Here’s the Real Difference Between Costco Business Center and Costco Wholesale—And Which One Is Right for You

If you’ve been holding a Costco membership card long enough, the warehouse club almost feels like an extension of your home. You know where to find all of your favorite things, and, like certain extended family members, there are even some things about Costco that annoy you.

So it follows that shopping at a Costco different than your regular one might throw you off. And if you happen to end up at a Costco Business Center, you’ll really be in for a surprise. But what is a Costco Business Center, exactly? And how is it different than your standard Costco Wholesale Club?

These are some very valid questions, and I only found out the differences between regular Costco stores and Costco Business Centers in the most random of ways. Ahead, I’m going to drop a little helpful knowledge so that you know the differences too.

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What are Costco Business Centers?

As the name implies, Costco Business Centers are designed to serve businesses, rather than individuals. But that doesn’t mean individual Costco members can’t shop at a Costco Business Center—they absolutely can. However, a business center’s inventory is geared toward a business, be it an office manager stocking snacks for their team or a chef buying large quantities of meat for their restaurant. In fact, according to Costco, 70% of items found in a Costco Business Center are different from those found at a typical Costco.

Do you need a separate membership for Costco Business Centers?

So here’s what I find kind of wild: Despite the name Costco Business Center sounding like something for a more “corporate” Costco shopper, anyone with a Costco membership can shop at one. And while you may need an Executive membership to get those premium extended Costco hours, a simple Costco Gold Card gets you into a business center warehouse. And those with a Costco Business Center membership can, likewise, shop at a regular Costco.

What are some key differences between Costco Wholesale and Costco Business Center?

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In addition to their inventories, there are quite a few differences between a Costco Warehouse and a Costco Business Center. And some of the most significant ones involve even more eyebrow-raising bulk deals (great!) and a few MIA customer favorites (gasp!). Let’s get into the specifics:

Locations

There are more than 600 warehouse clubs, but only 28 Costco Business Centers in the United States.

Hours

Regular Costco warehouses are open to all members from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays, then 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Costco Business Centers, on the other hand, are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

Food court

Sadly, there is no food court at a Costco Business Center, which means no $1.50 hot dog and soda combo.

Free samples

If you love yourself a free snack (er, sample) while perusing Costco, you won’t find any at business centers. So make sure you eat before you go!

Inventory

More than two-thirds of the products in a Costco Business Center are different from what you’ll find in a standard warehouse club. For example, you won’t find clothing, home goods or books in a business center. But there are also plenty of things you will find at a business center that you won’t at a regular warehouse.

• Commercial kitchen supplies: Because they cater to businesses, business centers carry lots of goods tailored to the food-service industry. This includes takeout containers, food-prep gloves, food-service foil and more. There are also baking sheets, 14-piece stainless steel mixing-bowl sets and stainless steel steam pans, among other commercial-kitchen essentials.

• Janitorial supplies: Yes, you can buy cleaning supplies in bulk at a regular Costco, but at a business center, it’s bulk cleaning on another level. For example, there is a four-count box of Fabuloso Professional All Purpose Cleaner and Degreaser in 128-fluid-ounce bottles (Costco Wholesale sells only single 210-fluid-ounce bottles). There are also mops aplenty and 22-quart buckets.

• Office necessities: White boards, easels, copy paper, printer ink and electronic cash registers can all be found in the business center. It’s like Staples on steroids.

• Wider selection of drinks: As you enter a Costco Business Center, you’ll notice the center aisles are dedicated to items you’re likely to see stocked in a convenience store, a hotel-lobby sundries shop or even in an office break room. You’ll also find a larger variety of beverages, such as Arizona Iced Tea, Jarritos and Powerade, at a Costco Business Center to meet the needs of these types of businesses.

• More single-serve product options: Similar to the wider selection of drinks, Costco Business Centers tend to carry more single-serve snacks—and they’ll be your typical “junk food,” rather than the granola bars and trail mix you find at the warehouse. Think: items you’d find at a convenience store or liquor store, like potato chips and full-size candy bars.

Size of products

Here’s where I can drop a personal story about how I learned about the differences between Costco Business Center and Costco. Interestingly, I was shopping Costco Same-Day through Instacart, not paying any mind as to whether I had clicked on Costco Wholesale Club or Costco Business Center. Costco is Costco, right? Wrong.

Among my items was brisket. Now, what I learned is that if you order a brisket from the Costco Business Center, it can be as much as 18 pounds, whereas at a regular Costco, it will be more like 5 or 6 pounds per package. Don’t get me wrong—that’s still a lot of brisket, but it’s a much smaller package than you’ll find at one of the business centers. On top of that, in many cases, the cost per pound is less than at a “normal” Costco, despite the bigger size of the product.

You could even buy a whole roasting pig at a Costco Business Center if you were so inclined! And if that’s still not enough product for you, read on for an even more supersized option.

Products by the truckload

I always joke that I need a bigger car to carry all of my Costco goodies home. But with Costco Business Center, you can actually order entire pallets of products—or even a truckload. In some cases, the suppliers will deliver products directly to you. In other cases, you can bring your own truck and load it up when placing a large order at a business center.

Of course, as with all bulk-buying, the more of an item you buy, the bigger the discount you’ll get. That makes sense, as it’s a central tenet to Costco’s low prices in the first place.

RELATED:

• This Is Your Favorite Costco Product, Based on Your Zodiac Sign
• This Is the Best Deal in Costco’s Food Court—And You Won’t Believe How Little It Costs!
• Brand-New Costco Foods You’ll Definitely Want to Add to Your Shopping List This Summer

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Sources:

• Costco Business Delivery: “Shop for Your Business—Discover a Different Kind of Costco”
• Costco Business Delivery: “Convenience Stores”

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