Shopline runs your store, product pages and brand. AccelPay is the licensed marketplace facilitator behind it: it routes each order to a licensed retailer, handles age verification, state shipping rules and sales tax, and keeps the sale inside the three-tier system.
Reach: 40+ states through the retailer network, and 3,500+ licensed retail stores.
How does the AccelPay and Shopline integration work?
AccelPay and Shopline built the integration together. The shopper never leaves your store, and you manage your products, pages and marketing in Shopline as usual.
- The shopper checks out on your Shopline store. Age is checked at checkout.
- The order passes to AccelPay automatically. No manual entry or exports.
- AccelPay routes it to a licensed retailer that has your product in stock and can ship to that address. If one retailer runs out, the order routes to another.
- The retailer ships or delivers. Shipped orders need an adult signature, and local orders can go out for same-day delivery where it is available.
- Fulfillment updates flow back to Shopline, so the order status in your admin stays current.
How does a Shopline sale fit the three-tier system?
Every sale still moves through all three tiers. AccelPay is not a tier. It connects your storefront to the licensed retailer and handles state rules and sales tax.
-
Tier 1
The brand
The supplier or importer. Sets the wholesale price and a suggested retail price.
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Tier 2
Distributor
Your existing distributor sells to network retailers, like any other account.
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Tier 3
Licensed retailer
Seller of record. Holds the inventory, sets the final retail price and ships the order.
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Shopper
Consumer, 21+
Buys on your Shopline store. Age checked at checkout, adult signature at delivery.
How do inventory and payments flow?
Inventory moves through the tiers.
- You sell to your distributor at wholesale, through your normal process. Nothing changes upstream.
- Your distributor sells to network retailers, who order and stock your product like any other account.
- At checkout, each order goes to a licensed retailer with your product in stock.
Payment goes to the retailer.
- The shopper pays once at checkout on your Shopline store.
- The licensed retailer that fulfills the order is the seller of record and is paid for the sale.
- AccelPay collects and remits sales tax as the marketplace facilitator, so you do not register in each state.
- You earn at wholesale from your distributor as usual, and pay AccelPay a flat platform fee with no per-order charge.
What do I sign?
One AccelPay service agreement. There is no distribution agreement with AccelPay, because AccelPay is not a distributor or wholesaler and never takes title to your product. AccelPay already holds the agreements with every network retailer, so there are no separate retailer contracts. Network retailers buy through your existing importer and distributors, so your distribution stays as it is.
How does Shopline on its own compare with Shopline plus AccelPay?
| Feature | Shopline on its own | Shopline plus AccelPay |
|---|---|---|
| Who sells the bottle | You, with your own licenses | A licensed retailer in the network (seller of record) |
| Spirits state reach | Only where direct shipping is legal | 40+ states |
| Retail or shipping license needed | Yes | No |
| Storefront and checkout | Your Shopline store | Your Shopline store, connected to AccelPay |
| Age and delivery checks | Your responsibility | Age verification at checkout; adult signature at delivery |
| Sales tax | Your responsibility | AccelPay remits as the marketplace facilitator |
| Same-day delivery | Depends on your own delivery setup | Gopuff and BevMo instant delivery (Portfolio plan); DoorDash from local retailers |
| Marketplace reach | Your store | ReserveBar.com listing and introductory advertising credit on ReserveBar.com and Minibar, for eligible brands |
| Customer data | You keep it | You keep it |
What do I get beyond the checkout?
- Your own storefront. Checkout stays on your Shopline store and design, and every customer and opt-in is first-party data.
- Compliance handled. Age verification, state shipping rules, dry-area blocks and sales tax are built in.
- A national network. 3,500+ licensed stores across 40+ states.
- Presales. Take orders before product reaches the retailer.
- Same-day delivery. Brands on the Portfolio plan can offer Gopuff and BevMo instant delivery in about 30 minutes, plus DoorDash delivery from local retailers.
- ReserveBar reach. Eligible brands can get a ReserveBar.com listing and introductory advertising credit on ReserveBar.com and Minibar, based on plan terms and product category. See where you can advertise.
How do I get started on Shopline?
About one week from kickoff:
- An intro call to confirm your products, distribution and target states.
- Sign the AccelPay service agreement, and confirm pricing and shipping settings.
- AccelPay connects your Shopline store, sets up destination-based tax, places a test order and launches. One Customer Success team is your point of contact from then on.
To start, AccelPay needs your product category, current distribution footprint, wholesale price and suggested retail price. Once you are live, let the AccelPay team know before you change your Shopline checkout or tax settings, so the integration keeps working as you update the store.
What does it cost?
Plans start at $1,000 setup + $500/month, 12-month term, no per-order charge to the brand, discount pricing available for craft brands. Your Shopline plan stays billed by Shopline as usual. Full details are on the pricing page.
Who should use Shopline plus AccelPay?
Choose Shopline plus AccelPay if:
- you sell spirits, wine, beer or RTD on Shopline, or are moving your site to Shopline, and want to ship to 40+ states without your own retail license
- you want checkout, customer data and your brand to stay on your own store
- you want to keep your existing distributors and sell inside the three-tier system
- you want same-day delivery or a ReserveBar.com listing alongside your own site
On Shopify instead? See sell alcohol on Shopify. New to the model? Read what a white-label alcohol checkout is.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell alcohol on Shopline?
Yes. Shopline runs your store, and AccelPay handles what alcohol needs on top. Each order is routed to a licensed retailer that sells and ships it, so you can reach 40+ states without your own retail or shipping license.
How does AccelPay connect to a Shopline store?
Through an integration built with Shopline. Orders placed on your Shopline store pass to AccelPay automatically. AccelPay routes each one to a licensed retailer that has your product in stock, and the fulfillment status flows back to the order in Shopline.
Do I need a liquor license to sell on Shopline with AccelPay?
No. The licensed retailer is the seller of record, holds the license and ships the order. You still need your federal and state production or import licenses.
Do I sign a distribution agreement with AccelPay?
No. AccelPay is not a distributor or wholesaler and never takes title to your product. You sign one AccelPay service agreement for the platform. AccelPay already holds the agreements with every network retailer, so there are no separate retailer contracts.
How does my product get to the retailers?
Through the three-tier system you already use. You sell to your distributor at wholesale, and network retailers buy from your distributor like any other account.
Who handles sales tax on Shopline orders?
AccelPay. As the marketplace facilitator, AccelPay collects and remits sales tax, so you do not register in each state. Destination-based tax is set up in your Shopline store during onboarding.
Can I run presales on Shopline?
Yes. You can open a presale before product reaches the retailer, and orders ship once it lands.
How many states can I ship to from my Shopline store?
40+ states through AccelPay's network of 3,500+ licensed retail locations, depending on where your product is available.
How long does it take to launch on Shopline?
About one week from kickoff. To start, AccelPay needs your product category, current distribution, wholesale price and suggested retail price.
How much does AccelPay cost on Shopline?
Plans start at $1,000 setup and $500 a month, with a 12-month term, no per-order charge to the brand, and discount pricing for craft brands. Your Shopline plan stays billed by Shopline as usual.
Last updated: Nov 6, 2026
Sources
- Shopline developer documentation (fetched Nov 6, 2026)
- AccelPay pricing (fetched Nov 6, 2026)
- How the three-tier system works (fetched Nov 6, 2026)
- AccelPay Setup Best Practices FAQ (fetched Nov 6, 2026)