Costco Business Center vs. Costco Wholesale: What's the Difference?

Little-known fact: Costco has 24 unique special warehouses that offer exclusive products. They're called Costco Business Centers, and they're open to all Costco members. 

But these spots aren't like regular Costcos. Everything is different, from food courts to products to delivery. Even the pricing is a bit different. Here's what you need to know to make a smart decision for your personal finances.

Costco Business Center vs. Costco Wholesale

Here's how the differences between the two break down: 

Locations

Business Centers are way less common than Costco Wholesale Warehouses. They're concentrated in 12 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

You can find them in metropolitan areas, especially Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Products

Seventy percent of Business Center products differ from regular Costcos, according to Costco's website. Think office supplies, kitchen equipment, mega snack packs, and extra-bulk groceries, with an emphasis on bulk. For $17.59, you can buy 36 Kirkland hot dogs for that Fourth of July event you've got cooking.

Business Centers cater to a wide variety of businesses:

• Restaurants
• Coffee shops
• Offices
• Hotels
• Convenience stores
• Healthcare facilities

Business Centers offer supplies you need to host big events:

• Weddings
• Catering services
• Family gatherings

If you order delivery, Costco will handle the shipping and drop-off of oversized and heavy objects -- no need to rent a truck and move everything yourself.

Costco Business doesn't offer many wholesale products, including jewelry, books, clothes, and personal electronics. Of the 30% of items both stores sell, some may be cheaper at the Business Center Warehouses. You can compare prices online.

Delivery

Some Business Centers deliver. Delivery is two-day and exclusive to select commercial addresses. Commercial drop-off makes delivery convenient for business owners but less so for families. Families can order home delivery through Instacart, however.

The more you buy, the more you save. Business Centers charge $25 to deliver orders under $250. Consider shopping in person if you only plan on snagging a few low-cost items.

Business Center limited-time savings

Business Centers offer limited-time Savings Events, which provide special discounts on products. You can preview these on the CostcoBusinessDelivery.com website. Shop during events to buy new products for less -- that's more money in your checking account.

All Costco members can get up to 4% cash back with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi at checkout. But Costco members who want the best cash back deals might consider other options. The best cash back credit cards offer as much as $5 back for every $100 spent in-store.

TL; DR: Costco Business Centers offer a unique selection of bulk products catered to businesses. Regular Costco shoppers may enjoy browsing options not available at Costco Wholesale locations. All Costco members can stop by to check out exclusive store deals.