Subscriptions in Shopify POS: How to Create Recurring Revenue in Your Physical Store

Shopify has just launched one of the most anticipated features for Spanish retailers: the ability to manage subscriptions directly from Shopify POS in physical stores. This update allows merchants with brick-and-mortar locations to create recurring revenue models without relying exclusively on the online channel, unifying all subscription management on a single platform.

What are subscriptions in Shopify POS?

Point-of-sale subscriptions allow Spanish retailers to offer products or services with recurring billing directly at the physical store counter[web:41]. Customers can subscribe to monthly, quarterly, or annual plans during their visit, and everything is managed from the same system used to process traditional sales[web:33].

This functionality is natively integrated with Shopify Subscriptions, meaning that both online and in-store subscriptions are managed from a single admin panel[web:35]. You don't need third-party apps or separate systems to handle different sales channels, significantly reducing operating costs[web:40].

Business Models in Spain that Benefit

Cafes and Restaurants

Spanish cafes can offer unlimited coffee plans, prepaid recharge cards, or memberships that include a set number of drinks per month[web:41]. A customer who visits your establishment three times a week is an ideal candidate for a monthly subscription that guarantees discounts or exclusive benefits such as priority access during peak hours[web:34].

Beauty and Wellness Salons

Hair salons, barbershops, beauty centers, and spas in Spain can sell monthly memberships that include recurring services such as haircuts, manicures, facials, or access to facilities[web:36]. This model guarantees predictable income and customer loyalty in a highly competitive sector[web:38].

Pet Shops

Pet shops can set up subscriptions for consumable products such as food, cat litter, treats, or supplements[web:36]. The customer subscribes in-store during their initial purchase, and subsequent shipments are processed automatically each month, ensuring they never run out of essential products for their pets[web:34].

Gyms and Fitness Studios

Gyms, yoga studios, CrossFit, and Pilates studios can manage monthly memberships directly from the POS system when customers check in at reception[web:21]. The integration allows for access control, recurring payments, and automatic renewals without costly external systems[web:23].

Specialty and Gourmet Shops

Wine shops, gourmet food stores, specialty coffee shops, or artisanal product stores can create subscription clubs where customers receive monthly selections of curated products[web:34]. In Spain, models like Disfruta y Verdura or La Tienda have demonstrated the success of this format with local products[web:34].

Strategic Advantages for Your Business

Predictable Revenue and Cash Flow

Subscription models transform one-off sales into recurring monthly revenue[web:36]. This allows for more accurate cash flow forecasting, more efficient inventory planning, and strategic decisions based on guaranteed revenue rather than projections[web:38].

Higher Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)

A subscribed customer generates revenue for months or years, compared to a single transaction[web:36]. If a customer spends €30 per visit and comes twice a month, a €50 monthly subscription not only guarantees that revenue, but also increases the frequency of interaction with your brand[web:41].

Customer Loyalty and Churn Reduction

Subscriptions create purchasing habits and emotional connection with the brand[web:38]. Subscribed customers are less likely to switch to the competition, especially if you offer exclusive benefits such as discounts, priority access to new products, or special events[web:34].

Implementation Costs in Spain

Shopify POS Pro: Necessary Investment

To use subscriptions in Shopify POS, you need Shopify POS Pro, which costs €79 per month per store location, or €69 per month if you choose annual billing. This plan includes unlimited users at no extra cost, meaning you can equip your entire team without any increase in your monthly fee.

Processing Commissions

Shopify Payments' in-person transaction fees in Spain are: 1.7% for the Basic plan, 1.5% for the Grow plan, and 1.4% for the Advanced plan.[web:21][web:32] There are no additional fees for managing subscriptions, making the model very competitive compared to external solutions that charge between 5% and 15% extra.[web:27]

No External Application Costs

Being natively integrated eliminates the costs of third-party subscription apps, which can range from €20 to €300 per month depending on volume[web:27][web:40]. This represents significant savings for retailers managing multiple locations[web:21].

How Technical Integration Works

Unified Online and Offline System

All subscriptions created in a physical store are automatically synced with your Shopify admin panel. You can manage renewals, pauses, cancellations, and product changes from the same place, regardless of whether the subscription was created online or at the POS.

Automated Payment Management

Recurring payments are processed automatically according to the configured frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly)[web:33]. The customer can save their payment method during in-store registration, and the system automatically charges in each billing cycle without manual intervention[web:41].

Notifications and Communication

Shopify sends automatic notifications to customers before each renewal, when a payment fails, or when they need to update their payment method[web:33]. This reduces your team's administrative burden and improves the customer experience, crucial for maintaining high retention rates[web:38].

Implementation in Your Spanish Store

Prerequisites

To use subscriptions in Shopify POS, you need to have Shopify POS Pro active in your location[web:21][web:23]. This subscription includes all the advanced features needed to manage loyalty programs and complex business models[web:22]. You also need to have the Shopify Subscriptions app installed in your account[web:35].

Product Configuration

You must configure which products or services will be available for subscription[web:33]. You can create specific plans with different billing frequencies, subscription discounts, and customization options according to the preferences of the Spanish market[web:34]. The configuration is done only once and applies to both online and in-person sales[web:35].

Team Training

Your store staff need to understand how to offer and process subscriptions at the point of sale[web:41]. This includes explaining the benefits to customers, handling common objections, and correctly processing subscriptions at the POS terminal[web:23]. The interface is intuitive and integrates seamlessly into the regular sales flow[web:21].

Strategies to Maximize Conversions in Spain

Registration Incentives

It offers special discounts or gifts to customers who subscribe in-store[web:34]. For example, 15% off the first month's subscription, a free product with enrollment, or early access to new releases[web:36]. Immediate incentives significantly increase in-store conversion rates in the Spanish market[web:41].

Free Trials or Introductory Periods

It allows customers to try the subscription for a short period without obligation[web:33]. This reduces initial friction and allows them to experience the value before committing long-term[web:34]. Many Spanish customers who try it end up becoming permanent subscribers due to the convenience of the service[web:38].

Value Communication at the Point of Sale

Use physical signage in your store to communicate the benefits of subscriptions[web:41]. Counter displays, informational brochures, or even a tablet showing savings comparisons can be very effective in starting conversations about subscriptions[web:23].

Specific Use Cases by Spanish Industry

Fashion Retail

Boutiques and clothing stores in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, ​​or Valencia can create monthly surprise boxes or subscription-based personal shopper services[web:34]. Customers receive curated selections of clothing each month based on their preferences, similar to Lookiero's successful model in Spain[web:34].

Bookstores and Stationery Shops

Bookstores can offer reading clubs with monthly book selections, while stationery stores can create subscriptions for school supplies, office supplies, or premium stationery items[web:36]. This model is especially effective in university areas and urban centers[web:38].

Health Food Stores

Health stores and organic product stores can offer monthly boxes of superfoods, supplements, or seasonal products[web:34]. In-person registration allows for explaining the benefits of each product and personalizing the subscription according to the needs of the Spanish customer[web:36].

Integration with Omnichannel Strategies

Unified Customer Experience

A customer can subscribe in-store, manage their subscription online, and pick up products at any location[web:35]. This omnichannel flexibility is essential for modern Spanish retailers who need to offer convenience at all touchpoints[web:38].

Centralized Data

All subscription data is available in a single admin panel[web:35]. You can analyze which locations generate the most subscriptions, which products have the highest renewal rate, and what behavioral patterns your subscribers exhibit to optimize your strategy[web:33].

Personalized Marketing

Use subscription data to create targeted marketing campaigns[web:36]. Send special offers to subscribers, communicate new products that complement their current subscriptions, or win back subscribers who have canceled with personalized reactivation offers[web:38].

Migration and Optimization

Systems Consolidation

If you currently use external systems to manage subscriptions or memberships in your physical store, now is the ideal time to consolidate everything on Shopify[web:40]. This eliminates third-party application costs, reduces technical complexity, and improves the experience for both your team and Spanish customers[web:27].

Best Implementation Practices

Start with a pilot program in one location before expanding to all your stores[web:41]. Analyze results, adjust prices and benefits based on the response from the Spanish market, and train your team based on real-world learnings[web:38]. A phased implementation minimizes risks and maximizes the chances of success[web:33].

Frequently Asked Questions about Subscriptions in Shopify POS