A purchase requisition (PR) is an internal document an employee or department creates to ask their procurement team for permission to buy specified goods or services. It is not an order sent to a supplier. It is the first step that starts an internal approval process, letting the business control spending before any money is committed.
How it works
The requester fills in what they need: item descriptions, quantities, estimated cost, a preferred supplier if they have one, and the reason for the purchase. The requisition then routes to the people who must sign off, often a manager and finance, based on the amount and budget. Once approved, procurement converts it into a purchase order (PO) that goes to the supplier. If it is rejected, nothing gets ordered.
Why it matters
Requisitions create a paper trail before spending happens. They stop unauthorized or duplicate purchases, keep buying tied to budgets, and give finance an audit record of who asked for what and who approved it. For larger organizations, this internal check is a required control.
Where it fits in B2B quoting on Shopify
If you sell to businesses, your buyer often needs a formal quote before they can raise a requisition internally. Their finance team wants a fixed price, line items, and terms in writing to attach to the PR for approval. A clear, itemized quote makes that internal step faster, which shortens your sales cycle. This is why B2B sellers keep quoting separate from checkout: the buyer needs to route the numbers through approval first, then come back and pay. See related terms in the B2B quoting glossary.
Example
A facilities manager needs 40 office chairs. She gets a quote from a supplier, then raises a purchase requisition for that amount. Her director and finance approve it, procurement issues a PO to the supplier, and the order proceeds.