, or set up a separate store for your B2B customers.

**Can I sell products on two storefronts?**

Yes, if you use both storefronts for wholesale. Edit the product in your BigCommerce admin and select both storefronts as sales channels. See also the multi-storefront notes in [BigCommerce limitations](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/bigcommerce/limitations.md).

## Customer experience

**How do I set up a B2B registration form?**

Use [SparkLayer Forms](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/forms.md): build an application form, embed it on your registration page, and approve each applicant into a customer group. See [Use SparkLayer Forms on BigCommerce](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/bigcommerce/install.md#use-sparklayer-forms-on-bigcommerce) for what's different on BigCommerce.

You can also customise your existing registration page with custom code, or use one of BigCommerce's [recommended form builder apps](https://support.bigcommerce.com/s/article/Creating-a-Contact-Form?language=en_US#form-builders). To review applications yourself, add approved customers manually in **Customers**.

**How do I invite B2B customers to my store?**

See [Customers](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/customers.md) and the [Launch checklist](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/get-started/launching.md).

**Will SparkLayer slow down my BigCommerce store?**

No. SparkLayer only loads when a B2B customer signs in; for retail customers, no SparkLayer code loads at all. For B2B customers, the widgets load asynchronously, so the effect on page load times is negligible.

**How do I show B2B-only content on my store?**

We recommend talking to a BigCommerce expert developer before changing your theme. They can use this Stencil code to show content only to signed-in B2B customers:

```html
{{#contains (toLowerCase customer_group_name) "b2b"}}

  <!-- This content will only show for logged in B2B customers -->

{{/contains}}
```

## Orders

**Where do I find B2B orders in BigCommerce?**

In **Orders**, like any other order. Their status depends on the payment method:

- **Card payments** (Pay Online by Card): **Awaiting Fulfillment**.
- **Offline payments** (Pay on Account and Pay by Invoice): **Awaiting Payment**. Update the status once you've received payment.
- **Quotes** (Request for Quote): **Incomplete**.

See [How B2B orders arrive in BigCommerce](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/bigcommerce/install.md#how-b2b-orders-arrive-in-bigcommerce).

**Why doesn't an order show as Shipped in SparkLayer?**

SparkLayer shows a B2B order as **Shipped** when both of these are true in BigCommerce:

- The order is marked as **Shipped**.
- The order has a shipment assigned to it.

Until then, the order stays as **Processing**.

**Can I edit an order?**

Yes. Open the order in **Orders** in your BigCommerce admin and edit it as you would any other order, before it's fulfilled.

**How do I send an invoice?**

SparkLayer doesn't send invoices itself. Use an invoicing app for BigCommerce, or send invoices from your existing finance system.

**Can I set a minimum order quantity?**

Yes. You can set minimum and maximum quantities for a product or a variant, including with BigCommerce's own **Minimum and Maximum Order Quantity** setting: see [Quantity rules](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/storefront/quantity-rules.md). For the whole order, set order limits on a customer group in **Customers > Groups** in the SparkLayer Dashboard ([open](https://app.sparklayer.io/customers/groups)), or **SparkLayer Wholesale > Customers > Customer groups** in the Shopify app: a minimum or maximum order total, or a minimum or maximum number of items. See [Set order limits](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/storefront/quantity-rules.md#order-limit-rules).

**How do I send order notifications to customers and my team?**

In your BigCommerce admin, go to **Settings > Order Notifications**.