Many shopkeepers with a physical store and a webshop know the problem: two separate systems that don't talk to each other. The register doesn't know what sold online, the webshop doesn't know what went over the counter in the shop, and at the end of the day the stock doesn't add up anywhere. Shopify POS solves this by running shop and webshop on one and the same foundation.
What is Shopify POS?
Shopify POS (point of sale) is Shopify's register system. It runs on a tablet or phone and lets you sell in your physical shop — but from exactly the same catalogue, inventory and customer database as your online shop. Sell something at the register and the stock also drops online; sell something online and you see it reflected in the shop.
In short: you no longer have "the shop" and "the webshop" as two islands, but one business that happens to sell in two places.
POS Lite versus POS Pro
There are two levels, and the difference partly determines your cost:
- POS Lite is included free with every Shopify plan. You can simply sell with it, accept payments and share your inventory with your webshop. For a small shop or an occasional pop-up this is often enough.
- POS Pro costs around €80 per month per shop location and adds real retail features: more extensive reporting, staff roles and permissions, smarter inventory management across multiple locations, refunds and exchanges between channels, and handy things like saved carts.
The rule of thumb: one quiet shop with limited needs starts fine on Lite; a busier business with staff, multiple locations or lots of retail-specific actions gets the added value from Pro. Note that Pro is charged per location — so two shops is twice that amount.
What can you do with it on the floor?
The gain is in the daily actions that suddenly just add up:
- Order online, pick up in the shop (and vice versa) without double admin.
- Customer profiles that show what someone bought online and in the shop — handy for service and loyalty.
- One inventory that's correct in real time, so you don't accidentally sell something that's already gone.
- Reports that show your shop and online revenue in a single overview.
Can I keep my existing hardware?
Often, yes. Think barcode scanners, receipt printers or cash drawers — those are usually reusable. For the register itself (the tablet and the card reader) we look at the most stable and budget-friendly option. We only advise new hardware when it's genuinely needed; we have no stake in selling it, only in a register that never stutters.
How does Kattenberg 118 approach this?
Kattenberg 118 is a web studio in Borgerhout, and Jonas stood behind the counter himself for fifteen years — so we know the frustrations of a register that won't cooperate. We set up Shopify POS so your shop and webshop run as one whole, and we train your team on the floor so everyone's up to speed straight away.
For De Wereld van Smaken we built a pop-up with Shopify POS on top of their Shopify shop that way, with the same inventory as online. We don't put a fixed price on the website, because it depends on your plan, your number of locations and your hardware — but we do give an honest estimate after a short conversation. Is this on your mind? Get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
Questions & answers.
What is Shopify POS?
Shopify POS is Shopify's register system that lets you sell in your physical shop from the same catalogue, inventory and customer database as your online shop. Sales in the shop and online share one system, so your stock and orders add up everywhere. It runs on a tablet or phone with a card reader.
What's the difference between POS Lite and POS Pro?
POS Lite is free with every Shopify plan and is enough for a small shop or pop-up: selling, taking payments and sharing inventory with your webshop. POS Pro costs around €80 per month per location and adds retail features like staff roles, more extensive reporting, smarter multi-location inventory management and cross-channel exchanges.
How much does Shopify POS cost?
POS Lite is included free with your Shopify plan; you only pay your regular Shopify plan and the transaction fees on payments. POS Pro costs around €80 per month per shop location. If you have two shops, you pay that amount twice. For many small businesses, Lite is enough to start with.
Does Shopify POS work together with my webshop?
Yes, that's exactly the idea. Shopify POS and your online shop share the same inventory, products, customers and orders. A sale in the shop automatically lowers your online stock and vice versa, and your customers can, for example, order online and pick up in the shop — all from one system.
Can I keep my current register hardware?
Often, yes. Barcode scanners, receipt printers and cash drawers are usually reusable. For the register itself (tablet and card reader) we look at the most stable and budget-friendly option. At Kattenberg 118 we only advise new hardware when it's genuinely needed — we have no stake in it, except a register that never stutters.
Want to book a session yourself?
Check the available slots and current rates, and reserve your spot at Kattenberg 118 right away.
Book your spot →