Migrate your retail store
This guide outlines how to migrate your retail store to Shopify. The guide doesn't cover every step in the process of setting up a Shopify store, such as setting up your online store. Learn more about migrating your online store to Shopify with Migrating to Shopify.
You can use this retail migration guide as a starting point and as a reference resource to make sure that you don't forget any key setup tasks.
On this page
- Before you get started
- Step 1: Install the POS sales channel in your Shopify admin
- Step 2: Choose your POS subscription
- Step 3: Log in to the Shopify POS app
- Step 4: Process a POS test transaction
- Step 5: Order POS Hardware
- Step 6: Set up payment methods
- Step 7: Set up Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android
- Step 8: Connect POS Hardware
- Step 9: Customize receipts
- Step 10: Add POS staff
- Step 11: Inventory management with Stocky
- Step 12: Setup pickup in store
- Step 13: Shipping for in-store customers
- Step 14: (Optional) Set up your online store
Before you get started
Review your eligibility
Only countries where Shopify Payments supports both online and in-person payment processing are eligible to use Shopify hardware. Use the following list to find out if Shopify Payments is available to use with the Shopify POS app and Shopify hardware in the country where your business operates:
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- United States (Shopify Payments isn't available to US territories except Puerto Rico)
When you process a POS transaction in person using Shopify Payments and a Shopify card reader, you must follow the payment rules for the country you're processing the transaction in. Learn more about country and currency compliance for selling in person.
Additional setup
This guide is primarily focused on tasks to get your retail store set up. You might want to complete some additional setup tasks to migrate your information to your new Shopify online store.
You can complete the following tasks before starting the guide:
You can also complete the following tasks to get your payments and taxes set up:
Step 1: Install the POS sales channel in your Shopify admin
All new stores have the POS sales channel pre-installed. If you removed the POS sales channel or have reopened an old online store, then you need to install the POS sales channel.
Steps:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps and sales channels.
- Click Shopify App store.
- Search in the Shopify app store for "Point of Sale".
- Click Point of Sale.
- Click Install.
- In your Shopify admin, to accept the data access, click Install.
Step 2: Choose your POS subscription
You can choose a POS app subscription for each location depending on your needs.
Compare the features for POS Lite and POS Pro
For businesses that mainly sell at markets, fairs, or pop-ups, POS Lite is recommended. For businesses with retail locations or who sell more often in person, POS Pro is recommended.
There are two POS app subscriptions to fit your retail needs. For more information on pricing, refer to POS pricing. For more information on features, refer to POS features. To compare the features offered between Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro, refer to the following table:
Manage your POS subscription for each location
If you're the account owner, then you can select your POS subscriptions by location to ensure that your stores have the subscription that best suits their needs. You can also choose between a monthly or yearly billing cycle.
Steps:
Step 3: Log in to the Shopify POS app
Download the Shopify POS app to your phone or tablet
To download the Shopify POS app, use your device to scan the QR code for either Android or iOS for Shopify POS app from the install page, and tap Install.
The Shopify POS app works with devices that meet the following requirements:
Device | Description |
---|---|
iPad | Generation 5 or higher running iPadOS 15 or higher |
iPad Air | Generation 2 or higher running iPadOS 15 or higher |
iPad mini | Generation 4 or higher running iPadOS 15 or higher |
iPad Pro | All iPad Pro models running iPadOS 15 or higher |
iPhone | iPhone 7 or higher running iOS 15 or higher |
POS Go | POS Go running the latest Shopify-provided software updates |
Android | Phone or tablet running official Android version 10.0 or higher, with Google Play Services and Google Mobile Services enabled |
The Shopify POS app is available for only iOS and Android devices. It's not available for laptop or desktop computers.
Log in with email
If you're a staff member with an admin username and required credentials, then you can use them to log into the Shopify POS app when you have the Access Point of Sale permissions. The store owner has all permissions by default.
Steps:
- On the Shopify POS app login screen, tap Log in.
- On the Shopify page, type in your admin username and password and then tap Log in.
- If you have two-factor authentication activated for your store, then enter your authentication code.
- Tap Log in.
- Select the correct store and location to complete login.
You can customize the Shopify POS app settings. Learn more about Changing the Shopify POS app settings.
Step 4: Process a POS test transaction
Now that you have set up your hardware, payment methods, and you have added products, you can process a test transaction to ensure you're ready to accept payments from your customers.
Steps:
- Add a product to the cart in one of the following ways:
- To add a product directly from the app, tap ☰ > Products and select a product from the list. If your product has variants, then select a variant.
- To add a product using a barcode, then scan the product's barcode.
- Optional: To add a customer to the order, tap the Add customer smart grid tile and select your test customer.
- Tap Checkout > Cash > Exact change.
- Tap Email receipt, Text receipt, or Print receipt.
- Tap Order note and enter Test transaction into the field for your personal records.
- Tap Done.
You can view the test order on the order page by tapping ☰, Orders, and then selecting the order. You can process additional test transactions if you want to test any other settings.
When you are finished processing test transactions, you can close the tracking session.
Step 5: Order POS Hardware
Review the following table to learn more about what retail hardware you might need depending on your business type:
If you run... | Then you might need... |
---|---|
A pop-up shop, events, casual part-time sales | A supported device + card reader |
A permanent retail location | A supported device + card reader + receipt printer |
Multiple stores or a warehouse | A supported device + card reader + receipt printer + barcode scanner + cash drawer |
You can choose a variety of components for your Shopify POS system, depending on the payment methods you accept, and your business needs.
Any of the options listed allow for more than one register at a single location. There is no limit to the number of POS stations you can have at a given location.
Where to buy hardware
If you're located in the United States and have Shopify Payments activated, then you can choose hardware from Point of Sale channel > Hardware store in your Shopify admin and then checkout using the Shopify Hardware store based on your location.
You can purchase hardware from the Shopify Hardware Stores:
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada (English)
- Canada (French)
- Denmark
- Finland
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- United States
Supported hardware
The availability for supported hardware from the Shopify hardware store varies by country. Shopify hardware provides the most optimal integration with the Shopify POS.
If you aren't located in a country with a Shopify hardware store, then refer to the supported hardware page or any of the individual hardware pages for supported model numbers and purchase hardware from a verified third-party retailer of your choice.
Step 6: Set up payment methods
Activate Shopify Payments in the POS app
You need to set up Shopify Payments for your store in your Shopify admin in order to accept credit card payments in person. After you set up Shopify Payments in your Shopify admin, you need to activate it in the Shopify POS app.
Steps:
- From Shopify POS, tap ≡ > Settings > Payment types.
- In the Default payment types section, verify that the Credit/Debit option displays Accepted.
(Optional) Deactivate cash payments for the Shopify POS app
By default, cash transactions are activated. If you no longer want to accept cash, then you can deactivate cash transactions. There are no additional fees or charges to the customer or to the store for cash payments.
Steps:
- From Shopify POS, tap ≡ > Settings > Payment settings.
- Under Other payment types, tap Cash to deactivate it.
Step 7: Set up Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android
You can process contactless payment card transactions on your iPhone or Android device.
Requirements for using Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android
Activate Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android
If you use Tap to Pay on iPhone, then you must have the Manage payment settings permission to activate Tap to Pay on iPhone for your store. If you're using Tap to Pay on Android, then you don't need the Manage payment settings permission to activate Tap to Pay on Android.
The first time you set up Tap to Pay on iPhone, you need to accept Apple's terms of service with your Apple ID. The Apple ID must belong to you or your business. The Apple ID can be changed later.
After you complete this first activation, Tap to Pay on iPhone is available to pair on any iPhone logged into Shopify POS under your store's account, at any of your locations.
Steps:
Step 8: Connect POS Hardware
Before you connect your hardware, you need to set up Shopify Payments in your admin and set up Shopify Payments in your POS app.
After you receive your hardware, you can connect it to your Shopify POS app.
Steps:
- From Shopify POS, tap ☰ > Connectivity.
- Tap Set up hardware.
- On the Set up hardware page, tap the type of hardware that you are adding. For example, if you're adding a card reader, then tap Card reader.
- Follow the prompts to connect your hardware.
Step 9: Customize receipts
If you have a POS Pro subscription, then you can customize the template for your printed receipts and choose how many receipts you want to print by default. You can't edit the transaction information on printed receipts.
Customize your receipts
You can add a logo, customize the header and footer, and add custom information to your receipts. You can customize receipts from the Point of sale channel in your admin in Settings > Receipt customization.
Customize logo
- From the Receipt customization page in your POS channel, choose the POS location from the drop-down menu.
- Click Logo Upload, and then click Add image. The image must be 400 px by 200 px.
- Optional: Choose a logo width from the drop-down menu.
- Click Save.
Customize header or footer
- From the Receipt customization page in your POS channel, choose the POS location from the drop-down menu.
- Complete either of the following steps:
- Click Header to add a custom header to your receipts.
- Click Footer to add a custom footer to your receipts.
- Click Save.
Add custom information
- From the Receipt customization page in your POS channel, choose the POS location from the drop-down menu.
- Click the checkbox next to any of the following details to display on your receipts:
- Show a different logo per location
- Show location address
- Show location phone number
- Show total sales box
- Show SKU
- Show compare at price
- Show discount code
- Show staff attributed to sale
- Show staff at register
- Show order note
- Show customer information
- Show 1D or 2D barcode
- Show custom QR code
- Click Save.
Set a default number of receipt copies to print after a transaction
You can choose to have a default number of receipts printed following each successful transaction.
Steps:
- From your Shopify admin, click Point of Sale.
- Click Settings > Receipt customization.
- Click Number of receipts printed.
- Enter your custom whole number, and then click Save.
Step 10: Add POS staff
You can add staff to your store depending on your Shopify subscription plan:
- For organizations on the Shopify Plus plan, add staff by giving them organization and store permissions.
- For non-Plus stores, add staff from Settings > Users and Permissions.
To access Shopify POS using a Shopify account or login credentials, staff members need the following permissions:
Permission category | Permission |
---|---|
Point of Sale access |
Access Point of Sale Sub-permission:
|
Staff with limited admin permissions and POS app only staff can't access Shopify POS unless the store owner or a staff member with the Set up new or updated POS devices logs in to the Shopify POS first.
Add access to POS for staff with admin permissions
You can grant access to the POS app for a staff member that has admin permissions. If the staff member doesn't have the required permissions to use the POS, then you're prompted to grant those permissions so that the staff member can log in to POS devices.
Steps:
- Navigate to your user settings:
- For stores not a Plus plan, from your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Users and permissions.
- For stores on a Plus plan, go to Settings. In the Organization section, click Users.
- In the Staff section, click the name of the staff member that you want to give POS access to. For Plus organizations, filter for type Staff, and then click the staff profile. In the Store permissions section, click Edit for the store with the staff permissions you want to adjust.
- In the Point of Sale access section, select Access Point of Sale.
- Optional: Select Set up new or updated POS devices to grant permission for the staff member to log in to POS devices.
- Optional: If you want to create a different PIN than the default PIN, then do one of the following in the PIN section:
- Click Generate random PIN.
- Delete the default
. . . .
and enter a PIN manually. Staff use this PIN to access Shopify POS. Make sure that your staff knows what their PIN is.
- Click Save.
Add a POS app only staff
You can add POS app only staff from two locations:
- From the Staff screen of Shopify POS.
- From the Point of Sale channel of your Shopify admin.
Add POS app only staff from Shopify POS
If you're the store owner or have the Manage Point of Sale staff permission, then you can add POS app only staff directly within the Shopify POS app.
Steps:
- From Shopify POS, tap
☰
, and then tap Staff. - Tap Add new staff.
- In the Staff Information section, enter the required details.
- In the POS App Access section, tap Edit.
- Optional: To access the list of permissions within each role, select the role and then tap View permissions.
- Select a role, and then tap Save.
- Optional: If you want to create a different PIN than the default PIN, then do the following:
- In the Security section, tap Edit.
- Tap Generate random PIN or use the keypad to enter a PIN. Staff use this PIN to access Shopify POS. Make sure that your staff knows what their PIN is.
- Tap Save.
Add a POS app only staff from the Point of Sale channel
If you're the store owner or have a staff with the Manage Point of Sale staff permission, then you can add POS app only staff from the Point of Sale channel in the Shopify admin. You control your staff's permissions for the Shopify POS by assigning them a predefined POS role.
Steps:
- From your Shopify admin, click Settings > Apps and sales channels.
- From the Apps and sales channels page, click Point of sale.
Click Open sales channel.
Click Staff.
Click Add staff.
Enter the required information.
Select a POS role.
If you want to create a different PIN than the default PIN, then in the PIN section, click Generate random PIN or enter a PIN. Staff use this PIN to access Shopify POS. Make sure that your staff know what their PIN is.
Click Save.
Step 11: Inventory management with Stocky
Stocky by Shopify is an inventory management app that's included with Shopify POS Pro subscriptions. Stocky helps you manage your inventory with the following features:
- Make stock adjustments
- Manage low stock products
- Print labels with Dymo Label Printing software
- Receive stock transfers in POS with a barcode scanner
- Create and manage purchase orders
- Demand forecasting
- Conduct stocktakes
- Stock transfers
Step 12: Setup pickup in store
You can set up the option for customers to pick up their online orders at any location you choose, such as your retail location, with in-store or curbside pickup.
To do this, activate the pickup in store option for each location where customers can go to get their orders.
The shipping rate for pickup in store is set to Free and can't be changed.
Before setting up pickup in store
You need to complete the following tasks before you can offer pickup in store:
- Verify that the fulfillment priority order for your online orders is set up to meet your business needs.
- Stock inventory at each pickup location.
- Deactivate any pickup apps.
- Ensure that each person who is preparing items for pickup or marking orders as picked up has access to your Shopify admin.
- Update any location names so that customers can understand where to go to pick up their order.
-
Let each in-store pickup location fulfill online orders.
By default, letting a location fulfill online orders also means that non-pickup online orders can take inventory from your pickup or retail locations. Make sure that you review your fulfillment priority and modify it if necessary. If the Continue selling when out of stock option is selected for a product, then local pickup orders can be placed for locations without inventory.
You can also set up a location to fulfill in-store pickup orders only.
Set up the pickup in store option
You need to set up the pickup in store option for each location where customers can go to get their orders.
Setup includes activating pickup in store, choosing the expected pickup time that's displayed to your customers at checkout, and specifying any pickup instructions in the Order ready for pickup notification.
From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.
In the Pickup in store section, click Set up or the › icon.
In the Your locations section, select a location that you want to set up in-store pickup for.
Select This location offers in-store pickup.
In the Expected pickup date section, select a processing time for in-store pickup from the drop-down menu. This information is displayed to your customers.
In the Order ready for pickup notification section, enter pickup instructions for your customers. This field replaces any customizations that you have in the
email_body
variable in the Ready for pickup notification template.Click Save.
Display pickup availability to your customers
Some themes let you display pickup in store availability on product pages. On each product page, a pickup availability section displays whether the product is available, and the estimated time frame for pickup.
After pickup in store is activated, the product page displays whether the product is available for pickup at one or more of your pickup in store locations. This information displays only for products that are stocked at least one pickup location and have the This is a physical product option selected in the Shipping section of a product variant's details.
Steps:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
- Select a product.
- In the Variants section, select a variant.
- In the Shipping section, select This is a physical product.
- Click Save.
If you have pickup in store activated for only one location, then the location and pickup availability is displayed for that location. Customers can click View store information to learn more about the pickup location.
If you have pickup in store activated for more than one location, then the pickup availability section displays the location and pickup availability for one of your stores. Customers can click Check availability at other stores to check the product's availability at all of your locations that have pickup activated.
Add the Home screen tile for pickup in store
If you add the tile for pickup in store to your Home screen, then you can quickly find all orders that need to be prepared for pickup or marked as picked up.
After you add the tile, it will display the number of orders that need to be prepared for pickup. You can tap the Pickup in store tile to view the orders that need your attention.
Steps:
- On the Home screen of the Shopify POS app, tap Add tile.
- Go to Fullfillment > View pickup orders.
- Tap Add.
- On the Home screen, tap Done.
Learn more about Pickup in store for online orders.
Step 13: Shipping for in-store customers
If you have product overselling protection activated, then you can add only in stock inventory to the ship to customer order. If the inventory for any of the products added to your cart is out-of-stock, then an error message displays mentioning that the out of stock items can't be shipped. This prevents you from placing orders that can't be fulfilled due to out of stock inventory.
The displayed rates are the applicable weight-based, price-based, or carrier calculated rates that you have set up in the Shopify admin. Only shipping rates applicable to the current cart (based on the shipping rate rules configured) will be displayed. If there aren't any available rates displayed, then there are no applicable rates available. You can add new rates from the Shipping and delivery settings page of your Shopify admin.
Steps:
- Add all items to the cart.
- Optional: To add your customer to the cart, complete the following steps:
- Tap Customers.
- Select your customer from the customers list.
- Tap Add to cart from the customer details screen.
- On the Shopify POS app, tap More Actions and then tap Ship to customer. Alternatively, if you've added a smart grid tile for this action, then tap Ship to customer on your home screen.
- Enter the customer's email address and phone number, and then tap Next.
- On the Add shipping details screen, do either of the following:
- Enter the customer's shipping details.
- Tap a previously provided address.
- On the Select shipping method screen, do one of the following:
- To choose from the calculated shipping rates, tap the preferred shipping method from the available list.
- To enter a custom shipping rate, tap Custom shipping rate, enter the shipping amount, and tap Done.
- Tap Checkout, select the payment method, and process the payment.
- Choose a method of providing the order receipt to the customer and tap Done.
The order is initially marked as unfulfilled and can't be fulfilled from the POS app. You need to fulfill the order in your Shopify admin when you're ready to ship the order items to the customer.
Step 14: (Optional) Set up your online store
You can continue setting up your online store with the following actions: