Description
Costco Business Center is a division of Costco Wholesale created to serve the unique needs of businesses, including small retailers, restaurants, offices, and other service providers. Unlike conventional Costco warehouses whose purpose is to serve individual consumer shoppers, Costco Business Centers are commercial locations where customers require volume, business items, or faster service.
Costco Business Centers contain thousands of items you will not typically find in conventional Costco stores. These items include restaurant-quality food and drinks, bulk cleaning supplies, office supplies, packaging and disposable items, and professional commercial kitchen equipment. Many of the items have been packaged in bulk sizes to allow businesses to efficiently stock up at competitive prices.
Costco Business Centers open earlier than standard Costco stores, usually around 7:00 a.m., to meet the needs of business owners and employees who operate on a fast business schedule. Any member of Costco can shop in the Business Center, however, the Business Centers will benefit Commercial Members who may have additional features such as business delivery services or to add employees to the membership.
Introduction
Costco is iconic in the minds of the every day American shopper, so much so, that we may not realize that Costco operates Costco Business Centers – specially designed locations that serve business owners and commercial shoppers. Business Centers exist as an alternative to commercial purchasing at Costco Warehouse stores, for use by restaurants, offices, small retailers, and other professional buyers.
This article is a comprehensive review of Costco Business Centers, including, their purpose, the difference between a Costco Business Center and a Costco Warehouse, who they serve, their product selection, and the benefits of the Costco Business Center. We will then give practical tips for getting the most out of Costco Business Center, to be used by new entrepreneurs and existing business owners alike.
What is a Costco Business Center?
Costco Business Centers are businesses that appeal to businesses and commercial products. They are part of the wider Costco Wholesale Corporation – but because there are far fewer of them, and they serve a different purpose than regular Costco locations, they are distinct.
These centers are open to all Costco members — both Business and Gold Star members — but they are designed with businesses in mind. The idea is to provide businesses with bulk business essentials, to help streamline the handling of small and large businesses, and to provide businesses with inexpensive options for purchasing inventory, supplies and much more.
Significant Differences Between a Business Center and Regular Costco
Even though Business Center members have the same membership as regular Costco members, there are a number of key distinctions in the experience of regular Costco, and business center.
Product Selection
Costco Business Centers offer products that you won’t find at your regular Costco. Non-exhaustively, for example, you will find:
Bulk packed snacks and beverages, which suit vending machines;
Commercial kitchen equipment;
Office supplies and janitorial supplies;
Restaurant quality meats and produce;
Disposables (food containers and utensils);
Cleaning and maintenance products;
While you won’t find clothing, toys or large home electronics items,they offer a far larger diversity of bulk business supplies and products.
Store Layout and Design
Business Centers are less complex in layouts than your typical Costco. The design is more for speed than browsing. The shelves are taller, and it is more industrial feeling, which reflects the audience type of the customer through the business type they operate.
Hours of Operation
Business Centers generally open earlier than typical Costco warehouses, which is often 7 a.m. If you are a business owner, you can shop before the day begins.
No Food Courts/Optical/Pharmacies
Business Centers have no food courts, pharmacy, or optical. They are strictly business merchandise oriented.
Who Uses Costco Business Centers?
Costco Business Centers are used by a diverse range of businesses. Here are some of the most common types of customers:
Restaurants/Food Trucks
Restaurants utilize Business Centers for their day to day needs of fresh meat, produce, dry goods, and disposable food packaging options. They can get the same vendors fresh meat and produce options, same snacks, and dry good options. Costco one stop shopping is the convenience they realize practically every day.
Retailers/Convenience Stores
Small shop owners purchase snacks, drinks, and general merchandise in bulk to resell in their stores. The vending machine supply is most popular in this section for convenience stores.
Offices and Corporate Accounts
Offices take advantage of bulk buys for coffee, paper, cleaning supplies, and breakroom snacks. It is a one-stop-shop for business operational supplies.
Janitorial and Cleaning Companies
Commercial cleaning companies are stocking their cleaning supplies like mops, brooms, disinfectants, and anything else recommended for maintenance at Costco Business Centers.
Caterers and Event Planners
From chafing dishes, to disposable dishes and utensils Business Centers have an assortment of products in one location to offer caterers and event planners.
Products You Can Expect to Find
Costco Business Centers are focused on bulk and basic. Here are some categories of products and examples of the types of products you can find:
Food and Beverages
Large cases of bottled water and soda
Commercial-sized bag of flour, sugar, and rice
Pre-cut vegetables and bulk meat
Vending machine snacks
Coffee and tea products
Cleaning and Janitorial Supplies
Bulk cleaning sprays and solutions
Commercial mops and brooms
A lot of paper towels and toilet paper
Trash bags and trash bag dispensers
Office Supplies
Printer paper and ink
Writing utensils, notebooks and folders
Desk organization utilities and file storage
Restaurant and Kitchen Equipment
Stainless steel prep counter-tops
Commercial food processors and mixers
Refrigerators
Food safe storage containers
Disposable Products
Foam cups and plastic cups
Advantages of Shopping at Costco Business Center
There are many benefits to using Costco Business Center as your main supply hub. The following are the main benefits:
Competitive Pricing
Costco Business Centers offer bulk packaging on many items, which allows small businesses to save money on things they buy frequently. Similar to regular Costco storefronts, business centers offer competitive prices.
One Stop Shopping
Business owners can do their shopping all in one location rather than shopping from multiple supplies. You can find everything there from cleaning supplies to office supplies to food products.
High Quality Products
Costco is known for holding a standard of quality. Items that are sold in bulk at business center locations are still held to the same standard as if they were sold regular Costco locations.
Time Savings
The store layout is designed for quick shopping. They open early and typically don’t have crowds, so business owners can get in and out quickly, especially in the morning.
Business Delivery Options
Several Business Centers offer delivery to local businesses. This is convenient for businesses that are ordering in bulk but do not have the capacity to transport everything.
How To Shop Costco Business Center
Membership Information
A Costco membership is required to shop at a Business Center. You may shop at a Business Center as either a Business member or a Gold Star member, however a Business Membership will allow you to add employees to your membership if needed.
Locations
Currently there are less than 30 total Costco Business Centers in the United States. Some major cities that have Business Centers are:
Los Angeles, CA
Hayward, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Dallas, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Orlando, FL
Hackensack, NJ
Minneapolis, MN
You can see the full list of locations on Costco’s site.
Cost Factors
Annual Membership
Gold Star Membership: $60 per year.
Business Membership: $60 per year (Any additional card holders: $60 each.)
Your membership gives you access to both regular Costco stores and the Business Center locations.
Product Prices
Prices vary according to region, but products are frequently bulk priced at low-cost and you will SAVE BIG compared to other retailers or wholesalers.
Amount of savings
If a business buys in bulk on a regular basis, especially on food items and cleaning products, they can save thousands on an annual basis by shopping in Costco Business Centers.
Comments for shopping
To make the most of your shopping experience at a Costco Business Center, here are some comments you may want to consider:
* Go Early: Business Centers typically open early (7:00 AM). The earlier you go limits the number of people you will encounter, which speeds up the shopping and check-out process.
* Bring a Vehicle: Consider that you may have a lot of bulk items you have purchased. You may need a truck or large van to get everything to your final destination.
* Make a Shopping List: Because the Business Centers don’t sell the same items as a regular Costco, it is a good idea to check online before you go and create a list of what you hope to buy.
* Take Fresh and Frozen Delivery – If they will deliver to your location, consider it to save time.
Common Misconceptions
“You have to have a business license to shop there”
Wrong. Business Centers exclusively cater to business members, but any Costco member can shop there as long as they have a business membership or a regular membership.
“They carry the same products as regular Costco”
Not exactly. There certainly is some overlap, but they carry several professional items that are more manageable for commercial use, they carry fewer consumer goods and more commercial goods.
‘They are more expensive”
Not true. Their pricing is the same or better than regular Costco, when you buy in bulk.
Conclusion
To this end, Costco Business Centers are a hidden gem for many businesses across the United States. With their commercial product lines, bulk pricing, and time-saving service, Costco Business Centers prove to be an efficient, effective, and economic means for businesses to acquire essential products.
Restaurant operators, office managers, or small retail shop owners now have a simple way to manage operations and unnecessary costs with another cost-effective method to operate effectively. One membership, one network, one source of a powerful resource for your business!
