The WP Minds Blog

Setting up a B2B eCommerce store might seem like a big task, but with WordPress, it’s easier than you think! Whether you’re new to the world of online selling or just looking for a better solution, WordPress is a fantastic platform to help you build a successful B2B store. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know to get started – no technical expertise required! From picking the right tools to customizing your store, we’ve got you covered. And once your store is live, it’s essential to keep it running smoothly with regular WordPress maintenance. By investing in ongoing care, you ensure your site stays secure, fast, and up-to-date, so you can focus on growing your business.

Step 1: Choose a Website Builder

Picking the right website builder is the first step to kick off your B2B eCommerce store. WordPress is one of the best options for building eCommerce websites because it offers flexibility and ease of use. WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS), which means it is free to use and customizable. With the right plugins and themes, you can create a fully functional B2B store that meets your unique business needs.

When selecting a website builder, make sure it supports eCommerce functionality. Look for a website builder that allows you to integrate plugins like WooCommerce or other eCommerce solutions. Such tools assist in handling tasks like managing products, orders, payments, and other essentials.

Step 2: Start with a Hosting Plan and Domain

Once you’ve chosen your website builder, the next step is purchasing a hosting plan and a domain name. A hosting plan is essential because it provides the space on the internet where your website will live. When choosing a hosting provider, look for one that offers high performance and reliability. For WordPress websites, it’s crucial to select a provider that offers specific support for WordPress. 

Hosting plans for WordPress typically range from $3 to $30 per month, depending on the features you need. Shared hosting can cost as little as $3–$5/month, while VPS or dedicated hosting ranges from $20–$50 or higher. If you’re looking for managed WordPress hosting, which includes automatic updates, backups, and enhanced security, expect to pay around $15–$30/month for basic plans. Popular hosting providers such as Bluehost, SiteGround, and WP Engine offer specific WordPress packages with prices tailored to your needs.

Along with hosting, buying a domain name that aligns with your business is essential. Domain names typically cost between $10 to $20 per year, although premium domains can cost more depending on availability and demand. Ensure your domain name is clear, easy to remember, and directly related to your business. For example, if you sell wholesale products, try to incorporate relevant keywords in your domain name to make it easier for customers to find you. Keep in mind that many hosting providers offer discounted domain registration when you purchase hosting, so take advantage of any bundled deals available.

Step 3: Create a WordPress Website

With your hosting plan and domain name in place, it’s time to set up your WordPress website. The process is straightforward and usually involves installing WordPress through your hosting provider’s control panel. One-click WordPress installation is a feature many hosting providers offer to make setup effortless.

Once WordPress is installed, you can log into your website’s admin panel and begin customizing it. Pick a theme that supports eCommerce features and aligns with your brand’s identity. You can find a wide range of free and premium themes on the WordPress theme repository.

Step 4: Select and Personalize a WordPress Theme

After installing WordPress, the next important step is to choose and customize your theme. Your theme determines the look and feel of your website, so it’s essential to pick one that aligns with your business. Opt for a theme designed specifically to enhance B2B online sales. A good theme should be responsive, easy to navigate, and professional.

After choosing a theme, personalize it to mirror your brand’s style. This includes updating the colors, fonts, and logos to match your company’s branding. You should also ensure that the theme is optimized for mobile devices, as many customers will access your site on their phones.

Step 5: User-friendly Home Page and Navigation Menu

Your homepage is the first impression customers will have of your store, so it’s important to make it visually appealing and easy to navigate. Start by creating a clean layout with a focus on your products and services. You can use WordPress’ built-in page builder to create custom layouts without any coding knowledge.

After you’ve finished designing your page, follow these steps to set it as your homepage:

• Navigate to Settings » Reading in your WordPress dashboard to configure your homepage.
• Under the “Your homepage displays” option, choose “A static page” to set a fixed homepage.
• Open the “Homepage” dropdown and choose the page you want to set as the homepage.
• Click “Save Changes” at the bottom to store your settings.

In addition to your homepage, you should set up a clear and intuitive navigation menu. This setup makes it easier for customers to locate the products they need. Organize the menu into categories such as product types, industries, and services. Follow these steps to include pages in your navigation menu:o add pages to your navigation menu:

• Access Appearance » Menus in your WordPress dashboard.
• Expand the “Pages” tab on the left, check all the pages you want to include, and click the “Add to Menu” button.
• Click “Save Menu” to store your settings.

If you’re using a block theme, the process is slightly different. You will need to use the full site editor:

• Go to Appearance » Editor.
• Choose the “Navigation” tab.
• Select the three-dot icon, open the dropdown menu, and click “Edit”.
• On the right-side block panel, press the “+” button, enter the page name, pick the page, and hit “Publish”.

A well-structured navigation menu is essential for providing a positive user experience and encouraging conversions.

Step 6: Set Up Your eCommerce Plugin

To transform your WordPress site into a fully functional eCommerce store, you need to install an eCommerce plugin. WooCommerce is the most popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress, offering a range of features essential for running a B2B store. It allows you to add products, manage orders, accept payments, and more.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting WooCommerce up and running for your B2B store:

1. Install and Activate WooCommerce Plugin
   Begin by installing and activating the free WooCommerce plugin. After activation, the WooCommerce setup wizard will automatically open on your screen.
2. Store Name
   Start by entering your store’s name. This name will be visible on your site, so choose one that reflects your business.
3. Select Your Industry
   Next, you’ll be prompted to choose an industry for your store. For example, if you’re selling wholesale tech products, select the Electronics industry.
4. Select Your Store’s Location
   After that, select your store’s location and click the ‘Continue’ button to proceed.
5. Configure WooCommerce Setup Wizard
   You’ll now see a list of free plugins that will add additional features to your store. Choose the options you want, and click ‘Continue’.
6. Select Free Features
   WooCommerce will then set up your store based on your selections. Once that is done, it’s time to configure shipping and payment methods for your wholesale products.
7. Set Up Shipping for B2B
   Shipping is a crucial step for B2B stores since you don’t want to end up in a situation where shipping costs for bulk products are too high. To set up your shipping methods:
   • Navigate to WooCommerce » Settings in your WordPress dashboard to configure options.
   • Click on the ‘Shipping’ tab, where you’ll notice a default shipping zone has already been created.
   • Click the ‘Edit’ link under the ‘Zone name’ to start customizing your settings.
8. Edit Shipping Zone
   This will open a new page where you can change the ‘Zone name’ to whatever you like. You can add as many ‘Zone regions’ as necessary by selecting areas, cities, or countries you want to deliver to.

Step 7: Initialize Wholesale Suite Plugin

For B2B businesses, offering wholesale pricing and features is essential. While WooCommerce offers great eCommerce functionality, it doesn’t include built-in tools for wholesale pricing. This is where the Wholesale Suite plugin comes in. It allows you to easily add wholesale pricing, create a separate registration process for wholesale customers, and manage wholesale orders efficiently.

Here’s how to set up the Wholesale Suite plugin for your store:

1. Install and Activate the Wholesale Suite Plugin
   Upon activation, visit the Wholesale » Settings page in your WordPress dashboard and switch to the ‘General’ tab.
2. Set Default Order Requirements
   Here, you can set a minimum order quantity and order subtotal that wholesale customers must meet to place an order. This ensures that only serious wholesale buyers place orders.
3. Customize Wholesale Settings
   You can also customize the visibility of wholesale products. For example, you can choose to show wholesale products only to registered wholesale customers, hide quantity discount tables, or allow backdoor access for special cases. Once you’ve adjusted these settings, click ‘Save Changes’.
4. Configure Pricing Settings
   Switch to the ‘Price’ tab. If you want to hide retail prices for your wholesale customers, check the ‘Hide Retail Price’ option. You can also customize the text displayed on cart and price buttons. Once you’ve chosen your settings, press ‘Save Changes’ to apply them.
5. Set Tax Exemption
   If you want to exempt wholesale customers from taxes, go to the ‘Tax’ tab and check the ‘Tax Exemption’ box. Keep in mind, this feature is exclusive to the Pro plan. You can also choose to display prices with tax included or excluded, depending on your preferences.
6. Finalize Other Settings
   You can now configure the remaining settings based on your business needs or leave them as default. Once you are satisfied, click ‘Save Changes’ to store your settings.
7. Add Your First Wholesale Product
   Next, go to the WooCommerce » Add New page to start adding your first wholesale product. Enter the product name, description, and upload an image here.
8. Restrict Product Visibility to Wholesale Customers
   If you only want wholesale customers to view the product, choose the ‘Wholesale Customer’ user role from the ‘Restrict To Wholesale Roles’ dropdown menu. The Wholesale Suite plugin automatically generates this user role. 
9. Set Wholesale Pricing
   Now, just scroll down to the ‘Product Data’ area and pick a ‘Discount Type’ under ‘Wholesale Prices’. Decide whether to give wholesale customers a fixed or percentage-based discount. By choosing ‘Percentage,’ input the discount rate, and WooCommerce will adjust the price. For ‘Fixed’, fill in the ‘Wholesale Price ($)’ and ‘Wholesale Sale Price ($)’ fields.
10. Set Minimum Order Quantity for Wholesale
    Scroll down to the ‘Wholesale Minimum Order Quantity’ section and set how many items a customer needs to buy for wholesale pricing.
11. Publish Your Product
    Once all settings are configured, click ‘Publish’ to save your product. Now, your wholesale product will be available to wholesale customers according to the pricing and settings you’ve configured.

With the Wholesale Suite plugin, you can easily manage B2B transactions and offer tailored pricing to wholesale customers.

Step 8: Create a Wholesale Order Form

To streamline the purchasing process for your wholesale customers, it’s a good idea to add a wholesale order form to your website. This form allows customers to quickly place bulk orders without having to navigate through individual product pages, making the process faster and more efficient.

Here’s a quick guide to setting up a wholesale order form:

1. Head to the Wholesale Order Forms Page
   First, head to the Wholesale » Order Forms page in your WordPress admin and click the ‘Add Form’ button.
2. Add a Name for Your Form
   The form editor will open, allowing you to give your order form a name.
3. Customize the Order Form Table
   Scroll down to the ‘Order Form Table’ section, where you’ll find a list of your store’s top products and their prices. You can drag and drop different modules from the ‘Edit Form’ tab on the right to the footer of your form. Some useful modules include:
   • Search Input: Helps users find specific products quickly.
   • Category Filter: Allows customers to sort products by categories.
   • Add Selected Products to Cart: Makes it easy to add items directly to the cart.
   • Cart Subtotal: Shows the total cost at either the top or bottom of the form.
4. These elements are helpful if you have a long product list, ensuring users can easily find what they need and keep track of the total cost.
5. Include Additional Table Elements
   You can also add more details to your order form, like stock amount, SKU, description, and product category. This will provide additional information to customers before they add items to their cart.
6. Adjust Settings
   Go to the ‘Settings’ tab in the right column, where you can tweak options like:
   • Hiding the form title.
   • Sorting products in a specific order.
   • Enabling lazy loading for products.
   • Including or excluding specific product categories.
7. Once you’ve made the changes, click ‘Save Changes’ to apply them.
8. Publish the Form
   Once you’re done, scroll back to the top and click the ‘Publish’ button. This will save your settings and generate a shortcode for the order form.
9. Add the Shortcode to a Page
   Copy the shortcode next to the order form name, then go to the page or post where you want to add the form. Press the ‘+’ button at the top of the page editor, choose the ‘Shortcode’ block, and paste the copied shortcode.
10. Save Your Changes
    Once pasted, hit the ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ button to save your changes.

Once you’ve completed these steps, visit your WordPress site to see your wholesale order form in action. Customers can now place bulk orders easily, saving time and simplifying the purchasing process.

Extra Tools to Enhance Your B2B WordPress eCommerce Store

While the steps outlined above will help you get started, there are a few additional tools that can take your B2B WordPress eCommerce store to the next level. Here are some bonus tools to enhance your store’s functionality:

1. WordPress Maintenance: Regular maintenance is key to keeping your WordPress site running smoothly. This includes updating plugins, themes, and WordPress core to ensure your site is secure and fast.
2. SEO Optimization: Integrate an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO to optimize your content for search engines and improve your store’s visibility. This tool helps you add SEO-friendly titles, meta descriptions, and keywords to your product pages.
3. WordPress Pricing Tools: Tools like WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing allow you to set up advanced pricing rules, discount offers, and special pricing for different customer groups.
4. WordPress Care Plans: Think about investing in WordPress care plans to keep your site up to date. These plans include regular backups, updates, and security monitoring, so you can rest easy knowing your site is secure.
5. Payment Gateways: Integrate reliable payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, or Authorize.Net to accept payments from your customers securely.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a B2B eCommerce store in WordPress is a straightforward process that requires a few key steps. By following this guide and using the right plugins, you can create a fully functional store that caters to the needs of your wholesale customers. From selecting a website builder to integrating payment gateways, each step is essential for building a successful online business.

As the world of eCommerce continues to evolve, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve. Regular WordPress maintenance and optimization will keep your store running smoothly and ensure that you continue to meet your customers’ expectations.

For businesses looking for expert support with WordPress, WPcaps offers specialized WordPress maintenance and care plans. These services guarantee your website remains updated, secure, and running at its best. With WPcaps, you can focus on growing your business while they handle the technical side of things.

Now that you’re armed with these tips and tools, you’re ready to rock your B2B eCommerce website! Just remember, building a successful online store is like making the perfect cup of coffee – start strong, keep it fresh, and always make sure it’s running smoothly. Happy building, and don’t forget to give your WordPress site the love and care it deserves – your business will thank you for it!