Important question for many online retailers with their own online shop: Does the obligation of a revocation button B2B also apply to me if I only sell to corporate customers and businesses? From June 19, 2026, online shops must provide an electronic revocation function if consumers can conclude contracts via a website, app or other online user interface. This is based on the new § 356a BGB, which was introduced with the law amending consumer contract law. The law has been published in the Federal Law Gazette and will come into force on June 19, 2026.
Revocation button B2B Shop: Does the obligation from June 19, 2026 also apply to corporate customers?
Many shop operators are now asking themselves: Does the revocation button also apply in B2B shops? The short answer is: Not for genuine B2B.
However, the detailed answer is more important, because in practice many shops are not as clearly B2B as they believe. More on this in the article!
The revocation button is generally a B2C obligation. Pure B2B shops that exclusively sell to entrepreneurs, corporate customers, traders, authorities or institutions are generally not obliged to provide a revocation button.
However: As soon as private individuals can order in the shop or the shop is not clearly secured as a B2B shop, a legal risk arises. In this case, the customer may be considered a consumer – with a right of revocation, a revocation policy and, from June 19, 2026, also with the obligation to provide an electronic revocation function.
For WooCommerce shops, this means: securing B2B transactions properly or technically providing a cancellation button.
What is the cancellation button?
The cancellation button is a new legal function that allows consumers to cancel contracts concluded online directly via the website. The idea behind it: If a contract can be concluded online with just a few clicks, then cancellation should also be easily possible online.
The new regulation does not require just any contact option, but an electronic cancellation function. This must be clearly visible, easily accessible, and unambiguously labeled. In practice, the label „Cancel contract“ is often used. (IT-Recht Kanzlei*)
Important: The revocation button is not the same as the cancellation button. The cancellation button primarily concerns continuing obligations such as subscriptions or memberships. The revocation button concerns the statutory right of revocation for distance contracts.
The most important thing is always up-to-date legal texts for websites and online shops – Recommendation:
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Revocation button B2B: Is it mandatory for business customers?
No, for pure B2B shops, there is generally no obligation for a revocation button.
The reason is simple: The statutory right of revocation in distance selling is a consumer right. According to § 13 BGB, a consumer is a natural person who concludes a legal transaction predominantly for private purposes. According to § 14 BGB, an entrepreneur is someone who acts in the exercise of their commercial or independent professional activity when concluding a contract. (Laws on the Internet)
This means: Business customers, entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, freelancers, and commercial buyers generally do not have a statutory consumer right of revocation. Therefore, they do not need to be provided with a statutory revocation button.
But beware: What is stated in the menu above is not decisive. What is decisive is who can actually order and in what role the person orders.
The most common mistake: „We are B2B“ is NOT enough – ATTENTION!!!
Many shops state somewhere „for business customers only“ but still allow any private individual to order in the checkout. This is dangerous.
A shop is not automatically B2B just because it calls itself that. A proper B2B shop should clearly, visibly, and technically exclude consumers.
This includes, for example:
1. Clear notice in the shop
The shop should clearly communicate that the offer is exclusively for entrepreneurs.
Example:
„This offer is exclusively for entrepreneurs within the meaning of § 14 BGB. No sales to consumers within the meaning of § 13 BGB.“
2. Mandatory confirmation in the checkout
In the checkout, there should be a checkbox with which the customer actively confirms that they are ordering as an entrepreneur.
Example:
„I confirm that I am placing this order exclusively as an entrepreneur within the meaning of § 14 BGB and not as a consumer within the meaning of § 13 BGB.“
3. Company details as a mandatory field
A genuine B2B shop should not only collect first name, last name, and private address. Depending on the business model, mandatory fields such as company name, VAT ID, trade license, or customer group are useful.
4. No contradictory consumer texts
If the shop simultaneously states „14-day return for everyone,“ „consumer right of withdrawal,“ or „private customers welcome,“ this weakens the B2B position.
5. GTC, checkout, and communication must match
B2B notices only in the GTC are often not enough. The B2B orientation should be clearly recognizable before and during the ordering process.
What happens if a private individual orders in a B2B shop?
This depends on the specific shop design.
Case 1: The shop is not properly secured as a B2B shop
If a private individual can order without problems and the shop does not clearly exclude consumers from ordering, the customer can be considered a consumer. In this case, consumer rights generally apply.
This means: The right of withdrawal, the statutory right of withdrawal, and from June 19, 2026, the obligation to include a withdrawal button, may become relevant.
Particular caution is advised for WooCommerce shops with open checkout, optional company field, and standard B2C legal texts.
Case 2: The shop is clearly B2B-only and the customer confirms entrepreneurial status
If the customer actively confirms during checkout that they are ordering as an entrepreneur, and the shop is clearly marked as a B2B shop in several places, the shop operator is in a significantly better position.
In this case, it can be argued: The customer did not order as a consumer, but presented themselves as an entrepreneur.
Nevertheless, this is not a free pass. The documentation must be meticulous: checkbox, time, order data, company details, and possibly IP/log data should be stored verifiably.
Case 3: A self-employed person orders privately
Sole proprietors, self-employed individuals, and freelancers are particularly sensitive cases. A person can be an entrepreneur one moment and a consumer the next. The decisive factor is the purpose of the specific purchase.
If a photographer orders a camera for their studio, this is more likely B2B. If the same person orders a product for their private household, they can be a consumer. Thus, the name or email address alone is not decisive, but rather the predominant purpose of the order.
Does a B2B shop voluntarily have to include a withdrawal button?
A pure B2B shop generally does not have to offer a withdrawal button. Nevertheless, there may be technical or strategic reasons to prepare a withdrawal function.
However, it is important then: A withdrawal button should not inadvertently suggest a voluntary right of withdrawal for corporate customers.
For mixed shops or shops with an uncertain customer group, a differentiated solution is advisable:
- For consumers: Display a cancellation button and process cancellations in a legally compliant manner.
- For businesses: Document the receipt of cancellation, but review it internally and, if necessary, reject it with a note on B2B purchase.
- For personalized products: Clearly identify special cases and do not automatically refund.
The cancellation button does not automatically mean that every cancellation is justified. It is initially a way to submit a cancellation declaration. Whether a right of cancellation actually exists must be assessed legally and procedurally correctly.
What should WooCommerce operators check now?
Shop operators with WordPress and WooCommerce should check the following points before June 19, 2026:
Is the shop B2C, B2B, or a mixed shop?
If consumers can also order, the cancellation button should be planned.
Is the checkout clear?
An optional company field is usually not sufficient for B2B-only. The business owner status should be actively confirmed.
Are legal texts and shop logic consistent?
Terms and conditions, cancellation policy, checkout, footer, product pages, and emails should reflect the same legal logic.
Are revocations documented?
Incoming revocations should be stored comprehensibly and confirmed automatically.
Are there exceptions to the right of revocation?
For personalized products, custom-made items, or digital content, exceptions must be properly taken into account.
Is the button technically accessible?
The revocation function should not be blocked by caching, security plugins, checkout optimizations, or theme customizations.
Recommendation for B2B shops
If your shop exclusively sells to business customers, you should not only omit the revocation button but also properly secure your B2B structure:
- Visibly place a B2B notice.
- Have the business status actively confirmed during checkout.
- Collect company/VAT ID or business data.
- Technically or procedurally exclude private orders.
- Do not use contradictory B2C revocation texts.
- Document confirmations and customer declarations.
If your shop serves consumers even partially, the clear recommendation is: Integrate the revocation button in time.
Video from 12.06.2026:
Our Revocation Plugin for WordPress & WooCommerce
For WordPress and WooCommerce shops, our Vastcob Revocation Plugin offers a technical solution for implementing the revocation button.
The plugin helps shop operators provide an electronic revocation function and record revocation requests in a structured manner. This is particularly relevant for WooCommerce shops that require a legally compliant technical solution from 19.06.2026 onwards.
The plugin is particularly suitable for:
- WooCommerce shops with B2C customers
- Mixed shops with B2B and B2C customer groups
- Shops with products requiring explanation
- Shops with personalized products or custom-made items
- Operators who want to document cancellations properly
Important: The plugin does not replace a legal review of your terms and conditions, cancellation policy, or shop structure. However, it helps with the technical implementation and documentation of the cancellation process in WordPress and WooCommerce.
Check now whether your WooCommerce shop will require a cancellation button from June 19, 2026 – and prepare the technical implementation in good time.
Florian Ibe
CEO & Marketing Consultant
Your contact person: Florian Ibe
FAQ on the B2B Cancellation Button
Is the cancellation button mandatory in B2B shops?
No, not for a genuine, purely B2B shop. The obligation concerns consumer cancellations in distance contracts. Business customers generally do not have a statutory consumer right of cancellation.
Does the cancellation button apply to business customers?
Generally no. Business customers, entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, and commercial buyers typically do not act as consumers. Therefore, they usually do not have a statutory right of cancellation.
What if a private individual orders in my B2B shop?
If your shop does not clearly exclude private individuals, that person may be considered a consumer. In that case, the right of cancellation, cancellation policy, and cancellation button may become relevant.
Is a „for business customers only“ notice in the footer sufficient?
No, a single footer notice is weak. A combination of visible B2B notices, a checkout checkbox, mandatory information, and appropriate terms and conditions is better.
Should I still include a cancellation button as a B2B shop?
Only with clear legal and technical logic. A blanket cancellation button for all customers can be misleading. For mixed shops, a differentiated solution is advisable.
What applies to sole proprietors and freelancers?
A sole proprietor can be an entrepreneur or a consumer depending on the purpose of the purchase. The decisive factor is whether the order is predominantly private or commercial/professional.
Must the cancellation button be present in WooCommerce from June 19, 2026?
Yes, if the WooCommerce shop allows consumers to conclude distance contracts and there is a statutory right of withdrawal. Pure B2B shops are generally not affected.
Does the Vastcob Withdrawal Plugin help with implementation?
Yes. The Vastcob Withdrawal Plugin for WordPress WooCommerce supports shop operators in the technical provision and documentation of a withdrawal function. The legal review of shop texts and customer groups should be carried out additionally.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute legal advice. Whether your shop is affected by the withdrawal button depends on the specific shop design, customer group, terms and conditions, withdrawal policy, and checkout logic. The Vastcob Withdrawal Plugin supports technical implementation in WordPress WooCommerce but does not replace an individual legal review.
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