Glossary term

Price list (catalog pricing)

Definition

A published set of standard prices for a seller's products, often varying by customer segment, region, or currency. Quotes typically pull unit prices from an applicable price list before any negotiated adjustments.

A price list is a published set of standard prices for a seller’s products. In B2B, a single product rarely has one universal price, so sellers maintain multiple price lists that vary by customer segment, region, or currency. Quotes usually start from the price on the applicable list, then apply any negotiated discounts or line item adjustments.

How it works

Each price list maps products (or variants) to a unit price and, often, a currency. A rule decides which list applies to a given buyer: their account tier, tax region, contract, or assigned catalog. When a rep builds a quote, the system looks up the buyer’s list first and pre-fills unit prices, so the negotiation starts from a defensible baseline rather than a blank field.

Why it matters

Price lists keep pricing consistent and auditable. A wholesale buyer and a retail buyer can see different unit prices for the same SKU without anyone editing product records by hand. They also make currency and regional pricing manageable at scale, and they give quotes a clear origin, which helps when a buyer asks how a number was reached.

On Shopify

Shopify B2B uses catalogs and price lists to assign company specific pricing, including fixed prices or percentage adjustments per catalog. When a quote request comes in from a B2B company, pulling the unit price from that company’s assigned price list keeps the quote aligned with the pricing the buyer already sees in their storefront. From there you handle case by case discounts as negotiated adjustments before the quote is sent.

Example

You sell a fitting at 12.00 USD retail. Your “Distributor USD” list prices it at 8.40, and your “Distributor EUR” list at 7.80. A distributor’s quote pulls 8.40 per unit automatically, then you apply a further 5 percent for a 500 unit order.

Frequently asked

How is a price list different from a discount?

A price list sets the standard price a buyer starts from. A discount is an adjustment applied on top, usually per quote or per order. The list is the baseline, the discount is the negotiation.

Can one product be on several price lists?

Yes. The same product commonly appears on multiple lists with different unit prices, one per segment, region, or currency. A rule decides which list applies to each buyer.

Does Shopify support price lists for B2B?

Yes. Shopify B2B uses catalogs with attached price lists to set company specific pricing, either as fixed prices or percentage adjustments, which quotes can then draw from.

Turn quote requests into paid orders

ShopQuotes is a free-to-start Shopify app for branded, checkout-ready quotes.