How to Set Up Your Restaurant with Shopify POS

Setting up Shopify POS for your restaurant doesn't have to be complicated. With the right approach and tools like Flip POS, you can have a fully functional restaurant management system running on Shopify in less than an hour. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step of the process.

Why Use Shopify POS for Restaurants?

Shopify POS has emerged as a powerful platform for restaurants because it combines the reliability of Shopify's e-commerce infrastructure with specialized restaurant features through apps like Flip POS. Here's why thousands of restaurants are choosing this solution:

• Unified Platform: Manage dine-in, takeout, and online orders from a single system
• Cost-Effective: No expensive proprietary hardware required - use existing tablets and devices
• Scalability: Easily add locations as your business grows
• Powerful Integrations: Connect with delivery platforms, accounting software, and more
• Inventory Management: Real-time inventory sync across all sales channels

Prerequisites & Requirements

Before starting your Shopify POS restaurant setup, ensure you have:

• Active Shopify store (or sign up for a free trial)
• Shopify POS plan ($89/month for essential restaurant features)
• iPad, Android tablet, or computer for POS terminals
• Internet connection (Shopify POS works offline, syncs when reconnected)
• Payment processor account (Shopify Payments or supported third-party)
• Optional: Kitchen display device (any tablet or monitor)
• Optional: Receipt/kitchen printer

Step 1: Create Your Shopify Store

If you don't already have a Shopify store, setting one up takes just a few minutes:

1. Visit shopify.com and click "Start free trial"
2. Enter your email and create a password
3. Answer the setup questions (select "Food & Beverage" as your industry)
4. Choose your store name and URL
5. Complete your business information

You'll get a 3-day free trial, then plans start at $39/month for basic features (POS requires higher plans).

Step 2: Enable Shopify POS

To use Shopify for restaurant operations, you need to enable Shopify POS:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings → Apps and sales channels
2. Click Point of Sale
3. Choose your plan (Pro recommended for restaurants at $89/month)
4. Set up your retail locations
5. Download the Shopify POS app on your iPad/tablet

Step 3: Install Flip POS for Restaurant Features

While Shopify POS is great for retail, restaurants need specialized features like table management, kitchen displays, and order modifiers. That's where Flip POS comes in:

1. Visit the Shopify App Store
2. Search for "Flip POS"
3. Click Install app
4. Authorize the app to access your Shopify store
5. You'll be redirected to the Flip POS dashboard

Flip POS pricing: $25/month for your first location, $20/month for each additional location. Includes unlimited kitchen displays, table management, and all restaurant features. 7-day free trial.

Step 4: Configure Service Locations

Service locations in Flip POS mirror your Shopify POS locations but add restaurant-specific settings:

1. In Flip POS, go to Settings → Service Locations
2. Click Add Location
3. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Downtown Location", "Food Truck #1")
4. Select the corresponding Shopify POS location
5. Save your configuration

Repeat for each location where you'll use Flip POS. Each location can have its own menu, tables, and kitchen displays.

Step 5: Build Your Menu

Your menu is the heart of your restaurant POS system. Flip POS makes menu configuration simple:

Create Products in Shopify

1. In Shopify admin, go to Products → Add product
2. Enter product name, price, and description
3. Add images (helps staff identify items quickly)
4. Set inventory tracking if needed
5. Save each product

Organize Products in Flip POS Menu

1. In Flip POS, navigate to Menus
2. Click New Menu
3. Name your menu (e.g., "Main Menu", "Drinks Menu", "Happy Hour")
4. Click Create Menu, then Activate
5. Click Manage to organize products
6. Create categories: Add Category + (e.g., "Burgers", "Salads", "Beverages")
7. Within each category, click Add Product
8. Search for Shopify products and click Assign Product

Step 6: Set Up Modifiers & Customizations

Modifiers let customers customize orders - crucial for restaurants. Flip POS offers powerful modifier capabilities:

Create Modifier Groups

1. In Flip POS, go to Modifiers
2. Click New Modifier Group
3. Enter group name (e.g., "Size", "Toppings", "Temperature")
4. Set if required (customer must choose)
5. Set minimum/maximum selections
6. Click Create Group

Add Modifiers to Groups

1. Click View Details on your modifier group
2. Click Add Modifier
3. Enter modifier name (e.g., "Small", "Medium", "Large")
4. Set price adjustment (can be negative for discounts)
5. Set display order
6. Click Add Modifier

Assign Modifiers to Menu Items

You can assign modifier groups to:

• Entire categories - all items in "Burgers" get "Toppings" and "Temperature"
• Individual items - only "Specialty Burger" gets "Premium Toppings"

Watch the video tutorials in the Flip POS documentation for step-by-step visual guides.

Step 7: Configure Payment Processing

Shopify makes payment processing straightforward:

Option 1: Shopify Payments (Recommended)

1. Go to Settings → Payments in Shopify admin
2. Click Activate Shopify Payments
3. Complete business verification
4. Connect your bank account
5. Rates: 2.4% + 0¢ for in-person transactions (varies by plan)

Option 2: Third-Party Processors

Shopify POS also supports Square, PayPal, and other processors. Note that third-party processors incur additional transaction fees (2% on top of processor fees).

Hardware for Payment Processing

• Card readers: Shopify Tap & Chip Reader ($49) or compatible terminals
• Cash payments: Track in POS, no special hardware needed
• Contactless: Most modern card readers support Apple Pay/Google Pay

Step 8: Set Up Kitchen Display System

Flip POS includes a powerful Kitchen Display System (KDS) that works on any device with a browser:

1. Place an iPad, tablet, or monitor in your kitchen
2. In Flip POS, go to Kitchen Displays
3. Click New Kitchen Display
4. You'll get a unique 6-character URL code
5. On your kitchen device, visit flip-pos.com/kds
6. Enter your 6-character code
7. Your kitchen display is live!

Configure multiple displays for different kitchen stations (grill, fryer, bar, etc.). Orders automatically route to the correct displays based on menu item configuration.

Step 9: Test & Go Live

Before opening to customers, thoroughly test your setup:

Pre-Launch Testing Checklist

• ✅ Process test orders with all payment types (card, cash, contactless)
• ✅ Test every menu item with modifiers
• ✅ Verify orders appear on kitchen displays correctly
• ✅ Test receipt printing (if using printers)
• ✅ Confirm inventory updates after sales
• ✅ Test refunds and order cancellations
• ✅ Train staff on the system
• ✅ Have backup plan for internet outages (Shopify POS works offline)

Staff Training

Flip POS is designed to be intuitive, but dedicate 1-2 hours to train staff on:

• Taking orders in Shopify POS with Flip POS extension
• Adding modifiers and special requests
• Processing payments
• Managing kitchen display orders
• Handling common scenarios (refunds, order changes)

Going Live

When you're ready:

1. Start with a soft opening or limited hours
2. Monitor the system closely during first few services
3. Gather staff feedback and adjust workflows
4. Gradually increase capacity as team gets comfortable

Common Setup Questions

How long does setup take?

With existing Shopify products, most restaurants complete setup in 1-2 hours. If you need to create products from scratch, allow 3-4 hours.

Can I use Flip POS for table service?

Absolutely! Flip POS includes full table management: create floor layouts, assign tables to servers, track table status, and manage multiple orders per table. See our Table Management documentation.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Shopify POS stores data locally and syncs when internet returns. You can continue taking orders, processing payments (if using tap/chip reader), and serving customers during internet outages.

What if I need help?

Flip POS includes US-based email support. Most questions are answered within 4 hours during business hours. Live chat is also available on our website.

Can I import existing products?

Yes. Import products to Shopify via CSV file, then organize them in Flip POS menus. We can also help with data migration from other POS systems.

Next Steps

Now that your Shopify POS restaurant system is set up, explore these advanced features:

• Optimize your Kitchen Display System
• Set up Table Management
• Configure receipt and kitchen printers
• Discover other useful Shopify apps for restaurants

Have questions about your Shopify POS restaurant setup? Contact our support team - we're here to help you succeed!