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Subscriptions are more than a trend. For Shopify brands, they offer consistent revenue, stronger customer relationships, and clearer forecasting. But setting them up wrong can lead to churn, operational headaches, or poor UX.
Recharge is one of the most widely used tools for subscription management on Shopify. This guide walks through the why, what, and how of launching your subscription model the right way, with real-world advice and practical examples.
Why This Matters to Your Business
- Revenue: Recurring orders make cash flow more predictable.
- Retention: Subscriptions increase customer lifetime value.
- Growth: Fewer one-off purchases means you can scale with less acquisition pressure.
- Efficiency: Automating repeat orders cuts admin and improves CX.
Key Tip: Don’t copy big brand subscription setups. Smaller brands win by giving customers more control, skips, swaps, and simple cancellations. Build trust and reduce churn.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up Recharge with Shopify
1. Decide What to Offer on Subscription
Start with products that naturally repeat:
- Consumables (like coffee, skincare, supplements)
- Refills or replacement items
- Services or digital access (where applicable)
Action: Review sales data. Look for products with high reorder rates or potential to bundle.
2. Install Recharge on Your Shopify Store
Recharge is a third-party app, but integrates directly with Shopify’s checkout on certain plans. Choose the right plan depending on your tech stack and budget.
- Recharge Basic: Hosted checkout (still smooth, but not native)
- Shopify Checkout Integration (SCI): Seamless experience, better UX
Action: Use SCI if you're already on Shopify Plus or prioritise UX.
3. Set Up Subscription Rules
Decide how often customers can reorder. The most common frequencies are:
- Weekly
- Fortnightly
- Monthly
Let users choose, and consider offering skip or swap options to reduce cancellations.
Example: A NZ pet food brand lets customers choose a 2 week or 4 week plan. They also allow skipping via SMS. Their churn dropped 18% after adding that feature.
4. Build Subscription Product Pages
Your subscription product pages should:
- Clearly state the benefits of subscribing (e.g. save 10%, never run out)
- Use toggles or radio buttons for one-off vs subscription
- Explain how easy it is to cancel, skip or change orders
Action: Test page copy with real customers. Make sure it sounds like a benefit, not a contract.
5. Set Up Notifications and Automation
Recharge can automate:
- Order confirmations
- Shipping updates
- Upcoming charge reminders
- Subscription renewal emails
Action: Use these as touchpoints to reinforce value and reduce surprises. Include links to manage subscriptions easily.
6. Optimise for Mobile
Many customers manage subscriptions on their phone. Make sure your subscription portal and product pages are mobile friendly.
Action: Test every step of the experience on mobile. Simplify where needed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Locking customers in too hard
Strict cancellation policies or hard to navigate portals will drive people away. Flexibility builds trust.
Mistake 2: Hiding the value
If customers can’t see why subscribing helps them, they won’t. Lead with benefits, convenience, savings, VIP perks.
Mistake 3: Treating all products the same
Some items work better as bundles. Others need flexible frequency. Don’t take a one size fits all approach.
What to Do Now
- Pick 1 to 2 products to trial a subscription option
- Install Recharge and set up your rules (frequencies, swap, skip)
- Update your product pages to clearly show value and flexibility
- Automate communications to improve retention and CX
- Review data monthly to test and improve churn, frequency, and AOV
Want Help Setting It Up?
Subscriptions are powerful, but only if done right. If you want help designing a subscription flow that fits your brand and customers, get in touch. We’re happy to help make your Shopify setup work harder for your business.
