---
title: "How to make an existing Shopify customer a wholesale customer"
description: "Use Import customers on the Process Wholesale Customers page to move existing Shopify customers into Pending, then select Accept B2B. You can also add the B2B tag in Shopify admin, which skips emails and auto-assigned discounts."
type: how-to
plans: [All plans]
keywords:
  [
    import customers,
    add existing customer to wholesale,
    convert retail customer to wholesale,
    tag customer B2B,
    migrate wholesale customers,
    bulk add B2B customers,
  ]
questions:
  - "How do I make an existing Shopify customer a wholesale customer?"
  - "Why are imported customers in Pending instead of Active?"
  - "Can I add the B2B tag in Shopify admin instead of importing?"
  - "Does importing customers send them an email?"
  - "Can an existing customer apply through the signup form?"
last_verified: 2026-11-11
order: 3
---

# How to make an existing Shopify customer a wholesale customer

To give an existing Shopify customer wholesale access in Process Wholesale, open **Customers**, select **Import customers**, choose the customers and select **Import selected**. Imported customers land on the **Pending** tab tagged `B2B_Registeration`, and they become wholesale customers (B2B customers) only when you select **Accept B2B**. Import works on every plan and sends no email by itself.

**At a glance**

- **Plan:** All plans
- **Where:** Process Wholesale > **Customers** > **Import customers**
- **Applies to:** Shopify customers that have neither `B2B` nor `B2B_Registeration`
- **Result:** The customer is tagged `B2B_Registeration` and appears on the **Pending** tab
- **Next step:** **Accept B2B**, which sends the approval email and adds auto-assigned discounts

## Steps to import existing customers

1. In Shopify admin, open the **Process Wholesale** app and select **Customers**.
2. Select **Import customers**. The **Import customers** window says "Select existing customers to add to your B2B program. Only customers without B2B tags are shown."
3. Find customers with **Search by name or email...**. The list shows **Customer** and **Email** ("No email" when the customer has none), 10 customers per page.
4. Select the checkbox next to each customer you want.
5. Select **Import selected**. The toast reads "Customers imported".
6. Select **Refresh** and open the **Pending** tab. The imported customers are listed there.
7. Approve them: select the pencil button and **Accept B2B**, or select several and use **Accept B2B** in the bulk action bar. See [approving applications](approve-or-reject-applications.md).

If no customers are listed in the import window, the message reads "All customers already have B2B access or try changing your search."

## What import does and does not do

|                              | **Import customers** | **Accept B2B** afterwards                         |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Tag added                    | `B2B_Registeration`  | `B2B` (replaces `B2B_Registeration`)              |
| Email to the customer        | None                 | "Application approved", if on                     |
| Auto-assigned discount tags  | None                 | Added                                             |
| Tax exemption                | Unchanged            | Set to the **B2B customer tax exemption** setting |
| Wholesale prices at checkout | No                   | Yes, for the customer's discount tags             |

**Example.** You import three long-standing trade buyers. They appear on **Pending** with the tag `B2B_Registeration` and get no email. You select all three and **Accept B2B**. Each one is tagged `B2B`, receives the approval email and gets the discount tags selected under **Auto assign discount tags**.

## Alternative: add the B2B tag in Shopify admin

You can also open the customer in Shopify admin and add the tag `B2B` yourself. That makes the customer a wholesale customer at checkout and in the storefront, and they appear on the **Active** tab. It does not:

- send the "Application approved" email,
- add the discount tags from **Auto assign discount tags**, or
- apply the **B2B customer tax exemption** setting.

Assign discounts afterwards with **Manage discount tags** on the **Active** tab or **Bulk assign discount**. See [assigning discounts](../discounts/assign-discounts-to-customers.md).

> **Note:** Adding `B2B_Registeration` by hand also puts a customer on the **Pending** tab. Type it exactly as `B2B_Registeration`.

## What your customers see

Nothing changes for the customer while they are pending after an import, and they receive no email. Once you accept them, they receive "Application approved" (if on) and see wholesale prices the next time they log in with their usual account.

## Limits and things to know

- **Imported customers always start in Pending.** Import never makes a customer a wholesale customer directly.
- **Import shows success for the whole request.** "Customers imported" does not confirm each customer. If someone is missing from the **Pending** tab after **Refresh**, import them again.
- **Only customers without wholesale tags are shown.** Customers who already have `B2B` or `B2B_Registeration` do not appear in the import window.
- **Existing customers can also apply themselves.** A customer who logs in to their account and submits your wholesale signup form is added to **Pending**. A logged-out shopper who uses an email that already has an account in new customer accounts is asked to log in first.

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom                                       | Likely cause                                                 | Fix                                                               |
| --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| The customer is not in the import window      | The customer already has `B2B` or `B2B_Registeration`        | Look on the **Pending** or **Active** tab instead.                |
| Imported customers are not on the Pending tab | The list was not reloaded, or Shopify did not accept the tag | Select **Refresh**. If still missing, import them again.          |
| The customer got no email after import        | Import sends no email                                        | Accept the customer; the approval email is sent then if it is on. |
| A hand-tagged customer has no discount        | Hand tagging skips auto-assigned discounts                   | Use **Manage discount tags** on the **Active** tab.               |

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I make an existing Shopify customer a wholesale customer?

Import them with **Customers > Import customers**, then select **Accept B2B** on the **Pending** tab. Accepting adds the `B2B` tag, auto-assigned discounts and the approval email.

### Why are imported customers in Pending instead of Active?

Process Wholesale treats an import as an application. Every customer needs your approval with **Accept B2B** before they get wholesale access.

### Does importing customers send them an email?

No. Import sends nothing. The "Application approved" email is sent when you accept the customer, if that email is on.

### Can I add the B2B tag in Shopify admin instead of importing?

Yes. The customer becomes a wholesale customer at once, but no email is sent, no auto-assigned discounts are added and the tax exemption setting is not applied.

## Related articles

- [How to approve or reject wholesale applications](approve-or-reject-applications.md)
- [Wholesale customers and customer tags explained](wholesale-customers-and-tags.md)
- [How to assign discounts automatically when a customer is approved](auto-assign-discount-tags.md)
- [How to assign discounts to wholesale customers](../discounts/assign-discounts-to-customers.md)