What Are Shopify Expansion Stores & How Do They Work?

Shopify expansion stores are additional storefronts created under a Shopify Plus account that allow brands to operate multiple online stores for different regions, customer segments, or brands, all under one centralized contract.

If you are scaling internationally, launching B2B alongside DTC, or managing multiple brands, additional stores provide operational separation without losing strategic control.

What Are Shopify Expansion Stores?

Shopify expansion stores are extra Shopify stores created under a Shopify Plus agreement to support multi-brand, multi-region, or multi-segment growth strategies.

They function as independent storefronts but are commercially tied to a primary Shopify Plus account.

When Should You Use Shopify Expansion Stores?

You should consider this if your business is scaling beyond a single audience, region, or pricing model.

They allow you to separate operations strategically while maintaining centralized control under Shopify Plus. Instead of overcomplicating one store, you build structured, purpose-driven storefronts.

Below are the main situations where Shopify expansion stores become a smart move.

1. You’re Expanding Internationally

Having multiple stores can let you create region-specific storefronts with local currency, tax rules, and payment methods. This improves compliance, conversion rates, and customer trust in each market.

2. You Sell Both B2B and DTC

They allow you to separate wholesale and retail operations with different pricing, checkout logic, and account structures. This prevents technical conflicts and maintains a clean buying experience for each audience.

3. You Manage Multiple Brands

Expansion stores keep branding, marketing, and analytics fully separate for each brand under one parent account. This protects brand positioning and prevents audience overlap.

4. You Need Legal and Operational Separation

Each store operates independently, helping you meet regional compliance requirements and reduce cross-market risk. If one store faces issues, the others remain unaffected.

5. You Want Better Performance and SEO Segmentation

Separate stores enable country-specific domains, localized SEO strategies, and optimized site performance. This strengthens organic visibility and regional search rankings.

6. You’re Scaling Beyond Operational Simplicity

When workflows, pricing structures, and tax setups become too complex in one store, expansion stores restore operational clarity. They provide structured infrastructure for sustainable growth.

How Shopify Expansion Stores Work (Step-by-Step)

Option 1: Create a Second Shopify Store (Standard Method)

Step 1: Log Out of Your Current Store

Shopify does not allow multiple stores inside one standard account.

Step 2: Sign Up With a Different Email

You cannot create multiple stores under one standard plan login.

Step 3: Choose a Plan

Select a pricing plan as each store is billed separately.

Step 4: Set Up Store Details

This second store is fully independent. There is no backend connection between stores unless you use third-party apps.

Option 2: Create a Second Store Using Shopify Plus (Expansion Store)

If you are on Shopify Plus, the process is different and more structured. Shopify Plus allows you to create expansion stores under one enterprise agreement.

• Create a store
• Enter the store name and URL
• Set the theme
• Import your files and products.
  Finally, select “Users” from the new store’s homepage and choose which staff accounts will have access to the store.
• Click Done, then select Create Store.

Conclusion

Shopify expansion stores are not just extra storefronts they are a structural growth tool for brands scaling beyond a single market or customer type. Instead of forcing currencies, tax rules, pricing models, and audiences into a single complex backend, Shopify expansion stores create clean separation. Each store operates independently with its own checkout, domain, and configuration, while your overall strategy remains aligned.

The key takeaway is simple:

• Use a single store when your operations are simple.
• Use Shopify expansion stores when your growth demands structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are Shopify expansion stores?

They are additional storefronts created under a Shopify Plus agreement that allow businesses to operate multiple regional, B2B, wholesale, or brand-specific stores separately while managing them under one enterprise contract.

2. Do you need Shopify Plus to create expansion stores?

Yes. Shopify expansion stores are only available under Shopify Plus. Standard Shopify plans (Basic, Shopify, Advanced) do not include expansion store functionality under a unified enterprise contract.

3. How many Shopify expansion stores can you have?

The number depends on your Shopify Plus agreement.

About the author

Sajini Annie John

Meet Sajini, a seasoned technical content writer with a passion for e-commerce and expertise in Shopify. She is committed to helping online businesses to thrive through the power of well-crafted content.