# One store or a separate B2B store

URL: https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/customisations/store-setup
Applies to: Shopify

Decide between running B2B and retail from one Shopify store or a separate B2B store, what to check for each, and how to set up and sync an additional store.

> **Quick summary**
>
> - You can add B2B to your existing Shopify store (a hybrid store) or set up a new, standalone Shopify store just for B2B.
> - In a hybrid store, B2B and retail orders share the same stock, and you'll need to check your apps, reporting and tracking pixels.
> - A separate store keeps B2B stock, products, integrations and web address apart. You install SparkLayer on it too, and sync data between stores with an app.

## How it works

When you set up B2B on Shopify, you have 2 options:

1. **Hybrid store**: turn on B2B in your **existing** Shopify store, so retail and B2B customers use the same store.
2. **Standalone store**: set up a **new** Shopify store just for B2B.

![Diagram of a hybrid store: retail (B2C) and B2B on one Shopify store at the same web address](https://docs.sparklayer.io/images/help/integrations/shopify/customisations/store-setup/store-setup-d5e6d4.webp)

Both have advantages and drawbacks, and which suits you is a business decision. With SparkLayer you don't need to duplicate your store, but check the points below first.

## Check before you go hybrid

Before you add B2B to your retail store, check how it affects these areas:

- **Stock and warehouses.** You can't send B2B orders from specific stock locations when they go through the Shopify checkout. In a hybrid store, B2B orders share the same stock pool as retail, which can affect stock allocation. Think through the impact carefully.
- **Your apps.** Check whether any installed apps could interfere with B2B, such as apps that send "leave a review" emails or other post-purchase follow-ups. Many let you exclude customers by tag, and every SparkLayer customer has the `b2b` tag.
- **Analytics and reporting.** SparkLayer appears in Shopify as a sales channel called **SparkLayer Wholesale**, so you can segment reports and orders by that channel. See [Shopify reporting and filtering](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/customisations/reporting-and-filtering.md).
- **Affiliate and tracking pixels.** Your store and checkout may have tracking code that records sales. Exclude B2B customers from it, for example by filtering out customers tagged `b2b`. This usually needs a Shopify developer. See Shopify's guide to [adding additional scripts to the order status page](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/orders/status-tracking/customize-order-status#add-additional-scripts).

## Set up a separate B2B store

If a hybrid store doesn't suit you, set up a separate Shopify store for B2B. You can automate much of the setup. The most common reasons to create one are:

- **Stock**: you need to keep B2B stock separate from retail.
- **Products**: you want a completely different product catalogue for B2B customers.
- **Integrations**: you need to connect your B2B channel to a different system from your retail channel.
- **Web address**: you need a separate address for B2B, such as `b2b.yourstore.com`.

We recommend this approach:

1. **Set up your main B2B store.** Install SparkLayer, then configure and customise the store as you need, for example its theme, homepage and product pages.
2. **Copy your theme.** You'll probably want your stores to look the same, so export the theme from your main B2B store and import it into each additional store. Shopify's guide to [downloading themes](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/themes/managing-themes/downloading-themes) explains how.
3. **Install SparkLayer on each additional store**, as you did on your main store. We're happy to help, and to discuss a combined pricing rate.
4. **Sync your data.** Set up a way to keep data in step between your stores, such as products, content and even orders. We recommend two Shopify apps: [Matrixify](https://apps.shopify.com/excel-export-import) and [Syncio](https://apps.shopify.com/syncio).

You'll probably need someone with Shopify expertise to help, and we're happy to advise where we can. If you've already installed SparkLayer on one store and want to move it, see [Transfer SparkLayer to another Shopify store](https://docs.sparklayer.io/help/platforms/shopify/uninstall.md#transfer-sparklayer-to-another-shopify-store).