Shopify Point of Sale (POS) in 2026: The Complete Guide to Selling In-Store & Online Seamlessly
Deepak Kharware
Shopify is widely known as a powerful platform for building and managing an online store. But what many store owners don’t fully explore is Shopify POS (Point of Sale)—a system designed to help you sell products in physical locations while staying perfectly synced with your online store.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how Shopify POS works, why it’s useful for physical stores, and how to access and set it up using the Shopify POS app.
What Is Shopify POS?
Shopify POS allows you to sell products in person using the same inventory, products, and customer data as your online Shopify store. This is especially useful if you run:
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A brick-and-mortar store
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Pop-up shops
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Markets and fairs
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Temporary retail locations
By combining an online store with a physical location, you can reach customers who prefer shopping online as well as those who want to see products in person.
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Why Use Shopify POS for a Physical Store?
Having a physical store alongside your Shopify online store is a strong business move if your goal is growth.
Some customers prefer visiting physical stores to:
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See products in person
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Try items like clothing for proper fit
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Avoid returns caused by sizing or expectation issues
By using Shopify POS, your online and offline sales stay connected, helping you manage inventory, customers, and orders from one place.
How to Access Shopify POS in Your Admin Panel
You can access Shopify POS in multiple ways, and all paths lead to the same setup page.
Option 1: From Shopify Settings
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Go to Settings
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Click on Locations
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Open Point of Sale
Option 2: From Apps and Sales Channels
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Go to Settings
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Open Apps and Sales Channels
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Select Point of Sale
Option 3: From Online Store Section
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Under your Online Store menu, you’ll find the Point of Sale option available by default
Each method takes you to the Shopify POS setup screen.
Choosing Where You Sell In Person
During setup, Shopify asks where you plan to sell in person. You can choose options such as:
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Brick-and-mortar store
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Pop-ups
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Markets and fairs
You can also skip this step if you want to configure it later.
Next, Shopify asks whether you’re already using a POS system. You can select:
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Another POS system
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Selling in person without a POS
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Not selling in person yet
Once selected, submit the details to continue.
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Shopify POS Plans and Pricing
Shopify POS is not available on the free trial.
To use it, you must choose a Shopify plan.
Available plans start from:
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Basic Shopify – $24/month
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Higher plans up to Shopify Plus
Advanced in-store features are available through Shopify POS Pro, which is ideal for larger teams and physical retail stores.
Managing Staff in Shopify POS
One of the most important features of the Shopify POS app is staff management.
Staff Overview
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You can view and manage employees assigned to your physical location
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By default, only the store admin is listed
POS Roles and Permissions
Shopify allows different permission levels:
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Associates
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Full permissions
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Limited permissions
You can manage up to 40 staff members per role.Each role can be customized by editing allowed actions, such as:
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Managing orders
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Handling payments
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Viewing reports
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Adding Staff to Shopify POS
To add new staff members:
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Go to Staff
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Click Add staff
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Enter:
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First name
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Last name
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Phone number
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Email address
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Once added, you can assign POS permissions based on their role.
The Shopify POS system makes it easy to manage both your physical store and your online store from one place. Whether you’re using the Shopify POS app or upgrading to Shopify POS Pro, you get powerful tools to control staff access, locations, receipts, and in-store operations.
Below is a practical walkthrough of how Shopify POS works inside the admin—based on real usage, not theory.
Staff Permissions and PIN Management in Shopify POS
Inside Shopify POS, you can control exactly what each staff member can access.
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You can assign associate, limited, or full permissions
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Permissions are visible by clicking Show Permissions
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Each staff member can have a unique PIN
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PINs help track who completed each sale at the register
This is especially useful when multiple staff members use the same POS device in a retail store.
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Managing Multiple Locations with Shopify POS Pro
If you run more than one store or branch, Shopify POS Pro allows you to manage multiple locations.
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Locations can be added and managed from the POS settings
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Each location can have its own analytics and performance data
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Location features require selecting a POS plan
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Multiple locations are available only with the Pro plan
For stores with just the Lite version, locations won’t appear until the plan is upgraded.
Location Analytics and Average Order Value
Shopify POS gives you clear insights into in-store performance.
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View average order value
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Access detailed location-based analytics
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Open each location to see deeper statistics
These insights help you understand how your physical store is performing compared to your online store.
Shopify POS Settings: Language, Subscriptions, and Remote App Management
From the Settings section in Shopify POS, you can:
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Set the POS language
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Manage subscriptions for POS locations
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Control POS settings remotely
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Configure checkout and store behavior
This makes Shopify POS ideal for businesses managing stores from different locations.
Using Apps with the Shopify POS App
Shopify POS integrates directly with the Shopify App Store.
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Install POS-specific extensions
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Add apps designed for in-store sales
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Enhance inventory, checkout, and staff workflows
There are many apps built specifically to work with the Shopify POS app.
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Receipt Customization in Shopify POS
Shopify POS allows full control over receipt design.
You can customize:
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Logo
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Header and footer
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Logo width
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Show or hide total sales
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SKU, company name, and compared price
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Staff name attributed to the sale
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Barcodes (1D or 2D, including QR codes)
Receipt editing feels very similar to Shopify’s theme editor.
You can:
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Save receipts for all retail locations
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Or save them for a specific location
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Preview both sales receipts and gift receipts
Checkout and Return Rules in Shopify POS
Shopify POS includes flexible return management.
By default, return rules are turned off, but once enabled you can control:
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Return window (14 days, 30 days, 90 days, or unlimited)
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Free returns or customer-paid return shipping
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Flat-rate return shipping
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Restocking fees (enabled or disabled)
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Final sale items for specific collections
All rules can be reviewed and edited before saving, and once saved, they apply by default.
Shopify POS Lite vs Shopify POS Pro: Which Plan Is Right for Your Business?
When it comes to choosing the right Shopify POS Plan, everything depends on where your business currently stands and where you want it to go next. Whether you’re just starting out or planning to scale your retail operations, selecting the correct POS plan is crucial for building a strong foundation.
Let’s compare Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro to help you understand which option fits your business best.
Understanding the Stage of Your Business
Before choosing between plans, the key question is simple:
What stage is your business in right now?
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If you’re operating a single location and want to keep costs low, the Lite plan makes sense.
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If you’re planning to expand, manage multiple locations, or customize workflows, the Pro plan is designed for that growth.
Shopify POS Lite: Simple and Cost-Effective for One Location
Shopify POS Lite is best suited for businesses that focus on a single retail location and want a straightforward way to collect payments.
With Shopify POS Lite, you get:
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Easy in-store transaction processing
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A user-friendly interface optimized for retail
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Support for multiple payment methods
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Ability to apply discounts and issue refunds
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Basic inventory management
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Standard reporting features
While inventory and reporting tools are available, customization options are limited. This keeps things simple and affordable, making it ideal for small or local businesses.
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Shopify POS Pro: Built for Scaling and Customization
Shopify POS Pro is a more comprehensive solution designed for businesses with advanced or growing needs.
This plan is ideal if you’re expanding operations or managing multiple retail locations.
Key Features That Set Shopify POS Pro Apart
1. Advanced Inventory Management
With Shopify POS Pro, you can:
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Track inventory across multiple locations
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Manage stock more efficiently
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Streamline supply chain processes
2. Customizable POS Hardware
The Pro plan supports a wide range of retail hardware, including:
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Barcode scanners
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Receipt printers
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Card readers
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Custom permission settings for staff members
This allows better efficiency and control over in-store operations.
3. Detailed Analytics and Reporting
Shopify POS Pro provides in-depth analytics that help you:
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Understand sales trends
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Analyze performance by location
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Make data-driven business decisions
These features are especially valuable for businesses focused on growth and scaling.
Which Should You Choose?
The choice between Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro depends entirely on the size and complexity of your retail operation.
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Choose Lite if you want a simple, affordable solution for a single location.
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Choose Pro if you need advanced features, multiple locations, deeper analytics, and customization.
If your business plans to stay local, Lite may be enough. If expansion is on your roadmap, Pro is the smarter long-term investment.
Final Thoughts on Shopify POS
The Shopify POS system is a powerful solution for managing physical stores along with your online store. From staff permissions and receipt customization to analytics and multi-location support, everything is designed to be simple and easy to manage.
If you run a retail store—or a chain of stores—using Shopify POS, especially Shopify POS Pro, makes tracking sales, staff, and locations straightforward and efficient.
That’s how easy it is to use Shopify POS to manage both your physical store locations and your online Shopify store from one platform.