Person Accounts vs Business Accounts in B2B Commerce

In Salesforce B2B Commerce, choosing the right account type—Person Accounts or Business Accounts—is essential for successful implementation. This guide will help you determine when to use each type, how to set them up, and best practices for ensuring seamless operations.

When to Use Each Account Type

Person Accounts

Person Accounts are ideal in the following scenarios:

1. D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) Stores:
   • Mandatory for D2C implementations, as they cater to individual consumers.
2. B2B Guest Checkout:
   • Required if your B2B store offers guest checkout functionality.
3. Hybrid Business Models:
   • Perfect for businesses serving both individuals and organizations.
4. Single-Person Businesses:
   • Useful for sole proprietors or individual contractors.

Business Accounts

Business Accounts are best suited for these situations:

1. Traditional B2B Transactions:
   • Designed for businesses with multiple buyers within an organization.
2. Complex Hierarchies:
   • Ideal when you need parent-child account relationships.
3. Multiple Buyer Scenarios:
   • Allows different users from the same organization to have unique roles and permissions.
4. Enterprise Sales:
   • Works well for large organizations with multiple departments and buyers.

---

Setup Process

Setting Up Person Accounts

1. Create a Business Account Record Type:
   • Navigate to: Setup > Object Manager > Account > Record Types.
   • Create a new record type labeled “Business Account”.
   • Select an appropriate page layout.
2. Enable Person Accounts:
   • Go to: Setup > Person Accounts.
   • Follow the enablement steps.
   • Verify the “Person Account” record type appears.
3. Configure the System Administrator Profile:
   • Add both Business Account and Person Account record types.
   • Set Person Account as the default type.
   • Ensure proper access to both types.

Setting Up Business Accounts

1. Default Configuration:
   • Business Accounts are available by default in Salesforce.
   • No special enablement is required.
2. Configure Sharing Settings:
   • Ensure appropriate sharing rules are in place.
3. Set Up Contact Relationships:
   • Configure contact roles and account teams if necessary.
   • Establish account hierarchy settings.

---

Pros and Cons of Each Account Type

Person Accounts

Pros:

• Perfect for D2C commerce.
• Simplified customer management.
• Well-suited for individual customer relationships.
• Streamlines guest checkout processes.

Cons:

• Cannot be disabled once enabled.
• More complex to maintain.
• May complicate existing business processes.
• Limited flexibility in certain scenarios.

Business Accounts

Pros:

• Better suited for complex organizational structures.
• Flexible for managing B2B relationships.
• Easier to handle multiple contacts within an organization.
• Enhanced reporting capabilities for business relationships.

Cons:

• Not ideal for individual customer management.
• Requires additional setup for guest checkout.
• Can be overly complex for simple B2C transactions.
• Additional configuration is needed for handling multiple buyers.

---

Best Practices for Implementation

General Best Practices

1. Plan Ahead:
   • Assess your business needs thoroughly.
   • Document account structure requirements.
   • Consider scalability for future growth.
2. Test in a Sandbox Environment:
   • Validate all processes and automations in a sandbox before deployment.
   • Check for integration impacts.
3. Data Migration Strategy:
   • Plan for data migration early.
   • Create clear data mapping and quality standards.

Person Accounts Best Practices

1. Record Type Strategy:
   • Define record types clearly.
   • Set appropriate page layouts and sharing rules.
2. Field Management:
   • Plan field usage carefully.
   • Decide which fields should belong to accounts versus contacts.
3. Process Automation:
   • Adjust existing workflows for Person Accounts.
   • Create specific validation rules.

Business Accounts Best Practices

1. Account Hierarchy:
   • Document parent-child relationships.
   • Configure roll-up summaries.
2. Contact Management:
   • Define clear contact roles and sharing rules.
   • Establish robust contact-to-account relationships.
3. Buyer Group Setup:
   • Define buyer groups with clear structures.
   • Set proper member management and access levels.

Choosing between Person Accounts and Business Accounts in Salesforce B2B Commerce depends on your business model and operational requirements.

• Use Person Accounts for D2C, guest checkout, or hybrid models serving individuals and businesses.
• Choose Business Accounts for traditional B2B operations, complex hierarchies, and enterprise sales.

Always remember:

• Once enabled, Person Accounts cannot be disabled, making careful planning essential.
• Testing in a sandbox environment is critical to prevent disruptions.
• Align your implementation with your long-term business strategy to ensure scalability and success.

By following these guidelines, you can implement the right account structure to optimize your Salesforce B2B Commerce operations effectively.