PF logo.svg__PID:babeeecd-fdd5-4c08-b49f-6a1ea873314f
Start Shopify Trial →

Start Your Shopify Subscription Business Today

Discover the 3 most profitable subscription models and how to build your
recurring revenue stream on Shopify.

Start Your Free Trial Now →

$8.7B

Subscription Commerce Market

435%

Growth Over Past Decade

75%

Higher Customer Lifetime Value

What is a Subscription Business?

A subscription business model allows you to generate predictable, recurring revenue by charging
customers on a regular basis for access to products or services. With Shopify's powerful ecosystem
and specialized subscription apps, you can easily transform your one-time purchases into long-term
customer relationships, increasing customer lifetime value and building a more sustainable business.

Choose the Right Subscription Model for Your Business

Each subscription model serves different customer needs and business goals. Explore which
one aligns best with your products and market.

CKiV16-NhvkCEAE=.webp__PID:a7599eba-fa3b-40cb-bafb-6715c13c4a07

Replenishment Subscriptions

Ordergroove Subscription

Perfect for consumable products that
customers need to reorder regularly.

Key Features:

Automated recurring billing for essentials

Smart reorder predictions

Flexible delivery schedules

Inventory management integration

Perfect for:

Coffee, vitamins, pet food, cleaning supplies

Learn More
CK_7qejTuPsCEAE=.webp__PID:9ebafa3b-50cb-4afb-a715-c13c4a077744

Curation Subscriptions

Bold Subscriptions

Curated boxes that surprise and delight customers with handpicked products.

Key Features:

Flexible subscription management

Multiple product variants

Customizable box contents

Advanced customer portal

Perfect for:

Beauty boxes, snack boxes, book clubs, clothing

Learn More
CK6otpbp4PwCEAE=.webp__PID:599ebafa-3b50-4b3a-bb67-15c13c4a0777

Access Subscriptions

Recharge Subscriptions

Membership-based access to exclusive content, services, or communities.

Key Features:

Recurring payment automation

Member-only content access

Tiered membership levels

Comprehensive analytics

Perfect for:

Online courses, streaming services, premium content, communities

Learn More

Why Choose Shopify for Your Subscription Business?

Shopify's robust ecosystem and specialized subscription apps provide everything you need to launch, manage, and scale your recurring revenue business.

🔗

Seamless Integration

Native Shopify integration means your subscription business works perfectly with your existing store setup.

💳

Flexible Payment Options

Support multiple payment methods and billing cycles to accommodate different customer preferences.

🚚

Automated Fulfillment

Streamline operations with automated order processing, inventory management, and shipping.

.📊

Customer Analytics

Gain deep insights into customer behavior, churn rates, and lifetime value to optimize your business.

⚙️

Customizable Solutions

Tailor subscription experiences to match your brand and meet specific customer needs.

📈

Scalable Growth

Built to handle everything from startup to enterprise-level subscription businesses.

How to Get Started

Follow this step-by-step guide to launch your subscription business on Shopify and start generating recurring revenue.

1

Choose Your Subscription Model

Decide whether replenishment, curation, or access subscriptions best fit your products and customer needs.

2

Set Up Your Shopify Store

Create your Shopify account and configure your basic store settings, including products and payment processing.

3

Install Your Subscription App

Choose and install the appropriate subscription app (Ordergroove, Bold Subscriptions, or Recharge) from the Shopify App Store.

4

Configure Subscription Settings

Set up your billing cycles, pricing, trial periods, and subscription management options within your chosen app.

5

Design Customer Experience

Customize the subscription signup flow, customer portal, and email notifications to match your brand.

6

Launch and Optimize

Go live with your subscription offering and continuously optimize based on customer feedback and analytics.

Get Started Today →

Inspiration from Leading Subscription Businesses

Learn from the pioneers who proved that subscription models can revolutionize entire industries.

Curation Model

Birchbox

Monthly beauty sample boxes that introduced millions to new brands and products.

Over 1M subscribers at peak

Replenishment Model

Dollar Shave Club

Disrupted the razor industry with convenient, affordable subscription delivery.

Sold for $1B to Unilever

Access Model

Netflix

Transformed entertainment
consumption with unlimited streaming access model.

260M+ global subscribers

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about starting a subscription business on Shopify.

What is the difference between the three subscription apps?

Ordergroove specializes in replenishment subscriptions with smart prediction algorithms. Bold Subscriptions offers the most flexibility for curation and complex subscription models. Recharge is ideal for access-based subscriptions and membership models with robust recurring billing features.

How much does it cost to start a subscription business on Shopify?

Shopify plans start at $29/month. Subscription apps typically charge between $20-300/month depending on features and subscriber volume. Most apps offer free trials, and you only pay transaction fees as you grow.

Can I offer multiple subscription models in one store?

Yes! Many successful businesses combine different models. For example, you might offer both replenishment subscriptions for consumables and curation boxes for discovery. Some apps support multiple models, or you can use different apps for different product lines.

How do I handle customer cancellations and pauses?

All major subscription apps provide customer portals where subscribers can pause, modify, or cancel their subscriptions. This self-service approach reduces support burden while giving customers control, which actually improves retention.

What payment methods can I accept for subscriptions?

Shopify supports all major payment methods including credit cards, PayPal, Shop Pay, and buy-now-pay-later services. Subscription apps integrate with Shopify Payments and most third-party payment processors.

How do I handle inventory management for subscriptions?

Subscription apps integrate with Shopify's inventory system to automatically track stock levels and predict future needs based on subscriber counts and delivery schedules. You can set up low-stock alerts and automated reordering.

Can I offer free trials or discounted first orders?

Absolutely! All subscription apps support various promotional strategies including free trials, discounted first orders, skip-a-month options, and loyalty discounts. These are crucial for customer acquisition and retention.

How do subscription businesses handle taxes and compliance?

Shopify automatically calculates taxes based on your settings and local regulations. For subscription businesses, this includes handling tax on recurring orders. The platform stays updated with changing tax laws and regulations.

Ready to Start Your Subscription Business?

Join thousands of merchants who have transformed their businesses with recurring revenue. Start your free trial today and see how easy it is to set up subscriptions on Shopify.

Get Started Today →