11 Ways Shopping at Costco Business Centers Can Save You Even More Money

Costco can help you save on groceries and many other types of items. But if you want to take your membership to the next level, consider shopping at the Costco Business Center.

When you shop at one of these locations, you can still buy plenty of items in bulk, just as you would at your regular Costco. But you will also find products a typical Costco does not offer.

Find out what makes a Costco Business Center unique and whether it is a good option for you.

Costco Business Centers have slightly different hours to accommodate business shoppers.

They typically open earlier and close later during the week than an average Costco. You can usually expect to shop between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. And plan on them being closed on Sundays.

Unfortunately, Costco Business Centers aren’t always easy to find, with only 25  locations nationwide. California leads the pack with 11 centers, but many states have just one or none.

It's worth keeping an eye out for new locations. For example, the company recently purchased land for its first Business Center in Michigan.

You don’t have to get a separate membership to shop at Costco Business Centers, and you don't have to pay an additional fee. You can shop at a Business Center if you’re already a Costco member.

Pro tip: If you’re a business owner, one smart Costco hack might be to sign up for a Business Membership. One perk is that you might not have to pay taxes on warehouse purchases, depending on your resale license or tax-exempt status.

Your local Costco can be a great source of many household items. But a Costco Business Center might be a better bet if you need office products.

You'll find paper, binders, pens, and similar items. The stores even have labor law posters if you need them to remain in compliance with regulations.

If you shop online for Business Center products, you can have them delivered to your door. Items ordered by 3 p.m. often can be delivered the next business day. You can even order full pallets of items.

A Costco Business Center caters to businesses, so there may be some things in a typical Costco you won’t find in a Business Center.

For example, Costco Business Centers don’t have a pharmacy for prescriptions, a clothes section, books, and other non-office items. And don’t expect to find friendly salespeople with food samples as you would at your local Costco.

The Food Court is one Costco staple you might still find in a Business Center.

After shopping for office supplies and business staples, it's nice to be able to stop by the Food Court for a hot dog and drink for just $1.50.

Restaurants may find the local Costco Business Center a great place to shop for commercial-size appliances.

Check out one of these locations if you need to build your kitchen space with prep tables, industrial fridges, and food prep tools such as an industrial meat slicer or a 20-quart food mixer.

You can even get a gas fryer with a 50-pound capacity to fry up food for customers.

Costco is known for selling items in bulk but offers items at its business centers that are even bigger than the typical bulk buy.

Check out the locations to see if you can find bigger versions of things such as peanut butter, barbecue sauce, and other ingredients needed for restaurants. You can also find plenty of snacks for your office.

Planning a wedding or hosting a big birthday or retirement party? Check out your local Costco Business Center for supplies.

You can buy larger quantities of food, including meats, sides, and desserts for guests. The Business Centers also have plenty of plates and cutlery for big parties. And remember to grab a few tables and chairs if you need extra seating.

At the end of the day, you may need janitorial supplies for your business space. The Costco Business Center has you covered.

The centers carry large quantities of cleaning supplies and sell cleaning tools. Get some industrial-size trash cans to keep things tidy.

Costco is a great place to save money for your home and office, so check out a Business Center if you have one near you.

And remember that shopping with a great rewards credit card can help you earn cash back or other perks when you buy in bulk.