It is every entrepreneur’s dream to generate a recurring revenue stream. If you are one of them, chances are you’ve looked into selling subscriptions on Shopify.
Selling subscriptions is one of the best ways to generate recurring payments from your customers.
In contrast, other business models require you to constantly manage your inventory, fulfill orders, and market your products online.
While it’s still important to promote your products when selling subscriptions, it’s the only product type that ensures sales on a recurring basis, especially if you can build a loyal customer base.
When I started online selling decades ago, selling subscriptions was not even on my radar. But with the rise of online streaming services and various digital products, selling subscriptions on Shopify is emerging as one of the best ideas ever, instead of getting a one-time purchase from customers.
Are you ready to sell subscriptions on Shopify now?
Make sure you know what type of subscriptions to offer your customers and strategies to maximize profits from your subscribers.
Key Takeaways
- Selling subscriptions on Shopify is a growing market with limitless product or service ideas opportunities.
- Offering subscriptions on your Shopify store helps you build customer loyalty and generate predictable recurring revenue.
- Discover the top industries for selling subscriptions to capitalize on their demand and profitability.
- Learn the tips to succeed when you start selling subscriptions online.
Can You Sell Subscriptions on Shopify?
The short answer is yes.
Shopify’s ecommerce platform allows selling subscription services on your online store. When you offer subscriptions, it allows you to earn recurring payments from your customers.
Depending on your subscription product or service, your customers will pay a certain price on a recurring basis. For example, it can be a monthly subscription or other subscription models.
Shopify allows you to integrate tools to sell subscriptions on Shopify, making it easy for your customers to subscribe through your online store. The integration process is easy and doesn’t require any coding.
Benefits of Selling Subscriptions on Shopify
Are you interested in selling subscription products on your Shopify store? Here are the benefits of doing so.
1. Maintain a consistent revenue for your online business.
The main advantage of selling subscriptions on Shopify is the opportunity to earn consistent revenue from products on a recurring basis. Any online business owner desires to achieve recurring revenue over a one time purchase.
Subscriptions allow you to earn money monthly, weekly, or annually from your customers. It ensures you earn a set income over a specific period and helps you meet your ecommerce KPIs.
2. Boost customer loyalty and enhance customer lifetime value.
Retaining customers is one of the most challenging aspects of running a successful business. A well-developed and valuable subscription product can address your customers’ needs, enabling them to enjoy the value you offer.
When your customers choose your subscription services, they see value in what you offer, ensuring customer loyalty for an extended period.
There is also a good chance that these customers will refer your business to your friends, adding subscriptions from new subscribers and customers.
3. Foster long-lasting customer relationships.
Selling subscriptions on Shopify is a great retention mechanism for an online business.
When customers subscribe to your products or services, they trust your business and see value in your Shopify subscription products enough to make a purchase.
Remember that a customer will commit to paying a fixed amount on a recurring basis, giving you the green light when building a lasting relationship with a customer.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity by making a personalized offer and ensuring you customize their shopping experience to suit their needs. It takes a deep understanding of your target audience to add customer lifetime value and ensure they continue to subscribe to your business.
You cannot afford to rest on your laurels once you start adding subscriptions from your customers. Invest in maintaining a positive relationship as much as you would in customer acquisition strategies.
4. No limit to what you can sell.
Another advantage of selling subscription products on Shopify is that you are not limited by physical stock or inventory. You can sell as many subscription products as you have Shopify store customers.
Once you establish the right subscription model and match the value that your customers seek through your subscription offering, customers will continue to subscribe to what you have to offer.
5. Control business costs.
Aside from having a predictable revenue, another advantage to having a subscription service on Shopify is that you can also control your business costs.
When you know the amount of subscriptions on Shopify you have with your business, you can allocate your resources accordingly to match the demand.
There is no such thing as wasted resources because you will fulfill your monthly Shopify subscriptions based on the number of recurring orders over a given period.
Get insider tips—download the eBook on Shopify competitor research now!Guide to Subscription Types
When you think of selling subscriptions, you might think about streaming services or connectivity plans.
But if you want to sell products on a recurring basis, there are more subscription types. You can explore the different subscription ideas and types below.
Curated Subscription Boxes
Selling subscription boxes is one of the most common subscription products available online. Curated boxes are taking the ecommerce world by storm because it is a great way to introduce your customers to new products.
In addition, it saves your customers the trouble of choosing products suited for a specific need. And they also make great gift ideas for any occasion.
One example of a curated subscription box is a collection of samples of cosmetic products. It is a great subscription idea for customers who want to try new cosmetic products.
Most subscription services of this model have cosmetic and skin care experts who curate the products for each customer based on the information they provide, usually after a customer fulfils a questionnaire.
Another advantage to selling curated subscription boxes is that you can cross-promote products from various categories or brands.
However, selling subscription boxes presents a challenge since you are putting different products into one box. Logistically, you must consider product differences when packing and keeping track of the inventory.
Digital Products
Selling digital products is another common subscription option.
There are many subscription options for digital products, such as photo editing templates, audio files, graphic design elements, website themes or templates, printable products, and other digital downloads.
Selling a digital product in a subscription format is beneficial for an online business due to the lack of inventory. And yet, you can enjoy the same benefits as other subscription models selling physical products: customer loyalty, recurring payments, and predictability in revenue.
Access to Premium Services
Another subscription product you can sell on Shopify is access to premium services. If your target audience wants to enjoy additional premium services, they can pay for them using a subscription service.
For example, online food delivery apps can sell subscription services to their customers for access to premium services, such as priority delivery for shorter waiting times or a discount on delivery charges.
If you’ve established customer loyalty, it would be easy to offer them premium services as add-ons to increase profits. However, it’s something to think about before you offer this extra product.
Best Industries for Selling Subscriptions on Shopify
Let’s examine the top industries if you want to sell subscriptions on Shopify.
1. Food & Beverage
These products are consumable, so they are a natural fit for subscription models on Shopify. There is also an endless opportunity for creating product bundles. Plus, there is a lot of flexibility in choosing a subscription plan – from weekly to bi-weekly and monthly subscriptions.
2. Beauty & Cosmetics
Like food and beverage products, beauty and cosmetics are consumed, so customers must replenish their supply. For this reason, many like to sign up for subscription services to simplify the process of getting their desired products on a recurring basis.
3. Household Items
Common products that you need at home include hygiene products and toiletries. Buyers consume These essential products over time and need them replenished consistently.
4. Pet Food & Supplies
For pet owners, finding a subscription service for pet food and other supplies can ensure they will never run out of their preferred products.
5. Apparel
Subscription models offering apparel and clothing items are growing in popularity. You can consider this subscription product, especially if you identify a gap in the apparel market.
How to Sell Subscriptions on Shopify
Shopify is one of the best platforms for selling subscriptions because it is versatile enough to sell just about any product idea.
If you want to sell subscriptions on Shopify, you’d be delighted to know that not only is it possible, but you can also find a subscription app that would easily integrate into the platform.
Follow this detailed guide on how to sell subscriptions on your Shopify online store.
Step 1: Choose a subscription app.
You need a subscription app to sell subscriptions on Shopify and receive recurring payments from customers. You can find many subscription apps that easily integrate into this ecommerce platform.
Review each subscription app to align it with your products or services. Also, their pricing plans vary, so you must choose according to your budget.
Step 2: Create subscription products and add them to your Shopify store.
If you haven’t already made your subscription product, now is the best time to get started.
To give you a better idea, you can review the subscription types and the best industries for offering subscriptions I’ve outlined above. Once your product is ready, you can add it to your store.
To make a product available through subscription only, check the Sell Product as a Subscription Only box. But if you want to offer one-time purchases and a subscription, uncheck the Sell Product as a Subscription Only box.
Adding subscriptions to your Shopify store also requires setting up product pricing and billing frequency (depending on different subscription models). If you need more information, fill out other custom fields.
Once you set up the product, you can create a store listing on your Shopify subscription business.
Step 3: Customize the checkout process.
When selling subscriptions on your Shopify store, you can customize the checkout process to ensure a seamless way for customers to enjoy the services you offer.
Take this opportunity to enhance your branding and ensure it is consistent with the rest of the store.
It’s important that you set up your preferred payment methods, whether it’s Shopify Payments or other payment gateways. The checkout process is critical when you sell product online, including subscription services.
Therefore, test this page to ensure that the checkout process goes smoothly.
Step 4: Promote your subscription products online.
To run a successful subscription business, you must master the art of promoting your subscriptions on Shopify.
It is important to utilize the tools on your Shopify admin to monitor traffic to your store and your sales. Build targeted marketing campaigns focused on customer acquisition and retention.
You can also offer promotions and limited discounts to entice new subscribers and maintain customer loyalty. Ideally, you should make personalized offers to engage with both new and existing subscribers.
Step 5: Use a tool to manage subscriptions.
Once you start selling subscriptions on Shopify, you need to invest in a tool to manage subscribers and recurring payments.
Depending on your chosen subscription app, you will have tools to manage and track recurring orders. Close monitoring of your subscriptions on Shopify ensures you can continue offering value to your customers.
How to Maintain and Grow Subscription Shopify Store
Follow these tips for a guide on how to build a successful subscription business on Shopify:
- Promote your subscription services, but make one-time purchase options available. Do not single out customers who do not want the subscription option when buying from your online business. it’s a surefire way to increase profits rather than limiting your customers to subscribers.
- Showcase the benefits of subscribing. To entice customers to subscribe to your business, highlight the benefits of your subscription service or product. Highlight the benefits of working with your brand, not just your subscription offering.
- Make it easy to pause or cancel a subscription. One reason most customers fear signing up for a subscription service is that they fear backing out of the subscription could be difficult. Therefore, clearly state that backing out of a plan is easy. They will likely trust you more for being upfront.
- Offer discounts to new subscribers. Offering an exclusive discount to new subscribers is one of the most foolproof customer acquisition strategies.
- Analyze your subscription business’s churn rate. A churn rate refers to the number of subscribers you’ve lost. You must focus on the percentage of involuntary or voluntary churn rates. A voluntary churn occurs when a customer opts out of the subscription. At the same time, an involuntary churn occurs when issues on your website make it difficult for customers to make recurring payments.
Final Thoughts: Sell Subscriptions on Shopify
The subscription ecommerce market is thriving, and it’s become one of the most profitable niches among Shopify store owners. Leverage the popularity of different subscription models to sell products on a recurring basis.
The best part is that any product can be offered in a subscription model, allowing endless ways to maximize profits on your Shopify store.
Track Your Subscription Revenue with Precision
Selling subscriptions on Shopify is a smart way to build recurring revenue, but are you tracking how they perform? With ZIK’s Shopify Sales Tracker, you can monitor real-time revenue from your subscription offers, see which plans convert best, and adjust pricing or delivery schedules with data-backed insights. Whether you’re offering curated boxes or digital services, the Sales Tracker gives you the clarity to scale confidently.