# Shopify

URL: https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify
Applies to: Shopify

Add B2B and wholesale ordering to any Shopify plan with the SparkLayer Wholesale app: how it works, how to get set up and what's specific to Shopify.

> **Quick summary**
>
> - The [SparkLayer Wholesale app](https://apps.shopify.com/sparklayer) adds B2B ordering to your existing Shopify store. It sits under **Sales channels** in your Shopify admin, and works on every Shopify plan, from Basic to Shopify Plus.
> - Every SparkLayer plan is available on Shopify, including the free Basic plan, which is Shopify only. See [Plans and features](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/plans-and-features.md).
> - Your theme stays as it is. Signed-in B2B customers see B2B prices, the B2B cart and their account area. Retail (DTC) customers aren't affected.
> - After you install, the **Setup** checklist takes you through 5 steps. [Get set up on Shopify](#get-set-up) takes you from install to launch.

## Who it's for

These guides are for merchants who sell on Shopify and want to take wholesale (B2B) orders. You can run B2B alongside retail in one store, or set up a separate store just for B2B. To choose, see [Shopify B2B store setup](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/customisations/store-setup.md). To see the B2B experience first, [try our demo](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/get-started/demo.md).

## How it works

You install **SparkLayer Wholesale** from the Shopify App Store. In your Shopify admin, it's a sales channel under **Sales channels**: click it to open **Home**, and the menu items below it open each area, such as **Setup**, **Pricing** and **Customers**. The same screens are in the SparkLayer Dashboard at [app.sparklayer.io](https://app.sparklayer.io/).

SparkLayer adds a B2B layer over parts of your store: product pricing, the cart and the account area. Customers become B2B customers when you tag them `b2b` in Shopify. Their rules (price lists, payment methods, order limits) come from their [customer group](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/customers/customer-groups.md). New to price lists and customer groups? [How SparkLayer works](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/get-started/how-sparklayer-works.md) explains them in a few minutes.

## Get set up on Shopify

Most stores are set up in under 15 minutes. After you install, the **Setup** checklist at **Home > Setup** in the SparkLayer Dashboard ([open](https://app.sparklayer.io/)), or **SparkLayer Wholesale > Setup** in the Shopify app takes you through the SparkLayer steps and ticks each one off as you go.

Not sure where to start? Answer 4 quick questions and get [your own setup guide](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/get-started/setup-guide.md): the guides that apply to your store, in the order you need them.

### Step 1. Install SparkLayer Wholesale

Add the app from the [Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/sparklayer), choose a plan and check your customer accounts version. See [Install SparkLayer on Shopify](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/install.md).

### Step 2. Create a price list

The prices your B2B customers see: for example 20% off your retail prices, or exact prices uploaded by CSV. Click **Create a price list** on the Setup step. See [Set up a price list](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/get-started.md#set-up-your-b2b-pricing).

### Step 3. Assign it to a customer group, and add your first buyer

Choose the group's **Price list**, then tag a customer `b2b` in your Shopify admin. They see your trade prices when they sign in. See [Assign a price list](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/get-started.md#set-up-your-customer-groups) and [Add your first buyer](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/get-started.md#add-your-b2b-customers).

### Step 4. Check your theme, and publish it

On most themes, SparkLayer's blocks are added for you. Click **Review theme setup** to check them, then publish the theme. If something isn't right, our team installs SparkLayer for you, free. See [Theme setup](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/theme-setup.md).

### Step 5. Test, then launch

Place a test order as a B2B buyer with **Orders > Place a test order** in the SparkLayer Dashboard, or **SparkLayer Wholesale > Try it out** in the Shopify app. It doesn't count towards your plan. Then invite your customers with the [Launch checklist](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/get-started/launching.md).

> **We can set it up with you**
>
> On every plan, our team installs the storefront widgets for you, free. On a paid plan, an onboarding session can also set up your first price lists with you. Click **Book setup call** at the top of Setup. See [Contact support](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/support.md).

## What's specific to Shopify

Most of SparkLayer works the same on every platform. These are the parts that work differently on Shopify, or only exist there.

| Topic | What to know |
| --- | --- |
| **Customer tags** | SparkLayer identifies B2B customers by the `b2b` tag on their Shopify customer record, plus a second tag for a customer group other than Base (for example `b2b-vip`). See [Add B2B customers on Shopify](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/invite-customers.md). |
| **Customer accounts** | SparkLayer works with both Legacy and new Shopify customer accounts. New customer accounts need a small extra step. See [Install SparkLayer on Shopify](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/install.md#choose-your-customer-accounts-version). |
| **Orders** | Orders paid by card go through the Shopify checkout. Orders with offline payment methods, such as Pay by Invoice, arrive as Shopify draft orders. See [Shopify payment methods](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/customisations/payment-methods.md). |
| **Shopify Companies** | Optional. SparkLayer works alongside Shopify's B2B companies, and links its draft orders to the right company, contact and location. See [Shopify Companies](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/companies.md). |
| **Shopify Markets** | Needed to sell to B2B customers in more than one currency. See [Shopify Markets and currencies](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/markets-and-currencies.md). |
| **B2B theme** | Our B2B version of Shopify's Dawn theme comes with the SparkLayer widgets installed, plus a B2B login page and B2B-only products. See [Shopify B2B Dawn theme](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/dawn-theme.md). |
| **Metafields** | Product, customer and order settings such as pack sizes, RRP and credit limits are stored as Shopify metafields. See [Shopify metafields and data mapping](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/metafields.md). |
| **B2B Catalogs** | A free SparkLayer app, only for Shopify, that controls which products each customer group can see. See [B2B Catalogs](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/storefront/b2b-catalogs.md). |

## Known limitations

The limitations most stores meet are:

- Shopify discounts can't be used alongside SparkLayer. Use SparkLayer's own [discounts](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/pricing/discounts.md) instead.
- Every product variant needs a SKU, and each SKU must be unique.
- Duties, prices that include tax, and orders that mix taxable and tax-exempt products need a workaround, often a separate B2B store.

See [Shopify limitations](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/limitations.md) for the full list, including the cart's line item limit.

## Shopify guides

Start with **Install SparkLayer on Shopify** and **Theme setup**, which take you from install to launch. Use the rest as you need them.

- [Install SparkLayer on Shopify](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/install.md): Requirements, installing the app, Setup, Theme setup and your first buyer
- [Theme setup](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/theme-setup.md): Check SparkLayer's app blocks on your theme
- [B2B Dawn theme](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/dawn-theme.md): A ready-made B2B theme with the SparkLayer widgets installed
- [Shopify Companies](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/companies.md): How SparkLayer works alongside Shopify Companies
- [Markets and currencies](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/markets-and-currencies.md): B2B pricing in more than one currency
- [Metafields and data mapping](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/metafields.md): Product, customer and order metafields, and how orders map to SparkLayer
- [Limitations](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/limitations.md): What SparkLayer can't do on Shopify, and the workarounds
- [Customisations](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/customisations.md): B2B login and registration, B2B-only content, Shopify Flow, emails and reporting
- [Shopify FAQs](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/faqs.md): Answers to common questions about setup, payments, products and orders
- [Error codes](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/error-codes.md): What each SHOPIFY and PRICING error in the cart means and how to fix it
- [Cancel, uninstall or transfer](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/uninstall.md): Cancel SparkLayer, move it to another store or extend a trial