How do subscriptions work with B2B checkout?

Introduction

Subscriptions and B2B checkout features don’t naturally work together in Shopify’s Plus B2B setup. Because Shopify’s B2B checkout flow is tailored for business buyers and uses draft orders, it does not support native subscription workflows—including auto-rebilling, subscription APIs, or recurring payment models. Shopify Help Center

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1. Subscription features are not supported in B2B checkout

Shopify’s B2B checkout system is optimized for use cases like invoice-based payments, company-level billing, and custom terms—not recurring orders. As a result:

• Subscription products and APIs are not compatible with the B2B checkout flow. Shopify Help Center
• Features like Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay are disabled in B2B contexts. Subscription apps that depend on these often fail. Shopify Developer Community Forums
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2. Customer payment methods may not store correctly

In B2B, payment methods entered during checkout are saved at the company location level, not tied to individual customers. Subscription platforms like Recharge expect payment methods to be linked to a customer—not a company—which breaks the recurring billing logic. Shopify Developer Community Forums

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3. What this means for your store

• No subscriptions available at customer B2B checkout: Customers can’t subscribe via the standard B2B flow.
• Subscription functionality must be handled separately: Often through custom interfaces or B2C checkout flows.
• Draft orders do not support subscription triggers or pipelines.

4. Workarounds and options

OptionDescriptionSeparate B2C storefrontOffer subscription products on your standard storefront & reserve B2B for manual/draft orders.Custom App or WorkflowUse Shopify APIs (e.g. Subscription APIs, Subscription Contracts API) to simulate recurring billing outside of checkout. Requires dev resources. Shopify Help Center

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+14Third-party appsSome apps like "All in One Commerce" combine subscription management with B2B workflows — but effectiveness depends on store architecture. apps.shopify.com

FAQs

Can I sell subscriptions through B2B checkout using draft orders?

 No — draft orders do not trigger subscription workflows or recurring billing logic.

Can customers save payment methods in B2B for recurring charges?

 Yes — but it's saved at the company location level, which is incompatible with most subscription systems. Shopify Developer Community Forums

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Is there a roadmap for B2B + Subscription compatibility?

 Currently, Shopify does not offer native support. You’ll need to leverage custom development or specialized apps if you require both.

Summary

• Shopify B2B checkout does not support subscriptions natively.
• Payment methods are linked at the company level, which breaks typical subscription logic.
• To sell subscriptions to B2B customers, you’ll need a separate storefront, custom app/API development, or a third-party solution tailored for both workflows.

Need help evaluating your options or building a hybrid B2B/subscription strategy? Happy to help — just let me know!