How to Start a Subscription Business Model on Shopify

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Thinking about starting a subscription business on Shopify in 2025? Running an ecommerce subscription-based business model on Shopify is the perfect strategy for generating recurring revenue and building a loyal customer base.

Whether you're selling a subscription-based service or products like coffee, skincare, or curated boxes for hobbies, subscription services are on the rise, with a growing number of consumers eagerly signing up for these services.

It's predicted that online subscriptions will be worth $563 billion by 2025, surpassing the 2024 market’s $326 billion market share. Subscriptions show no signs of slowing down in 2025—making now the perfect time to launch a subscription service on Shopify.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to start a subscription model on Shopify, the benefits of offering subscriptions, and the top Shopify subscription apps to use this year.

Launch a successful subscription-based service on your Shopify store and turn your idea into a profitable reality. Get in touch with Ecommerce Pro today to get started.

Why Sell Subscriptions on Shopify?

Shopify is one of the world’s leading ecommerce platforms, dominating the market share in North America and powering over 4 million live online stores today. The reason for its popularity? It’s built for scalability and simplicity. With its robust checkout, powerful subscription apps, and integrations, it gives you everything you need to sell subscriptions.

In 2025, the rise of subscriptions isn’t just hype—it’s a proven revenue model that is set to grow as more subscribers sign up for various recurring services, and Shopify is giving brands the tools to tap into this massive opportunity with minimal friction.

Below, we’ve listed the key Benefits of running a subscription business on Shopify:

• Predictable Revenue Streams
  Subscriptions create recurring billing cycles, which allow you to forecast revenue with more confidence.
• Increased Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
  Rather than relying on repeated ad spend to attract new customers, subscriptions nurture long-term relationships, increasing the total value each customer brings to your business.
• Improved Inventory & Cash Flow Management
  . With recurring orders, you get better visibility into product demand, making it easier to manage stock, reduce waste, and plan purchasing cycles.
• Plug-and-Play Integration with Top Subscription Apps
  From Shopify Subscriptions (Shopify’s native solution) to powerful third-party apps like Appstle and Recharge, you have options to match your subscription model and technical needs.

Popular Subscription Niches on Shopify & Brands

There are many different kinds of subscription models, so there’s truly something in it for every kind of consumer. Depending on your niche, you can tailor your offering to maximize retention and satisfaction. Below are some of the most popular subscription niches on Shopify in 2025:

1. Food & Beverage Subscriptions

A fast-growing category, consumers love the convenience of having pantry staples, snacks, or indulgent treats delivered regularly. A really popular one is coffee bean subscriptions, meal replacement, protein bars, and gourmet snacks.

Check out these Shopify brands selling food and beverage subscriptions, Deathwish Coffee, and Huel.

2. Pet Supplies

Pet owners are loyal subscribers who value consistency and convenience when it comes to their furry friends. There's just something so convenient about getting a monthly delivery of all the food and treats your pets need for the month. Not to mention toys, grooming essentials, supplements, and more!

Check out KnitNipBox for a pet supplies subscription service powered by Shopify.

3. Beauty & Personal Care

Another popular category, the beauty and personal care niches, absolutely thrives on routine. Everyone needs their essentials like razors and shower necessities restocked, and subscribers appreciate the convenience and curation.
Popular products include skincare regimens, razors, beard grooming kits, and menstrual care packs.

Check out classic Shopify brands like Blume and Dollar Shave Club for a great example of brands that deliver beauty and personal care products straight to subscribers’ doors. 

4. Health & Wellness

Wellness is an ongoing and personal journey that everyone values, and subscriptions happen to make it easier for individuals to stay consistent and on track. Whether it’s daily vitamins, protein powders, or access to guided workouts, this niche continues to grow. Brands on Shopify, like Oula Fitness, allow you to subscribe to unlimited dance classes, while brands like Vital Proteins offer specialized supplements.

5. Digital Products & Services

Subscriptions don’t have to be physical; in fact, many of the most popular subscription services are for digital products, a fast-growing category for Shopify merchants. Think memberships, exclusive content, or downloadable tools.

A neat Shopify example is Violet Field Threads, a site that offers digital sewing patterns users can download.

How to Start a Subscription Business on Shopify 

Starting a subscription business on Shopify is easy due to the concessions set in place to support the subscription ecommerce model in the form of Shopify Apps.

Thanks to Shopify’s ecosystem of subscription apps, you don’t need to be a developer or be particularly tech-savvy to get started. To start, you usually need to pick the right app. Here’s a step-by-step guide to launching your subscription model, the simple way:

1. Choose a Subscription App

Assuming you already have a Shopify business, you’ll need to install a subscription app to power your brand-new and exciting subscription-based offering. Shopify doesn’t offer full recurring billing functionality out of the box, so installing a reliable app is essential. The good news? There are plenty of excellent options in the Shopify App Store. Some of the most popular in 2025 include:

• Appstle Subscriptions App – A feature-rich app with great customization for small to large businesses.
• Recharge Subscription App  – One of the most established apps, great for scaling businesses and advanced workflows.
• Shopify Subscriptions – This app is Shopify’s free, native option that integrates seamlessly with online stores.

For more details on Apps, check out our article on The Top Subscriptions App on Shopify.

2. Create Your Subscription Offer

Once you've picked the perfect subscription app for your new business endeavor and it’s installed and ready to be configured, it’s time for the exciting part—defining your subscription offers. Now is the time to ask and define what exactly your customers will be subscribing to, and why they should.

There are several popular subscription models to choose from:

• Replenishment subscriptions: Great for consumable items like coffee, vitamins, skincare, razors, and pet supplies, to name a few examples. This type of subscription allows customers to receive regular “refills” every month, saving them time and effort.
• Curation boxes: This is perfect for brands offering variety or discovery. Discovery boxes are popular with niches in beauty, artisan snacks, or monthly book clubs. These types of subscriptions help create a sense of anticipation and often encourage sharing on social media!
• Memberships and exclusive access: If you offer digital content, exclusive product drops, or perks like free shipping and VIP discounts, a membership-style subscription works well, too. Think of it as something like building a private club around your brand. This works if you sell monthly access to workout classes or brand memberships that provide exclusive perks, like rewards points or exclusive discounts.
  

Remember to make sure the value is clear and compelling—whether it’s convenience, cost savings, or access to something unique.

3. Launch and Promote

With your offer set up, it’s time to let your customers know that you now offer subscription services. Position your subscription clearly on product pages, and use badges or labels like “Subscribe & Save 10%”, a strategy to catch attention.

Marketing your subscription is just as important as building it. Use pop-ups or slide-ins to promote it on-site. Set up email flows (like a welcome series or reminder emails) to highlight subscription perks. Don’t forget to promote your subscription model through organic channels as well, like on social media, through influencers, and even packaging inserts can all help drive awareness and signups to receive recurring orders.

4. Retain Subscribers 

Getting someone to subscribe is only the beginning. While subscriptions are a great way to keep customers, you need to continue to put some effort into actually retaining them by continuing to provide value. In the subscription model, retention is everything when it comes to profit over time. That’s why it’s essential to have a post-signup strategy in place to nurture those relationships and reduce churn.

Start with email marketing. For example, a welcome sequence is crucial as it helps set expectations, highlights perks, and reinforces the value of their purchase. You can also schedule reminder emails ahead of renewals, which not only reduces surprise charges but also lowers the likelihood of cancellations.

You can also offer exclusive content or sneak peeks of upcoming products. The goal is to keep the experience fresh and rewarding. To go the extra mile, consider adding on a gift after three months, a milestone discount on month six, or a referral program. These small gestures or rewards can significantly improve satisfaction and retention.

5. Track Performance and Optimize

As with every endeavor in ecommerce, once your subscription is live and running, it’s essential to track performance and, through a data-backed approach, to fine-tune the experience to drive better results every quarter.

The good news is, Shopify provides native analytics—and most subscription apps come with their own dashboards that break down key performance indicators (KPIs) specific to subscriptions.

Here are the core metrics to keep an eye on:

• Subscriber Growth: Are you steadily acquiring new subscribers? Monitor growth trends and identify which products or marketing channels drive the most sign-ups.
• Churn Rate: This measures how many subscribers cancel over time. A high churn rate might mean your value proposition needs work.
• Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): This metric helps you understand how much revenue each subscriber is worth over their entire relationship with your brand. The longer they stay subscribed, the higher your CLV.
  

Ready to Start Your Subscription Business?

With Shopify and the right subscription app, launching a subscription-based model of business is more accessible than ever. Whether you're building a new store from the ground up or simply adding a new subscription to sell more products and services, overall, it's a smart and proven way to boost cash flow, deepen customer relationships, and scale your business.

But while Shopify makes it simple to get started, getting it right takes strategy—from optimizing your offer to reducing churn rates, and that’s where expert help can make all the difference.

At Ecommerce Pro, we specialize in helping brands build high-converting Shopify online stores and optimized online shopping experiences, including robust subscription models that work. From setup and configuration to custom design and retention strategies, we help you build a better subscription-based business, turning one-time buyers into loyal subscribers.

Let’s turn your subscription idea into a reality for your Shopify online store. Get in touch with Ecommerce Pro today to get started.