diff --git a/.env.template b/.env.template
index 5139a1b26..9e42e2f31 100644
--- a/.env.template
+++ b/.env.template
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-# Only include the environment variables for a single provider
-# To test a different provider, comment or remove the variables of other providers first
+# Available providers: bigcommerce, shopify
+COMMERCE_PROVIDER=bigcommerce
 
 BIGCOMMERCE_STOREFRONT_API_URL=
 BIGCOMMERCE_STOREFRONT_API_TOKEN=
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 079583b77..cd4351911 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -71,9 +71,7 @@ Next.js Commerce provides a set of utilities and functions to create new provide
 
 ### How to change providers
 
-Open `.env.local` and set the environment variables for the provider you would like to use (use `.env.template` as the base).
-
-Comment or remove environment variables of other providers to avoid conflicts.
+Open `.env.local` and change the value of `COMMERCE_PROVIDER` to the provider you would like to use, then set the environment variables for that provider (use `.env.template` as the base).
 
 ### Features
 
diff --git a/framework/commerce/config.js b/framework/commerce/config.js
index a337f26bb..c3406f760 100644
--- a/framework/commerce/config.js
+++ b/framework/commerce/config.js
@@ -10,11 +10,14 @@ const prettier = require('prettier')
 const PROVIDERS = ['bigcommerce', 'shopify']
 
 function getProviderName() {
-  return process.env.BIGCOMMERCE_STOREFRONT_API_URL
-    ? 'bigcommerce'
-    : process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SHOPIFY_STORE_DOMAIN
-    ? 'shopify'
-    : null
+  return (
+    process.env.COMMERCE_PROVIDER ||
+    (process.env.BIGCOMMERCE_STOREFRONT_API_URL
+      ? 'bigcommerce'
+      : process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SHOPIFY_STORE_DOMAIN
+      ? 'shopify'
+      : null)
+  )
 }
 
 function withCommerceConfig(nextConfig = {}) {