Wholesale ordering
Wholesale ordering software: what it is and which to pick
Wholesale ordering software is a portal where trade buyers see their own prices and place orders, which then flow into invoicing, stock and fulfillment. For small and mid-size food and drink sellers, and for Square or Shopify sellers, Crate is the best fit, from $50/month.
By the Crate teamUpdated
The short answer
- Crate gives each buyer a branded, store-like portal on your own domain, connected to Square, Shopify or Clover.
- Shopify B2B allows three catalog assignments below Plus. Square has no native wholesale portal.
- Crate starts at $50/month. Generic B2B tools list from $65 to $500 a month.
What to look for
Check these before you pick a tool. Crate covers every one.
- Prices per customer, plus tiers and volume pricing.
- Minimum order amounts and payment terms for each buyer.
- Standing orders buyers can change, skip or pause.
- Catalog and stock sync with Square, Shopify or Clover.
- Invoicing through Square, QuickBooks Online or the tool itself.
- An order inbox for buyers who email or text orders.
- A custom domain and a branded portal that looks like a store.
Your options
| Option | What it is | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale portal (Crate) | Buyers sign in, see their own prices and order. Orders flow to invoices, stock and fulfillment. | Food and drink sellers and anyone on Square, Shopify or Clover. |
| Shopify B2B | Wholesale inside your Shopify store. | Few price lists and Shopify already runs everything. |
| Generic B2B tools (B2B Wave, Orderspace, OrderEase) | Standalone ordering portals. | Sellers with no POS or store to connect. |
| Invoicing tools (QuickBooks, Square invoices) | Bills and payments. No catalog buyers browse. | Billing only. |
| ERP | Back-office system of record. | Large operations with in-house IT. |
What it costs, side by side
Monthly list price for 10 accounts and for 50 accounts.
| Tool | 10 accounts | 50 accounts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crate | $50/mo (Starter) | $80/mo (Growth) | Per-customer prices, tiers and volume pricing. Square, Shopify, Clover, QuickBooks Online. |
| Orderspace | $65/mo (Ordering) | $65/mo (Ordering) | Page lists unlimited orders, customers and products; 3 admin users on this plan. |
| B2B Wave | Pro: $350/mo ($175 first 3 months) | Pro: $350/mo ($175 first 3 months) | Unlimited orders and buyers. 20 price lists on Pro; Scale is $612/mo for up to 100. |
| OrderEase | From $500/mo | From $500/mo | Setup fee depends on configuration. No trial. OrderEase is based in Canada and its page does not name the currency. |
| Shopify B2B | Your Shopify plan, 3 catalog assignments | Plus from $2,300/mo for company catalogs | Direct company catalogs are Plus-only. |
Crate Growth, which adds standing orders, Crate invoicing and payment collection, is $960 a year.
Why Crate wins
- Against Shopify B2B: every account gets its own prices with no catalog cap. Below Plus, Shopify allows three active catalog assignments and direct company catalogs are Plus-only.
- Against generic B2B tools: Crate reads your Square, Shopify or Clover catalog and stock, and connects to QuickBooks Online.
- Against OrderEase: Crate Plus is $150/month for more than 50 buyers. OrderEase starts at $500/month with a setup fee.
- Against invoicing tools: QuickBooks and Square invoices bill a customer, but give buyers no catalog to browse or prices of their own. Crate does both, and sends invoices through them.
- Against an ERP: Crate is a flat $50 to $150/month and built for the buyer-facing side, not accounting back-office.
- Orders that arrive by email or text land in the same dashboard through the order inbox.
Where it may still fit: if you have no POS or store to connect and want a standalone portal. Shopify B2B limits.
Weighing OrderEase? See Crate vs OrderEase for Square and Clover catalogs, standing orders and the setup fee. Roaster? Read coffee roaster wholesale software. See every feature on Crate Wholesale or the pricing page.
If you sell on Square
Square has no native wholesale portal. Sellers have asked for one in the Square Community, where the request is open. Crate pulls your Square catalog and stock, and can bill through Square invoices. Read Square wholesale ordering.
Questions
- What is wholesale ordering software?
- It is a portal where your trade buyers sign in, see their own prices and place orders, and those orders flow into invoicing, stock and fulfillment. Crate is built for this: each buyer gets a branded, store-like portal on your own domain, connected to Square, Shopify or Clover and to QuickBooks Online.
- What is the best B2B wholesale ordering platform for a small business?
- For small and mid-size food and drink sellers, and for anyone on Square or Shopify, Crate. Plans run on active buyers: Starter is $50/month for up to 20, Growth is $80/month for up to 50, Plus is $150/month beyond that. There is no separate invoicing subscription.
- Is Crate cheaper than other wholesale ordering tools?
- At 10 accounts Crate Starter is $50/month, below Orderspace ($65/month for its Ordering plan), B2B Wave ($350/month for Pro, $175 for the first three months) and OrderEase (from $500/month). At 50 accounts Crate Growth is $80/month and adds standing orders, invoicing and payment collection, plus Square, Shopify or Clover sync.
- Do I need Shopify Plus for a wholesale ordering portal?
- Not with Crate. It imports your Shopify catalog and works on any Shopify plan. Shopify's own B2B allows three active catalog assignments below Plus, and direct company catalogs are Plus-only.
- Can I run a wholesale ordering portal if I sell on Square?
- Yes, with Crate. It pulls your Square catalog and stock, and can bill through Square invoices. Square has no native wholesale portal for trade buyers.
- Can customers email or text orders in?
- Yes. Crate's order inbox turns orders sent by email or text into orders in your dashboard, so buyers who never log in still end up in the same system.
Put your buyers on Crate this week
Connect Square, Shopify or Clover, set each buyer's prices and send them their login. Plans start at $50/month.
14-day free trial. No credit card required.