# Shopify POS: Complete Point of Sale Guide

Canonical: https://awsmcollections.com/glossary/what-is-shopifys-pos-system-and-how-can-it-benefit-your-business

**Shopify POS** (Point of Sale) extends your Shopify store to in-person selling. Whether you run a retail store, market booth, or pop-up shop, Shopify POS lets you accept payments, track inventory, and keep everything synced with your online business. This guide covers how it works and whether it's right for you.

## What Is Shopify POS?

Shopify POS is an app that turns an iPad or mobile device into a point of sale system:

- **Accept payments:** Credit cards, debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cash
- **Unified inventory:** Stock syncs between online and in-person sales
- **Customer data:** Same customer profiles across all channels
- **One dashboard:** Manage everything from Shopify admin

## Shopify POS Plans

### POS Lite (Free)

Included with all Shopify plans:

- Basic checkout functionality
- Card payments and cash
- Product and inventory sync
- Email receipts

### POS Pro ($89/month per location)

Advanced features for retail operations:

- Unlimited staff accounts with permissions
- Unlimited registers per location
- Smart inventory management (low stock reports, counts)
- Staff sales attribution
- In-store analytics
- Buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS)
- Exchanges

## Hardware Options

### Essential Hardware

- **iPad or mobile device:** Runs the POS app
- **Card reader:** Accepts chip, tap, and swipe payments

### Optional Hardware

- **Receipt printer:** For printed receipts
- **Barcode scanner:** Quick product lookup
- **Cash drawer:** Secure cash storage
- **iPad stand:** Counter-mounted display

Shopify sells all hardware through the [Shopify Hardware Store](https://hardware.shopify.com). Third-party compatible hardware also works.

## Setting Up Shopify POS

### Step 1: Download the App

1. Download Shopify POS from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
2. Log in with your Shopify account

### Step 2: Set Up Locations

1. Go to **Settings > Locations** in Shopify admin
2. Add your retail locations
3. Enable POS for each location

### Step 3: Connect Hardware

1. Pair your card reader via Bluetooth
2. Connect optional hardware (printer, scanner)
3. Test a transaction before going live

## Key Features

### Unified Inventory

Inventory syncs across all sales channels:

- Sell online, inventory updates in POS
- Sell in-store, online stock adjusts automatically
- Transfer inventory between locations

### Customer Profiles

- Customers created in-store sync to your online customer list
- View complete order history across channels
- Apply loyalty programs and discounts

### Checkout Options

- Custom discounts and price adjustments
- Split payments across multiple methods
- Email or print receipts
- Add order notes

## Collections in Retail

Your [Shopify collections](https://awsmcollections.com/glossary/what-is-a-shopify-collection-and-how-does-it-work) appear in the POS app, making it easy to browse products by category during checkout.

**Keep Collections Organized:** [AWSM Collections](https://awsmcollections.com/) helps you maintain well-organized product collections that work in both your online store and POS system without extra steps.

## Payment Processing

In-person payments use [Shopify Payments](https://awsmcollections.com/glossary/what-is-shopify-payments-and-how-to-set-it-up):

- Competitive card rates (vary by plan)
- Same payout schedule as online sales
- No third-party payment gateway needed

## POS Analytics

Track in-store performance:

- Sales by location, staff, or time period
- Compare in-store vs. online performance
- Best-selling products by channel
- Daily cash tracking (POS Pro)

## Who Should Use Shopify POS?

- **Retail stores:** Permanent locations needing full POS functionality
- **Pop-up shops:** Temporary selling with mobile checkout
- **Markets and events:** Craft fairs, festivals, trade shows
- **Restaurants and cafes:** Basic food service (limited menu support)

## Limitations

- Complex restaurant features (table management, kitchen displays) require dedicated restaurant POS
- Offline mode has limited functionality
- POS Pro adds significant monthly cost for multiple locations

## Conclusion

Shopify POS bridges online and in-person selling with unified inventory and customer data. For retailers already using Shopify online, it's a natural extension. Start with POS Lite to test the waters, then upgrade to Pro as your retail operations grow.

## Related Resources

- [Shopify POS](https://www.shopify.com/pos)
- [Shopify Payments Guide](https://awsmcollections.com/glossary/what-is-shopify-payments-and-how-to-set-it-up)
- [Shopify Inventory Management](https://awsmcollections.com/glossary/what-is-shopifys-inventory-management-and-how-to-use-it-effectively)

*Disclaimer: While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee the correctness of all content.
Information may be outdated or incorrect, and we recommend verifying any information before relying on it.*