What You Need to Know About Shopping at Costco Business Centers
While many people know that Costco warehouses can be found across the US and may have visited one, most don’t know much about Costco Business Centers.
Costco Business Centers are located in select states and cater more to business owners. The main difference between a Costco warehouse and a Business Center is the products they sell; however, any Costco member can shop at a Business Center in-person or online. In addition, Costco Business Centers only deliver to a business address.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about shopping at a Costco Business Center.
What Is a Costco Business Center?
A Costco Business Center is a special type of Costco warehouse that sells products intended for small businesses; however, any Costco member can shop at a Business Center. Most of the items at a Costco Business Center are not available in a regular warehouse, and there are only 23 Costco Business Centers located in the US.
There is a wide variety of products at a Costco Business Center, but they are generally geared towards business owners.
You can buy single-serving food and beverage products, office supplies, and janitorial items to stock your small business.
In addition, you can purchase groceries in bulk and other restaurant supplies.
Here is a list of product categories found at a Costco Business Center:
- Beverages
- Candy & Snacks
- Commercial Appliances
- Disposables
- Electronics
- Grocery
- Janitorial
- Office
- Restaurant
Some Costco Business Center locations also have a food court or a gas station.
While the Business Centers don’t offer food samples throughout the store, you can stop by the food court to grab a quick snack.
Even if you are not a business owner, you will likely find what you need at a Costco Business Center.
Keep reading to find out when Costco Business Centers are open and where you can find them.
What Are the Costco Business Center Hours?
Costco Business Centers are open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays and 7:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays. All Costco Business Centers are closed on Sunday. You can also shop at a Costco Business Center on select holidays, but the stores close for major holidays, including the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
A Costco Business Center is open earlier than a regular Costco warehouse. The Business Center opens at 7:00 am, Monday through Saturday.
This early open time gives business owners a chance to stop by their local Business Center before heading to work for the day.
Costco Business Centers close at 6:00 pm Monday through Friday and at 4 pm on Saturday. In addition, all Costco Business Centers are closed on Sundays.
If you need to purchase something on a Sunday, you could try shopping at a Costco warehouse instead.
Here is the summary of regular Costco Business Center hours:
| Day | Costco Business Center Hours |
| Monday | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Thursday | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Friday | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Saturday | 7:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
All Costco Business Centers are open on select holidays if the holiday does not fall on a Sunday.
Costco Business Centers can get a lot of delivery orders around holidays, though. So if you are ordering for delivery on or around a holiday, your delivery may be delayed by a few days.
Additionally, business owners should be careful not to place a delivery order for a day when the business is closed.
If your Costco Business Center order is delivered when your business is closed, the order will have to be returned and delivered at another time. Costco charges a redelivery fee when this happens.
Here is the summary of the Costco Business Center holiday hours:
| Holiday | Costco Business Center Hours |
| New Year’s Day | Closed |
| Good Friday | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Easter | Closed |
| Memorial Day | Closed |
| 4th of July | Closed |
| Labor Day | Closed |
| Thanksgiving | Closed |
| Black Friday | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Christmas Eve | Special Hours (usually 9:00 am – 5:00 pm) |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
| New Year’s Eve | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
Where Are Costco Business Centers Located?
There are currently 23 Costco Business Centers located in the United States. You can filter Costco’s store locator to see where the Business Centers are found. If you have any questions regarding a Business Center, you can call Costco Member Services at 1-800-788-9968 from 6 am to 5 pm (PST) on weekdays.
Costco Business Centers are scattered across the US, and you can use the Costco warehouse finder to locate a Business Center close to you.
Make sure you filter the results by checking “Business Center” as a filter option.
Here are the current Costco Business Center locations:
- Phoenix, AZ
- Burbank, CA
- Commerce, CA
- Hawthorne, CA
- Hayward, CA
- Ontario, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Diego, CA
- San Jose, CA
- South San Francisco, CA
- Westminster, CA
- Denver, CO
- Orlando, FL
- Morrow, GA
- Bedford Park, IL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Hackensack, NJ
- Las Vegas, NV
- Dallas, TX
- Stafford, TX
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Fife, WA
- Lynnwood, WA
Except for Hackensack, NJ, all Costco Business Center locations can deliver to your business address.
If you have any questions about your local Costco Business Center, you can contact Member Services at 1-800-788-9968.
A representative can take your call between the hours of 6 am to 5 pm (PST), Monday through Friday.
You can also reach out to Member Services with their live chat online. This service is available from 8 am to 5 pm (PST) on weekdays.
A live chat is helpful if you cannot make a phone call but can still message a representative online.
Discovered a Costco Business Center. I’ll have to return and make an official thread on this as these are definitely hidden gems. I was in shock the entire time. There are only six of them in Southern California. It wasn’t busy and literally walked up to a register w/o wait. pic.twitter.com/lTrMhKo9bc
— @MF_Brown (@MF_Brown) May 30, 2021
What Are the Benefits of Shopping at Costco Business Centers?
A major benefit of shopping at a Costco Business Center is the extra variety of products, as most items at a Business Center are not available at regular Costco warehouses. Costco Business Centers also open earlier than the regular warehouses, and you can get exclusive deals at the Business Center.
There are many great products sold exclusively at Costco Business Centers. In fact, over 70% of items sold at a Costco Business Center are not available at regular Costco warehouses.
Costco Business Centers are geared towards small businesses, so they sell many drinks and individually wrapped snacks.
These products are also valuable for those with a Costco Business membership because they can resell the snacks and drinks.
At a Costco Business Center, you can also find all the food and equipment you need to cater an event.
They sell steam pans and Sterno products to keep cooked food hot. You can also stock up on ingredients with the Business Center’s bulk foods, including meat and fresh produce.
Another benefit of shopping at a Costco Business Center is the extended hours. Each Business Center opens at 7 am, allowing shoppers to get in before the workday.
Most regular Costco warehouses open at 10 am, and they typically get crowded as soon as they open.
When you shop at a Costco Business Center, you will have access to special deals.
The product variety at a Business Center is different from a regular warehouse, and you can find Online Instant Savings, which are exclusive to Costco Business Centers.
What Is the Difference Between a Costco Warehouse and a Costco Business Center?
A Costco Business Center sells different products than a Costco warehouse. While both stores sell items in bulk, Costco Business Centers have better options for small businesses. On the other hand, Costco warehouses are intended more for individual households, so they have pharmacies and optical centers.
Most Costco warehouses have fresh produce, meat, and other grocery essentials.
Costco Business Centers have these items as well, though some products may be sold in larger quantities to be used in more commercial settings like a catering business.
Many of the drinks and snacks at a Costco Business Center are individually wrapped to be used in an office or even resold.
Both Costco warehouses and Costco Business Centers have an Electronics section, but they sell different products.
The regular Costco warehouses offer a variety of TVs, cell phones, gaming consoles, and more.
On the other hand, the Business Centers sell printers, computer accessories, and other office electronics.
Costco Business Centers do not offer the same services as the warehouses. For example, they don’t usually have a pharmacy or an optical center.
In addition, around half of the Business Centers currently have a gas station, and only a few have a food court.
Welcome @Costco Business Center to @CityOfDallas District 13 catering to small businesses and restaurants but all members welcome. The largest fridge I have ever seen 8500 sq feet. You can even get a whole goat or lamb & lots of yummy snacks! pic.twitter.com/9uXDzzJzle
— Jennifer S. Gates (@cmjsgates) September 4, 2019
Do You Need a Membership to Shop at a Costco Business Center?
You must have a membership to shop at a Costco Business Center, but it does not have to be a Business membership. For example, you can use a Gold Star membership to get into a Costco Business Center; however, you must have a Business membership to resell anything purchased at Costco Business Centers.
Anyone can shop at a Costco Business Center as long as they have a Costco membership (regardless of the type). There are four membership types that you can purchase.
First, there is the Gold Star Everyday Value membership. This is the standard membership for a single household. It costs $60 per year, and it allows you to shop at all Costco warehouses and Business Centers.
The upgraded version of a household membership is the Gold Star Executive membership. You get added benefits for $120 per year, including a 2% reward on all eligible purchases.
The third membership type is the Business Everyday Value membership, which is also $60 per year. You will need to provide information about your business when signing up for this option.
Finally, you can purchase a Business Executive membership. This membership will get you the same great benefits as a Business Everyday Value membership, plus a 2% reward on eligible purchases, and costs $120 per year.
No matter what you choose, you will be able to enjoy the great benefits of shopping at a Costco Business Center.
However, make sure you have a valid membership before making the trip to one of these stores.
It is not quite easy to get into a Business Center as it is to shop at a Costco warehouse without a membership.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that only businesses can order deliveries from a Costco Business Center. There is more on this topic in the following section.
Can You Order From Costco Business Centers Online?
You can order from Costco Business Centers online and have your order delivered to your business address. You will need to create an account on the Costco website before ordering, and you will have to provide your membership information. Businesses can pay for Costco online delivery orders with ACH/E-Check payments.
Before ordering from Costco Business Centers online, you will want to create a Costco online account.
You may already have an account set up if you have previously ordered online from a Costco warehouse.
If you are starting from scratch, you can sign up for a Costco online account from the Sign-in page.
Select “Create Account” and follow the instructions to provide the necessary information. First, make sure you have entered your membership number. Then, sign up and enjoy shopping online.
You can browse through the products offered from your local Costco Business Center on CostcoBusinessDelivery.com.
If you start at Costco.com, you will need to click “Business Delivery” to shop from a Costco Business Center rather than a regular warehouse.
Once you have an online account set up, you can make changes to it as needed. To update your information, sign in to the website and go to your Account page.
You could change things such as your sign-in email, which may be helpful if you didn’t initially create the account for your business.
You can also set up ACH/E-Check payments for any online Costco Business Center orders.
You will start the process just before placing an order on the Checkout page. Under “Payment Method,” you can select “ACH / E-Check” as an option.
After indicating that this is how you will pay, you will need to enter the necessary information.
Specifically, you’ll be asked to provide the account holder’s name, the type of account, the routing number, and the account number.
Once you have entered all the correct information, you must agree to Costco’s terms and conditions. Then, you can complete the checkout process and receive your delivery order.
Where Do Costco Business Centers Deliver?
Costco Business Centers deliver to most businesses in select commercial zones. These commercial zones are found within major metropolitan areas close to a Costco Business Center. You can check your eligibility for delivery by entering your business zip code on the Costco Business Center website.
If you want a Costco Business Center delivery for your business, you will need to make sure your address is eligible.
The easiest way to do so is by entering your business’ zip code on the main page of the Costco Business Center website.
Just under the Costco logo, you will see a section indicating your “Delivery ZIP Code” and an option to change this information.
Update the ZIP code to find out if your business is eligible for delivery.
Businesses with residential addresses are often excluded from Costco Business Center deliveries.
If you are running your business from your home, you will likely need to shop at a Costco Business Center in person or order delivery from a regular Costco warehouse.
Here is a list of the cities in which businesses are eligible for Costco Business Center delivery:
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Denver
- Houston
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Orlando
- Phoenix
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Diego
- San Francisco Bay
- San Jose
- Seattle
Most online orders with the Costco Business Center can be delivered the next day.
If you order before 3 pm Monday through Friday, your order will be delivered on the next business day (with some exceptions).
You may not get next-day delivery if you order something not in stock at your local Costco Business Center.
Also, deliveries tend to slow down around the holidays, so your order may be delayed.
To ensure you get your delivery when you want it, you can schedule a Costco Business Center order up to a week in advance.
Costco Business Centers do not have a minimum order amount for delivery. However, all orders under $250 have a $25 delivery fee.
How Does Costco Business Center Delivery Work?
Costco Business Center deliveries can be ordered on the Costco Business Center website. There is no order minimum; however, a $25 delivery fee is added to orders under $250. Once the order is placed, a Costco employee will deliver it to your business address on the next available business day between 7 am- 4 pm.
You can place a delivery order from a Costco Business Center at any time using their website.
As mentioned in previous sections, you should create an account and enter an eligible delivery ZIP code before you start shopping.
There are tons of products for sale online, even tobacco products. You can order tobacco online for delivery if you meet certain requirements.
To order tobacco online from Costco Business Centers, first, your business must have the appropriate licensing required by the state.
This licensing must be shown to the Business Center before ordering, and you must prove that you are at least 21 years old.
In addition, you also need a valid Costco Business membership. A Gold Star membership is not accepted for orders including tobacco because tobacco products cannot be ordered for personal use.
Finally, make sure you are in a state where tobacco delivery to retailers is legal.
Currently, you can order tobacco delivery to a commercial address only in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
Costco Business Center orders are delivered between 7 am and 4 pm on their scheduled delivery day. If you have any issues regarding your online order, you can contact Member Services by calling 1-800-788-9968.
While there is no minimum order amount for online orders, there are other delivery requirements to be aware of.
First, you must provide a valid US Costco membership number to order. Make sure you add this information to your online account before placing an order.
You also need to have an eligible delivery address, as described in the previous section.
Essentially, you must have a commercial (non-residential) address within one of the metropolitan areas served by a Costco Business Center.
Furthermore, there must be an appropriate delivery area where you can receive your order.
Costco Business Center orders are delivered on weekdays between 7 am and 4 pm. Make sure a truck can access your business address at any point within this time frame.
You should also have a receiving area at least 5 feet wide. Since Costco Business Centers sell many large and bulky items, your order may require equipment such as a pallet jack to be delivered.
If your items need to be delivered above the ground floor, there must be elevator access to the delivery area.
Also, businesses with multiple buildings cannot receive an order broken up into multiple deliveries. All Costco Business Center orders must be delivered to a single, central location.
Finally, order recipients are responsible for stocking their own products upon delivery.
The Costco delivery drivers likely have multiple stops to make, so they cannot be responsible for stocking the products you ordered.
If you wonder where your Costco Business Center delivery order is, you can track it online.
Once you are signed into your account, you can review your order information on the page called “My Orders.”
There is a line indicating the status of your order, which will say “Order Received,” “Shipped,” or “Delivered.”
The “Order Received” status means that your order is being processed, and employees are working to put together the items you ordered.
Once the status changes to “Shipped,” you will be able to view the order details and see when the order is supposed to arrive.
You can only view this estimated delivery time on the day of your delivery.
Lastly, you will see the status change to “Delivered” once the delivery is complete.
Conclusion
A Costco Business Center is an excellent destination for any business-related shopping trip or even a personal one. With its convenient store hours and wide selection of products, you can stock up on items to help your business succeed.
If you’re interested in learning more Costco shopping tips, check out the related articles below.
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