The verdict in three sentences
For a wholesaler, the real question is not the monthly price but B2B feature coverage: per-customer pricing, bulk orders, multi-user accounts and net 30. Shopify Plus (2 300 EUR/month) and BigCommerce B2B (400 to 1 500 EUR/month) cover the standard, but a custom build (35 000 to 70 000 EUR) wins as soon as pricing logic gets specific. With a B2B basket 6 to 15x larger than B2C, the ROI of a dedicated platform plays out over 12 to 20 months.
Platforms vs build: the comparison
| Criterion | Shopify Plus | BigCommerce B2B | Custom build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | 2 300 EUR | 400 to 1 500 EUR | Hosting 150-400 EUR |
| Launch cost | 8 000 to 20 000 EUR | 6 000 to 15 000 EUR | 35 000 to 70 000 EUR |
| Transaction fees | 0.15 to 1.5% | 0 to 1.5% | 0% (direct PSP) |
| Timeline | 10 to 14 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks | 12 to 16 weeks |
| Per-customer pricing | Yes (native) | Yes (native) | Fully custom |
| Multi-user accounts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Code ownership | No | No | Yes |
Essential B2B features
| Feature | Purpose | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Per-customer / group pricing | Negotiated price per account | Native on all 3 |
| Bulk order (SKU + qty) | Fast reordering | Native Plus/BigC, custom dev |
| Multi-user accounts | Buyer + approver | Native on all 3 |
| Net 30 / 60 terms | Supplier credit | Add-on or custom |
| Online quoting | Basket > threshold | Add-on Plus, native BigC |
| Customer-restricted catalog | Targeted assortment | Custom or native BigC |
| CSV order import | High volumes | Native on all 3 |
The B2B differentiator is not the catalog but account and negotiated-price management. That is where custom takes the lead when your pricing rules fall outside the standard.
3-year TCO
| Scenario (800 000 EUR card/yr) | Shopify Plus | BigCommerce B2B | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial build | 15 000 EUR | 12 000 EUR | 52 000 EUR |
| 36-month subscription | 82 800 EUR | 27 000 EUR | 0 EUR |
| 36-month hosting | 0 EUR | 0 EUR | 9 000 EUR |
| Platform fees 3 yrs | 3 600 EUR | 3 600 EUR | 0 EUR |
| Maintenance 3 yrs | 4 500 EUR | 3 600 EUR | 15 600 EUR |
| 3-year total | 105 900 EUR | 46 200 EUR | 76 600 EUR |
At this volume, BigCommerce B2B is cheapest, custom overtakes Shopify Plus, and becomes most profitable once card volume passes 1.5 M EUR/year or business logic justifies independence.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Laurent, sales director at an industrial supplies wholesaler, manages 240 B2B accounts with negotiated price grids. Average basket 1 850 EUR versus 140 EUR in B2C. On Shopify Plus he pays 27 600 EUR/year in subscription. On a custom build at 52 000 EUR, his per-customer pricing and net 30 are native, with no subscription. Over 3 years he saves 29 300 EUR versus Plus. With 12% more orders won through bulk reordering (i.e. +96 000 EUR of margin/year), the build is repaid in 7 months.
FAQ
Which platform for fewer than 500 B2B accounts? BigCommerce B2B (400 to 1 500 EUR/month) natively covers per-customer pricing and bulk orders, for a 6 000-15 000 EUR launch.
When does a custom build pay off? Beyond 1.5 M EUR of annual card volume or when your pricing rules, quotas and approvals fall outside platform standards.
How much is Shopify Plus in 2026? About 2 300 EUR/month, excluding transaction fees (0.15 to 1.5%) and additional B2B apps.
What is the timeline for a B2B platform? Plan 8 to 12 weeks on BigCommerce, 10 to 14 on Shopify Plus and 12 to 16 for custom, ERP integrations included.
Does the B2B basket justify the investment? Yes: a B2B basket 6 to 15x larger than B2C quickly pays back a dedicated platform, with a typical ROI of 12 to 20 months.
Let's scope your project. Share your account count, pricing grids and ERP integrations: we compare priced SaaS and custom options. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
