Keep wholesale separate from retail
Wholesale buyers want different things from retail buyers. They buy more, pay less per unit and often want credit. If you show wholesale prices on your public store, your retail buyers will see them too. So run wholesale as its own flow. Keep retail prices on the store, and share wholesale terms only with approved retailers. Your website still does real work. It proves you are genuine and lets retailers see your full range.
Set minimum order quantities
A minimum order quantity, or MOQ, makes wholesale worth your time. Set it per product or per order, in units or in rupees. A saree brand might ask for 10 pieces per design, or ₹25,000 per order. Base it on your costs. Packing a wholesale carton, raising the invoice and chasing payment take time whatever the order size. Offer a lower MOQ for a first trial order, then the full one for repeats.
Build a simple price list
Your price list should fit on one page. List each product with its SKU, pack size, wholesale price, GST rate and MOQ. Add tiers if you want larger orders, such as a lower price above 50 units. Say clearly whether prices include GST and shipping. Date the list, and send a new one when prices change, so old PDFs do not come back to haunt you. Share it by email or WhatsApp once a retailer is approved.
A separate wholesale enquiry flow
- Add a wholesale enquiry form or page, linked from your footer.
- Ask for the business name, city, GSTIN, type of shop and expected monthly volume.
- Check the GSTIN and the retailer's shop or social pages before you reply.
- Send approved retailers your price list, MOQ and payment terms.
- Confirm each order in writing with a proforma invoice before you pack.
- Ship the order, then send the tax invoice and tracking details.
Get the GST invoice right
Business buyers need a proper tax invoice to claim input tax credit. Rule 46 of the CGST Rules says a tax invoice must show the recipient's name, address and GSTIN if they are registered. It also needs the HSN code, quantity, taxable value and tax charged. Wholesale orders are often large, so remember the e-way bill. The CGST Rules require one when a registered person moves goods with a consignment value above ₹50,000.
Pack and ship bulk orders
A wholesale order is heavier and worth more than a retail parcel, so pack it differently. Use strong master cartons and put a packing list in each one. Ask the retailer to count the goods when they arrive and report any gap within a day or two. Compare courier rates by weight with a local transporter for big orders. Send the tax invoice with the goods. The CGST Act says a registered seller must issue it before or at the time the goods are removed for supply.
Set credit terms carefully
Credit wins retailers, but it can sink a small brand. Start new buyers on advance or part payment. Offer credit, such as 30 days, only after a few orders paid on time. Put the terms on every invoice. GST gives buyers a reason to pay, too. Under the CGST Act, if a buyer does not pay within 180 days of the invoice, the input tax credit they took is added to their tax liability, with interest. Mention that politely when payments slip.
Where your store fits in
Your own website is the storefront retailers check before they call. The Storemate's contact form includes a Wholesale / B2B category, so those enquiries reach your admin inbox apart from retail questions. At checkout, a buyer can tick that they are buying as a registered business and enter their GSTIN. The invoice then switches to a B2B format with the buyer's GSTIN on it. Keep MOQs and price lists in your wholesale emails.