How to Cancel Point of Sale on Shopify Successfully

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Your Shopify POS Plan
3. Important Considerations Before Cancelling
4. Step-by-Step Guide to Cancelling Shopify POS Pro
5. How to Completely Remove the Point of Sale Sales Channel
6. Moving from Physical Retail to Digital Products
7. Case Studies: Success After the Pivot
8. The Financial Impact of the Switch
9. Troubleshooting Common POS Cancellation Issues
10. Building for the Future: Beyond the Cash Register
11. Conclusion
12. FAQs about Cancelling Shopify POS

Introduction

Did you know that the global e-learning market is projected to reach over $460 billion by 2026? This massive shift in consumer behavior is forcing many traditional retailers to rethink their overhead. For many Shopify merchants, the heavy costs of maintaining a physical retail presence—rent, utilities, and high-tier Point of Sale (POS) subscriptions—are beginning to outweigh the benefits. If you have found yourself staring at your monthly billing statement, wondering if your physical retail operations are still serving your bottom line, you are not alone. Transitioning away from a physical storefront or simply slimming down your tech stack is a strategic move that can free up significant capital for higher-margin digital ventures.

The purpose of this blog post is to provide a definitive, step-by-step walkthrough of how to cancel Point of Sale on Shopify while protecting your data and your brand's future. We will explore the nuances of the Shopify POS system, the differences between Lite and Pro versions, and the critical steps you must take before hitting the cancel button. Furthermore, we will discuss how to pivot your business toward the booming creator economy, where digital products and online courses offer a way to scale without the logistical headaches of physical inventory and retail hardware.

By the end of this guide, you will understand how to dismantle your POS sales channel correctly and how to leverage your existing Shopify foundation to build a more sustainable, high-margin business model. At Tevello, our mission is to turn any Shopify store into a digital learning powerhouse, and we believe that streamlining your retail operations is often the first step toward that transformation.

Understanding Your Shopify POS Plan

Before you can effectively cancel or downgrade your service, you must understand exactly what you are currently paying for. Shopify POS isn't just a single "on/off" switch; it is a multi-layered sales channel that integrates with your store's core functionality.

The Two Faces of Shopify POS

Shopify offers two distinct versions of its Point of Sale software: POS Lite and POS Pro.

• POS Lite: This version is included with all Shopify plans. It provides the foundational tools needed to sell in person occasionally, such as at pop-up shops or markets. It handles basic order management and customer profiles but lacks the advanced features required for a permanent retail location.
• POS Pro: This is a premium subscription that carries an additional monthly cost per location. It includes robust features like advanced inventory management (PO creation, inventory counting), staff roles and permissions, and in-store analytics.

When merchants talk about "canceling" Shopify POS, they are usually referring to one of two things: either removing the POS Pro subscription from a specific location to stop being billed for the premium features or removing the Point of Sale sales channel entirely from their Shopify admin.

Why Merchants Choose to Cancel

The decision to move away from POS Pro is often driven by a shift in business strategy. For example, a merchant who previously operated a boutique clothing store might realize that their online presence is far more profitable. By canceling the POS Pro subscription, they can save hundreds of dollars a month in software fees alone.

Another common scenario involves a shift toward digital education. Imagine a merchant selling artisanal baking supplies. While their physical shop requires constant staffing and inventory management, creating a series of "Mastering Sourdough" video courses allows them to reach a global audience with zero shipping costs. In this context, maintaining an expensive POS Pro plan for a physical storefront that sees dwindling foot traffic no longer makes sense.

Important Considerations Before Cancelling

Canceling a service is easy, but doing it without losing vital business intelligence requires preparation. Before you proceed with the technical steps, you must audit your current setup.

Data Preservation and Exporting

Your POS system contains a wealth of information about your customers' in-person buying habits. Before you cancel, you should export your data. This includes:

1. Sales Reports: Download your retail-specific sales reports to see which products performed best in a physical setting.
2. Customer Lists: Ensure all customers who purchased in-store are correctly tagged and synced with your online marketing lists.
3. Inventory History: If you are closing a physical location, you need an accurate count of remaining stock to transition those items to your online-only warehouse.

Financial Obligations

Ensure that all pending transactions are settled. If you have any open orders or unfulfilled "buy online, pick up in-store" (BOPIS) requests, these should be finalized. Once you downgrade from POS Pro to Lite, you may lose access to certain advanced reporting features that make auditing these transactions easier.

Hardware Compatibility

Consider what will happen to your hardware. Shopify POS hardware (barcode scanners, receipt printers, cash drawers) is often proprietary or configured specifically for the Shopify ecosystem. If you plan to move to a different POS provider, you will need to check if your existing hardware can be repurposed or if it needs to be sold.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cancelling Shopify POS Pro

If your goal is to stop the monthly recurring charges for the Pro features while keeping the ability to sell in person occasionally, you need to downgrade your locations.

1. Access Your Shopify Admin

Log in to your store's back end. This is where all subscription management takes place. Only the store owner or a staff member with "Manage billing" permissions can make these changes.

2. Navigate to the POS Channel

On the left-hand sidebar, click on "Point of Sale" under the Sales Channels section. If it isn’t pinned there, click on "Settings" at the bottom left, then select "Apps and sales channels" to find it.

3. Manage Subscriptions

Once inside the Point of Sale channel dashboard, look for the "Settings" tab. Within the POS settings, you will find a section labeled "Subscriptions" or "Manage Subscriptions." This area lists every location you have and whether it is currently on POS Lite or POS Pro.

4. Downgrade Each Location

You must manually change each Pro location back to Lite. Click on the location you wish to change and select "Downgrade to Lite." Shopify will likely ask for a reason for the downgrade and will show you a summary of the features you will lose. Confirm the change.

5. Verify Billing Changes

After downgrading, navigate to "Settings" > "Billing." Look at your upcoming invoice to ensure that the POS Pro charges have been removed or prorated. At Tevello, we advocate for predictable pricing without hidden transaction fees, and we believe Shopify merchants should always have a clear view of their software overhead.

How to Completely Remove the Point of Sale Sales Channel

If you are moving entirely to a digital or online-only model and no longer need the ability to process in-person payments at all, you can remove the channel entirely.

1. Open Settings: Click the gear icon in the bottom left of your Shopify admin.
2. Apps and Sales Channels: Select this menu item to see a list of everything installed on your store.
3. Find Point of Sale: Locate "Point of Sale" in the list.
4. Uninstall: Click the "Uninstall" button. This will remove the POS interface from your admin and prevent any POS-related data from syncing.

Note: Uninstalling the channel does not automatically cancel a POS Pro subscription if you haven't downgraded the locations first. Always downgrade the subscription before removing the channel to avoid "ghost" charges on your billing statement.

Moving from Physical Retail to Digital Products

Once you have successfully reduced your retail overhead, you are presented with a unique opportunity. The time and money previously spent on managing a physical storefront can now be redirected into high-margin, scalable assets. This is where many of our most successful merchants find their "second act."

The Power of Digital Learning

When you sell a physical product, your profit is limited by the cost of goods, shipping, and labor. When you sell a digital course or a membership, your profit margin remains high regardless of whether you sell 10 copies or 10,000.

For example, a merchant who used to run a physical craft store could transition into selling digital patterns and video tutorials. Instead of paying for a retail lease, they can use all the key features for courses and communities to build a thriving online hub. This shift doesn't mean abandoning your brand; it means evolving it.

At Tevello, we believe that you should own your customer data and brand experience. Unlike third-party course platforms that force your customers to create a separate account on their URL, our solution ensures keeping customers at home on the brand website. This creates a seamless transition for your existing retail customers who are used to visiting your Shopify store.

Bundling Physical and Digital Goods

One of the most effective ways to replace retail revenue is by creating hybrid products. You can sell a physical kit (like a DIY pottery set) and include a "Free Access" code to a premium video course hosted on your store. This strategy allows for digital products that live directly alongside physical stock, creating a unified shopping experience that justifies higher price points and builds brand loyalty.

If unifying your stack is a priority, start by a simple, all-in-one price for unlimited courses.

Case Studies: Success After the Pivot

Seeing how others have navigated the transition from complex operations to streamlined digital sales can be incredibly motivating.

From Fragmented Systems to a Unified Store

Many merchants struggle with "app fatigue" where they have one system for their website, another for their courses, and another for their community. This was a challenge faced by many who eventually moved to a native Shopify solution. By unifying a fragmented system into a single Shopify store, merchants have been able to significantly reduce their technical debt and support tickets.

Take the example of large-scale creators who managed to simplify their operations by migrating over 14,000 members and reducing support tickets. When your courses and your shop live in the same place, the "where do I log in?" questions virtually disappear.

High-Volume Success with Digital Bundles

Other merchants have found that digital products aren't just a side hustle—they are a primary revenue driver. We have seen strategies for selling over 4,000 digital courses natively lead to massive business growth. This is particularly impressive when you consider that these sales come with 0% transaction fees from the app provider, allowing the merchant to keep the lion's share of the profit.

By learning how one brand sold $112K+ by bundling courses, you can begin to see the roadmap for your own business. It isn't about "getting rich quick"; it's about building a robust, diversified revenue stream that doesn't require you to be physically present behind a counter.

The Financial Impact of the Switch

When you cancel your POS Pro subscription ($89/month per location) and move toward a digital model, the math is compelling.

Avoiding Hidden Fees

Many course platforms or POS alternatives charge "success fees" or a percentage of your gross revenue. This can be a hidden killer for a growing business. If you make $10,000 in a month, a 5% "success fee" takes $500 out of your pocket. We believe in a flat-rate plan that supports unlimited members. Whether you have 10 students or 10,000, your software cost should stay predictable.

Our Unlimited Plan is priced at $29.99 per month. This single price point covers:

• Unlimited courses and students.
• Unlimited video hosting and bandwidth.
• Built-in community features like member directories and social feeds.
• Interactive quizzes and drip content scheduling.

Maximizing Your Shopify Investment

Because Tevello uses a "Native Shopify Integration," you don't need to set up a new payment gateway. You continue using Shopify Payments, which you already trust. This means you maintain your existing checkout flow, your existing themes, and your existing customer database. You are simply turning your Shopify store into a more powerful version of itself.

If you are ready to see how this looks in practice, you can start your 14-day free trial and build your first course now. You can build your entire curriculum and community structure before you ever pay a cent for the subscription.

Troubleshooting Common POS Cancellation Issues

Even with a clear guide, you might run into a few hurdles. Here is how to handle the most common issues:

"I'm still being charged for POS Pro"

This usually happens because a merchant has more than one location. Shopify bills for POS Pro on a per-location basis. You must go into the settings for every location and ensure they are all set to "Lite."

"My hardware isn't working with the Lite version"

Some hardware features, like certain custom receipt templates or specific peripheral support, are exclusive to Pro. If you downgrade to Lite, your hardware will still function for basic transactions, but you may lose the "bells and whistles." If you rely heavily on these, you might consider if a partial downgrade (keeping one location on Pro) is a better middle ground.

"I can't find the Point of Sale channel in my sidebar"

If you have many sales channels, Shopify sometimes hides them under the "Sales Channels" search bar. Click "Add sales channels" to see the full list of what is currently installed.

Building for the Future: Beyond the Cash Register

The decision to cancel your Shopify POS Pro subscription is often the first step in a broader digital transformation. As you move away from the "bricks and mortar" mindset, you can focus on building an audience that follows your brand because of your expertise, not just your location.

Community as a Moat

In the modern e-commerce world, price is rarely a sustainable competitive advantage. Community is. By using all the key features for courses and communities, you create a reason for customers to return to your site every single day. They aren't just there to buy; they are there to learn, share, and connect. This increases Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) and creates a stable foundation of recurring revenue that a physical store simply cannot match without massive foot traffic.

Scaling with Ease

The beauty of the digital model is its elasticity. If your online course goes viral, you don't need to hire more floor staff or rent a larger building. Your digital infrastructure scales automatically. By installing Tevello from the Shopify App Store today, you are preparing your business for that kind of growth.

Conclusion

Deciding how to cancel Point of Sale on Shopify is a pivotal moment for any merchant. Whether you are streamlining your operations to save costs or pivoting your entire business model toward high-margin digital products, the process requires careful execution and a clear vision for the future. By following the steps to downgrade your locations and preserve your data, you can exit the world of expensive retail overhead with confidence.

Remember, removing a tool that no longer serves you isn't a retreat—it’s a tactical realignment. By freeing up the budget and energy previously consumed by a physical POS system, you open the door to the world of online courses, memberships, and digital communities. This is the path to building a brand that is both scalable and sustainable.

At Tevello, we are here to support that journey with an all-in-one ecosystem where physical and digital products thrive together. We charge 0% transaction fees because we believe you should keep 100% of what you earn from your hard work.

To build your community without leaving Shopify, start by reviewing the Shopify App Store listing merchants install from.

FAQs about Cancelling Shopify POS

1. Will canceling my POS Pro subscription delete my product data?

No. Your product data lives in the "Products" section of your Shopify admin, which is independent of the POS sales channel. However, retail-specific data like "stock at location" for a closed location may become irrelevant. Always export your inventory reports before making major changes to your location settings.

2. Can I still sell in person once I cancel POS Pro?

Yes. As long as you keep the "POS Lite" version (which is free), you can still use the Shopify POS app on your mobile device or tablet to process sales at markets, pop-ups, or in-person events. You will only lose the advanced retail management features like staff roles and advanced inventory tracking.

3. How do I stop being charged for a location I no longer use?

To stop being billed, you must go to Point of Sale > Settings > Subscriptions and downgrade that specific location to POS Lite. If you simply delete the location from your Shopify settings without downgrading the POS subscription first, you might continue to see charges. Always manage the subscription within the POS channel first.

4. What is the best way to replace my retail revenue after canceling?

Many merchants successfully replace retail income by launching digital products or memberships. By using a tool like Tevello, you can turn your expertise into a course. Because digital goods have no shipping or manufacturing costs, you often need significantly fewer sales to reach the same level of net profit you had in a physical store.