Requirements and considerations for using the Shopify Collective sales channel

Before you start using the Shopify Collective sales channel, review the following requirements and considerations. You should also refer to Understanding the Collective Community Guidelines.

Note

If you need to integrate Shopify Collective with your external systems, then refer to our developer documentation.

Requirements for using the Shopify Collective sales channel

To use the Shopify Collective sales channel in your Shopify admin, your store must meet the following requirements:

• Active Shopify plan: Your store must be on an active plan.
• Store location and store currency: Your store must be based in the United States and your store currency must be USD.
• Activation of Shopify Payments: You need to complete the Shopify Payments account setup process for your store. Learn more about eligibility for Shopify Payments.
• Shopify Payments payout currency: The currency of your Payout account for Shopify Payments must match your store's currency.
• Compliance with Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy: Your store needs to comply with Collective's Terms of Service, and Shopify's Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy.

You need to meet all the requirements to be able to use all the features of Shopify Collective. If your store doesn't meet all the requirements, then a banner displays in your sales channel's Overview page saying Your store isn't eligible to sell from Collective. Click Check requirements to view a list of the requirements to sell from Collective, and which ones you need to fulfill to become eligible. Banners also display in other parts of the sales channel saying that certain features are unavailable, and that you can take certain actions only after meeting the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility states in the Shopify Collective sales channel

If you install the Shopify Collective sales channel for the first time, and a message displays saying that you're ineligible to use Shopify Collective, then you can't connect with other merchants until your store meets the eligibility requirements.

If you're an existing supplier with Shopify Collective, and your store becomes ineligible through a recurring eligibility check, then you can't connect with new retailers or set any of your price lists to active status. You can review any existing orders or payments with your retailers.

Review the table for details of the key actions that you can or can't take in the Shopify Collective sales channel when your store is eligible or ineligible.

List of features in the Shopify Collective sales channel and which ones can be used by eligible or ineligible stores

Sales channel section	Sales channel feature or action	Eligible to use Shopify Collective	Ineligible to use Shopify Collective
Overview	Complete tasks in the sales channel onboarding checklist	✔	✔
Overview	View new connection invitations	✔	✘
Overview	Complete tasks in the Get your first connections checklist	✔	✘
Settings	Activate and configure the Discovery feature	✔	✘
Settings	Set up a Referral page	✔	✘
Retailers	View existing connections	✔	✔
Retailers	Invite retailer	✔	✘
Price lists	Create price list	✔	✔
Price lists	Edit price list	✔	✔
Price lists	Set price list to active	✔	✘
Existing retailer connection page	Add price list	✔	✔
Existing retailer connection page	Edit price list	✔	✔
Existing retailer connection page	Set price list to active	✔	✘
Existing retailer connection page	View retailer's contact details	✔	✔
Received invitation	View retailer's contact details	✔	✘
Received invitation	Accept invite	✔	✘

Ineligible retailers

You might find that a retailer you're working with becomes ineligible to use Shopify Collective. The retailer is informed about the steps that they need to take to become eligible again. Review the following list of what happens during this time:

• You receive an email notifying you that one of your retailers is currently ineligible to use Shopify Collective.
• You don't receive any new orders from the retailer's customers during the time that they're ineligible.
• You should review any unfulfilled orders or pending payments with the relevant retailer.
• If and when the retailer becomes eligible to use Shopify Collective again, then you receive another email, and you can continue to fulfill new orders from the retailer's customers and process payments.

Considerations for using the Shopify Collective sales channel

Before you start using the Shopify Collective sales channel, review the following considerations:

• You can't use the Pause and Build plan with the Shopify Collective sales chanel.
• Shopify Collective sales channel doesn't support digital products and gift card products.
• Duties, taxes, and tariffs aren't passed from retailers to suppliers with Shopify Collective.
• If your business is based in Canada and you work with a retailer based in Canada, then you need to determine how you and your retailer collect taxes. Generally, your retailer collects taxes from customers, and you collect taxes from your retailer.
  • To collect taxes from retailers based in Canada, you can create a separate price list for retailers based in Canada and set your price adjustment to account taxes.
  • To charge your retailers correct tax rates, and file and remit your taxes correctly, you need to consult with your local tax authorities or a tax professional.

Incompatible apps and features with the Shopify Collective sales channel

The Shopify Collective sales channel can't be used with the following features and apps:

• Managed Markets
• Pickup in store
• Metafields. Metafields aren't synced from your store to retailer's store, but retailers can use metafields on their store.
• Product bundles. Bundles aren't synced from your store to retailer's store, but retailers can use bundles on their store.
• Subscriptions
• Combined listings

Compatible apps and features with the Shopify Collective sales channel

The Shopify Collective channel is compatible with most apps and features including the following:

• Shopify Flow