Shopify Plus as an enterprise e-commerce platform: exclusive features, benefits and costs - the comprehensive guide for decision-makers

Shopify is becoming increasingly relevant in the enterprise sector, even if its progress often remains hidden. Many companies are struggling with high costs and outdated systems while slowly realizing the benefits of Shopify. However, the transition to Shopify takes time and conviction, especially given the challenges of integrating into complex IT structures.

Are you faced with the choice of adding Shopify Plus to your shortlist and don't know exactly what the advantages are compared to Shopify Standard plans and whether it suits your needs? In this article, we take an objective look at the differences and advantages of both options to help you make your decision.

The most important facts at a glance

• Shopify Plus is an e-commerce solution designed specifically for large companies that require flexibility, scalability and extensive customization options.

• Offers advanced checkout customization, multi-shop management and native B2B integration.

• Shopify Plus has a powerful infrastructure that can handle up to 10,000 orders per minute.

• 24/7 support with Merchant Success Managers and Launch Consulting Team.

• Flexible cost model based on the success of the company - with significantly lower transaction fees than the standard Shopify tariffs

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a comprehensive, cloud-based e-commerce platform that enables companies to efficiently set up, customize and manage online stores. In view of Shopify's growing relevance in the enterprise segment, decision-makers are increasingly asking themselves why traditional store systems are still being used. Compared to these, Shopify offers a faster market entry, reduced technical complexity and a scalable infrastructure that has been specially developed for the requirements of modern companies.

What is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is the premium version of the Shopify platform, designed specifically for large e-commerce businesses and fast-growing brands.

It offers advanced features and customization options that go beyond Shopify's standard plans to meet the needs of companies with high sales volumes and complex business processes. With Shopify Plus, enterprise decision-makers can efficiently scale their online stores, e.g. customize the checkout and benefit from specialized marketing tools tailored to the needs of the enterprise segment. In particular, a dedicated contact person with a launch consulting team - directly from Shopify - is of particular value compared to pure store building kits via the standard Shopify tariffs (incl. Advanced).

In the Gartner Magic Quadrant 2023, Shopify Plus was ranked as a 'Leader' in SaaS platforms for digital commerce, with analysts highlighting the platform's strengths, including its broad ecosystem and support for individual storefronts. This makes the product one of the best store systems on the market. Many decision-makers emphasize value for money with the structure of the fees.

Target group

Shopify Plus is aimed at companies that want to scale quickly and benefit from the simplicity and full functionality of the Shopify platform, including services such as hosting, support and a standardized technology stack.

Shopify Plus is suitable for B2C and B2B business models (selling physical products + digital products). The B2B functions of Shopify Plus were underestimated for a long time - and rightly so. But this has changed significantly since 2024. Highly complex B2B stores are still the domain of specialized B2B online store providers, but online stores that resemble a classic product catalog can now be implemented very well with Shopify. The commercial advantages in particular make B2B with Shopify very attractive.

What is Shopify Commerce Components now?

Shopify Commerce Components (SCC) is a modular solution for companies with over 500 million euros in online sales that are looking for maximum flexibility. SCC offers 30 selectable modules, including storefront, checkout, payment processing and data analysis, which can be integrated precisely into existing systems. SCC can be seamlessly integrated via APIs, including headless options for independent front-end development. This modular architecture makes it possible to use only the necessary functions and avoid unnecessary overhead. SCC thus offers full control over the technology architecture and maximum adaptability.

In contrast, Shopify Plus offers a fully integrated platform that provides a complete solution for running an online store. Shopify Plus is an all-in-one platform where both the backend and the frontend are managed by Shopify, which minimizes the development effort but also offers less flexibility compared to SCC.

Advantages of Shopify Plus

Individual design of the checkout in the online store

• Shopify's standard plans are known for offering limited customization options in the checkout process. For many businesses, this can be a limitation, especially if they have specific checkout logic or design requirements. With Shop System Plus, however, merchants gain access to exclusive checkout extensions that open up completely new possibilities.

• Checkout extensions work similarly to embedded apps in the theme, but are specifically designed for the website's checkout pages. They can be implemented without a developer - just like an app installation.

• These extensions make it possible to individually configure the logic and design of the checkout to meet specific business requirements and create a customized customer experience.

• Extended scope: Another advantage is that Checkout Extensions can also be used on the order confirmation page and the thank you page of the webshop. In the example above

• Benefit: A customized checkout experience ensures higher customer satisfaction and increases the average order value (AOV).

Multi-shop functionality

• Shopify Plus allows you to create up to 10 expansion stores that can be used to support different markets or regions. Expansion Stores are particularly useful if different product catalogs or even (sub-)brands are to be operated in different countries. While Shopify Markets offers a good solution for internationalizing a single store and adapting it for different countries, Expansion Stores are ideal for companies that need more than just simple localization - for example, if the product range or brand strategy differs greatly depending on the market.

  Shopify Markets makes it possible to have a central administration for international stores, with functions such as the adjustment of prices, currencies, local domains and SEO optimizations from a single backend. This is especially useful when the goal is to create a unified brand presence with customizations for different countries.

  Expansion stores, on the other hand, offer complete autonomy for each market. This means that each region can have its own product catalogs, marketing campaigns, prices and payment methods. This makes them the better choice when internationalization requires not only adjustments to the existing store, but completely independent stores with different focuses. Expansion stores are also necessary if Shopify payouts are required in multiple currencies, as Shopify Markets does not yet support this.

  A combination of both approaches is also possible: Expansion Stores can be used to manage different brands or product lines, while Shopify Markets is used across these Expansion Stores to customize the stores for different countries. In this way, the advantages of both methods can be combined - the independence and individualization per brand through Expansion Stores and the simple scaling across national borders through Shopify Markets.

• Advantage: Expansion Stores offer comprehensive flexibility for companies that need to fully tailor their stores to the needs of different markets, while Shopify Markets provides a central and efficient solution for simpler, cross-border customization. Companies can thus choose the optimal solution based on their internationalization strategy - either the simplified management of a single store, complete independence through multiple stores or a combination of both approaches.

• This facilitates international expansion and the management of multiple brands or regions within one platform.

Shopify Functions: Extensible business logic through public or custom apps that enable deeper customization and greater flexibility

• Shopify Functions: With Shopify Functions, Shopify offers a powerful way to individually implement complex business logic that goes beyond the standard functionalities. While regular Shopify quickly reaches its limits with special requirements such as bundles and complex discount rules, Shopify Functions opens up a new dimension of customizability.

• Many functions can be easily installed as an app without the need for programming knowledge. Developers also have the option of creating customizations. Shopify Functions also works faster and more reliably than previous Shopify scripts, which is particularly beneficial for large discount promotions such as flash sales. Currently, customizations are available for discounts, shipping and payment options, with planned enhancements for shipping rates, checkout validations and more.

• Advantage: Greater flexibility for promotions, without deep code intervention - ideal for enterprise retailers.

Shopify Launchpad

• Shopify Launchpad is a powerful tool designed specifically for Shopify Plus to automate timed sales promotions, product launches and discount campaigns. A real-life example from e-commerce would be a fashion brand planning a large-scale Black Friday promotion. With Shopify Launchpad, the company can determine in advance which products are to be discounted, how much the discounts will be, when the discounts will start and end and even which stock will be reserved for the promotion. Visual adjustments to the storefront can also be planned in advance to display special banners or pop-ups during the promotion.

• Advantage: Saves time and ensures that actions are implemented seamlessly and on time.

B2B functions

• Shopify Plus now offers the possibility to create a dedicated B2B store at no additional cost. This store includes specific B2B tools and platform features tailored to the needs of business customers:

  • Companies, locations & buyers: Management of corporate customers, their locations and purchasing managers.

  • Product catalogs: Creation of customized product catalogs for various companies or industries.

  • Payment methods: Support of pro forma invoices and payment terms for corporate customers.

  • Price lists and discounts: Possibility to set up individual price lists and special discount structures depending on the customer or quantity.

  • Buyer Self-Serve Portal: Business customers can manage their orders themselves, view order histories and submit new requests.

  • Draft orders and quotations: Creation of draft orders as well as the option for business customers to request quotes.

  • One-time delivery address: Flexibility to specify a unique delivery address for special orders.

  • Quantity purchase rules: Set up minimum or maximum quantities per order to support B2B-specific requirements.

• Benefit: Functions such as B2B-specific price lists, buyer self-service portals and payment options make it easier to manage business customers and end customers.

24/7 support and Merchant Success Manager

• Shopify Plus offers 24/7 prioritized support and access to a Merchant Success Manager to help optimize the business.

• Benefit: Expert help and advice to achieve business goals efficiently.

Launch Consulting Team & Plus Academy

• Shopify Plus merchants have access to a Launch Consulting Team and the Plus Academy for ongoing training.

• Advantage: Support when getting started and continuous business development.

Scalability and performance

• Shopify Plus can process over 10,000 orders per minute and offers a powerful infrastructure that meets the requirements of fast-growing companies. Shopify is a hosting provider and provides the system as Software-as-a-Service.

• Advantage: Particularly useful during peak periods such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Costs of Shopify Plus

Overview of the cost structure

Shopify Plus costs - depending on the duration of the contract - either 2,300 US dollars per month or a percentage of sales, whichever is higher. The exact percentage is negotiated individually with Shopify's Enterprise Sales Team - we will soon provide a rough guide and also a comparison of the total cost of ownership (TCO) of Shopify Plus to Adobe Commerce (Magento), Salesforce Commerce Cloud (Demandware), Commercetools and Spryker as an update to this article.

Advantage: Transparent cost model based on the company's success.

Cost comparison Shopify Plus vs Shopify Advanced

Of course, there are other tariffs than Shopify Advanced - but for larger stores, everything except Advanced vs. Plus makes no sense, because otherwise the transaction fees alone are far too high.

The Advanced Shopify plan is particularly suitable for larger merchants, as it only charges a quarter of the sales fees of the Basic plan and thus enables considerable savings for high sales.

In our experience, an upgrade to Shopify Advanced pays off from a turnover of 25,000 euros per month. The lower transaction fees and advanced features, such as detailed analytics and additional user accounts, make this plan particularly attractive for growing businesses. For very high sales, the total cost of running a store with Shopify Advanced is only slightly higher than the Standard plan, but offers significantly more features.

Comparison with Shopify Advanced

Shopify Advanced vs Shopify Plus

• Stores & internationality: Shopify Advanced offers only one store with three markets (up to 50 for an extra charge), while Shopify Plus allows up to 10 expansion stores.

• Employee access: Shopify Advanced is limited to 15 employee accounts, Shopify Plus offers an unlimited number.

• Checkout customization: Shopify Advanced does not offer checkout customization, Shopify Plus offers extensive customization options.

• API limits: Shopify Plus offers higher API limits that enable better integration and use of third-party tools.

• B2B functions: Shopify Advanced does not offer any native B2B functions, Shopify Plus has been integrating significantly expanded B2B solutions since 2024.

• Support and launch tools: Shopify Plus offers 24/7 support, access to Merchant Success Managers and Launchpad, while Shopify Advanced offers prioritized chat support - but no dedicated contacts and no relevant phone support.

Conclusion: Shopify Plus offers significantly more flexibility, scalability and, above all, support directly from the manufacturer itself.

Store systems in comparison: integration and customization options

Compared to open source store systems, Shopify Plus offers greater security and less maintenance.

The platform offers a modular architecture that enables companies to integrate specific components for their e-commerce needs.

The numerous customization options, including the ability to implement headless commerce and integrate APIs, offer retailers the flexibility to customize their online stores.

App ecosystem

Shopify's app ecosystem comprises around 8,000 applications that help to increase sales and automate business processes.

This extensive app ecosystem allows store operators to add individual extensions to optimize the shopping experience in their store system.

By integrating third-party apps, specific functions can be provided to improve the store system. This flexibility and adaptability make Shopify Plus one of the best e-commerce solutions for large companies.

API and third-party integrations

Shopify Plus supports comprehensive API integrations that allow third-party tools to be seamlessly integrated into the online store. The platform has two main APIs: the Admin API for internal processes and the Storefront API for external applications.

Shopify Plus as an enterprise e-commerce platform: Summary

Shopify Plus offers a scalable e-commerce platform that is specially tailored to the needs of large companies. The platform enables flexible checkout customization, comprehensive B2B functions and high scalability during peak periods. With tools such as Expansion Stores and Shopify Launchpad, Shopify Plus supports the efficient internationalization and automation of processes. A flexible cost model and extensive support from specialized teams make Shopify Plus an attractive choice for growth-oriented companies. Compared to Standard plans, Shopify Plus offers extended functionalities and higher security to meet the needs of large merchants.

Frequently asked questions

What are the costs associated with Shopify Plus?

The cost for Shopify Plus consists of a monthly fee of $2,300 or 0.XY% of revenue depending on the agreement and whichever is higher - as well as lower transaction fees compared to other plans.

What support does Shopify Plus offer its users?

Shopify Plus offers comprehensive support through 24/7 telephone support and a personal Merchant Success Manager who offers individual strategic advice and optimization assistance.

How does Shopify Plus help with international expansion?

Shopify Plus enables international expansion through its multi-shop functionality, which allows companies to set up up to nine additional stores at no extra cost. This makes it easier to manage multiple brands and enter different markets.