What Is Shopify POS

Shopify POS is a point of sale application that allows you to sell products in person using an iPad, iPhone, or Android device. It integrates seamlessly with your Shopify online store, providing unified inventory management and customer data.

Whether you run a pop-up shop, market stall, permanent retail location, or sell at events, Shopify POS provides the tools you need to accept payments and manage your business.

Key Benefits

•Unified inventory: Stock levels sync automatically between online and in-store
•Customer profiles: Track purchase history across all channels
•Single reporting: See all sales in one dashboard
•Staff accounts: Individual logins with role-based permissions
•Omnichannel features: Buy online, pick up in store and local delivery

POS Plans and Pricing

Shopify offers two POS tiers with different feature sets. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right plan for your needs.

POS Lite

Included Free

Included with all Shopify plans. Covers basic in-person selling needs.

• Accept payments in person
• Sync products and inventory
• Mobile POS with smart grid
• Unified customer profiles
• Order management

POS Pro

£69/month per location

Advanced features for growing retail operations.

• Everything in POS Lite
• Unlimited staff accounts
• Staff roles and permissions
• Advanced reporting
• Retail analytics
• Cash tracking and shifts
• Store pickup and local delivery

Shopify Plus Note

Shopify Plus merchants receive POS Pro for up to 20 locations at no additional cost. Additional locations are billed at a discounted rate.

Hardware Requirements

Shopify POS runs on mobile devices and can connect to various retail hardware. Here is what you need to get started.

Essential Hardware

Device

iPad (iOS 15 or later), iPhone (iOS 15 or later), or Android device (Android 10 or later). An iPad is recommended for stationary retail setups.

Card Reader

Shopify Tap and Chip Card Reader for contactless and chip payments. Connects via Bluetooth. Accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and digital wallets.

Optional Hardware

•Receipt printer: Thermal printer for physical receipts (Star Micronics or Epson)
•Cash drawer: Connects to receipt printer for cash handling
•Barcode scanner: Speeds up product lookup and checkout
•POS stand: Retail stand for iPad with swivel for customer-facing display
•Label printer: For printing product labels or shelf tags

Shopify Hardware Store

Purchase compatible hardware directly from Shopify at hardware.shopify.com. All hardware is guaranteed compatible and comes with support. You can also buy retail bundles that include everything you need.

Setup Process

Setting up Shopify POS involves configuring your location, installing the app, and connecting your hardware. Follow these steps to get started.

1
Add Your Location
Go to Settings > Locations in your Shopify admin. Add a new location with your retail address. This is separate from your shipping locations.
2
Enable POS Channel
Go to Sales Channels in your admin and add Point of Sale if not already enabled. This activates POS features and settings.
3
Install the POS App
Download Shopify POS from the App Store or Google Play. Sign in with your Shopify credentials and select your location.
4
Connect Hardware
In the POS app, go to Settings > Hardware. Follow the pairing instructions for your card reader and any other hardware.
5
Configure Settings
Set up taxes, receipt preferences, tipping options, and any custom fields you need for your retail operation.
6
Test a Transaction
Run a test sale to ensure everything works correctly. Test your card reader, receipt printer, and cash drawer.

Staff Management

Shopify POS allows you to create staff accounts with different permission levels. This is essential for tracking individual performance and controlling access.

Creating Staff Accounts

Go to Point of Sale > Staff in your Shopify admin. Add new staff members with their name and email. Assign them a 4-digit PIN for logging into the POS app.

Permission Levels (POS Pro)

Full Access

Can perform all POS functions including refunds, discounts, and accessing reports. Typically for managers.

Limited Access

Can process sales but may have restrictions on discounts, refunds, or viewing reports. Configure specific permissions.

Register Only

Basic checkout functionality only. Cannot modify products, apply manual discounts, or access settings.

Staff Attribution

When staff members log in with their PIN, all sales are attributed to them. This allows you to track individual performance, run commission reports, and identify your top sellers.

Inventory Synchronisation

One of the biggest advantages of Shopify POS is automatic inventory synchronisation between your online store and retail locations.

How Sync Works

•Real-time updates: Stock changes when you sell in store or receive an online order
•Location-based: Track stock separately at each location
•Multi-channel: Inventory counts reflect all sales channels

Best Practices

Initial Stock Count

Before going live, conduct a thorough stock count and update your inventory in Shopify. Use the bulk editor or import a CSV for large catalogues.

Regular Reconciliation

Schedule weekly or monthly stock counts to verify physical inventory matches your system. Investigate and resolve any discrepancies.

Low Stock Alerts

Set up inventory alerts to notify you when products are running low. This prevents overselling and helps with reordering.

Payment Configuration

Configure your payment methods to accept cards, cash, and other payment types at your retail location.

Payment Methods

•Shopify Payments: Accept cards with no additional gateway fees. Required for Tap and Chip reader.
•Cash: Enable cash payments and configure cash drawer if using one.
•Gift cards: Accept Shopify gift cards for payment.
•Custom payments: Add other payment types like cheques or store credit.

Transaction Fees

In-person card transaction fees are typically lower than online. With Shopify Payments in the UK, in-person rates start at 1.5% + 0p for Advanced Shopify plans.

Tipping (Optional)

Enable tipping in the POS settings if appropriate for your business. Customers can add a tip during the payment process. Tips are included in payouts alongside regular revenue.

Troubleshooting

Common POS issues and how to resolve them.

Card reader not connecting

Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your device. Charge the reader fully. Forget and re-pair the device in Settings > Hardware.

Products not appearing

Check that products are assigned to your POS location. In the product editor, verify the location is enabled under Inventory.

Inventory not syncing

Pull down to refresh in the POS app. Check your internet connection. If issues persist, log out and back in to the app.

Receipt printer not working

Verify the printer is powered on and connected. Check paper supply. Re-add the printer in Hardware settings.

How to Set Up Shopify POS