B2B E-commerce Platform for a Distributor in Toronto: Custom Build or Shopify Plus in 2026?

The verdict in three sentences

Shopify Plus suits a distributor whose price lists stay simple and whose ERP has a standard connector: it goes live in 3 to 4 months at a controlled entry cost. Once every trade customer has their own net prices, category discounts and credit limit, a custom build becomes cheaper over 5 years, because it avoids stacking paid apps and workaround development. For a Toronto electrical supplies wholesaler with 4,000 SKUs and 1,200 accounts, the goal of 30% of orders online in year one depends first on the quality of the ERP synchronisation, not on the storefront.

What B2B really demands from a platform

An electrician ordering 40 lines on a Monday morning does not behave like a consumer. They want their usual order list, their negotiated net price, the real stock at the Mississauga or Scarborough branch, and checkout on their net 30 account. If any of these four is missing, they call their sales rep and the portal stays empty.

What to scope before any quote:

• Customer-specific pricing: base price list, discounts by product family, net prices on 200 to 500 key SKUs, job-site terms.
• Deferred payment: net 30 terms, credit limit, automatic hold on overdue accounts, card payment for new accounts.
• Stock and lead times: synchronisation at least every 15 minutes with the ERP (Sage, Epicor, Acumatica, Microsoft Dynamics), availability by warehouse.
• Multi-user accounts: a contractor, their site supervisor and their bookkeeper, with different permissions and order approval above a threshold.
• Quick order: entry by manufacturer part number, CSV import, one-click reorder.

Shopify Plus or custom: the 2026 numbers

The Shopify Plus cumulative cost includes the subscription, B2B apps (customer catalogues, payment terms, order import) and a paid ERP connector. Custom requires a heavier upfront investment and a longer timeline, but the annual bill stays flat as online volume grows.

B2B features: who does what

The practical rule: if more than 70% of your customers have specific terms, Shopify Plus's native limits quickly turn into custom development inside Shopify, meaning you pay twice.

Mini case study

Daniel, sales director of an electrical supplies wholesaler in Toronto (4,000 SKUs, 1,200 trade customers, 26 M CAD in revenue), targets 30% of orders online in year one. His inside sales team currently spends 55% of its time keying in orders received by phone and email.

• Annual orders: 48,000, of which 14,400 targeted online (30%).
• Data entry time saved: 6 minutes per order, or 1,440 hours a year.
• Value of that time at 41 USD loaded per hour: about 59,000 USD a year, redeployed to prospecting.
• Chosen option: custom build at 56,000 USD + 1,100 USD/month maintenance, or 69,200 USD in year one.

Payback arrives in about 14 months on productivity alone, before counting the higher average order value from reorder suggestions (often 5 to 10%, 2026 estimate). With Shopify Plus, the upfront spend would have been lower (about 43,000 USD), but the recurring annual cost of 40,000 to 59,000 USD would have erased the advantage by year three.

FAQ

Does Shopify Plus handle net 30 terms for trade customers?

Yes, payment terms are handled natively in the B2B offering. However, tracking a credit limit per customer and automatically holding overdue accounts usually requires an app or the ERP, for 110 to 430 USD a month.

How long does it take to sync 4,000 SKUs with the ERP?

Plan 4 to 8 weeks of development for a reliable connector (items, prices, stock, customers, orders), or 8,600 to 19,500 USD depending on the ERP. Stock sync every 15 minutes is the minimum to avoid showing false stockouts.

Is a custom build risky for a mid-sized company?

The risk is manageable with delivered code, documentation and a clear maintenance contract. Require code ownership, a staging environment and a 99.9% uptime commitment.

Can we start small and expand later?

Yes: a first 6 to 8 week phase (catalogue, customer pricing, quick order) can open to 150 pilot customers. Payment terms and multi-level approval come in a second phase.

What share of online orders should we target in year one?

In trade distribution, 20 to 35% is a realistic 12-month goal if sales reps push the tool. Beyond 50% usually takes 2 to 3 years and pricing incentives.

Let's scope your project. Send us your SKU count, number of trade accounts and your ERP: we will price the B2B portal in phases, with an indicative budget of 38,000 to 65,000 USD and a 4 to 6 month timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.