Looking to grow your subscription business with Square? Whether you’re running a coffee shop, barbershop, fitness studio, or medspa, subscriptions aren’t just a revenue stream—they’re your competitive moat. But Square alone doesn’t give you the full toolbox. That’s where Subport comes in: a branded mobile app that plugs right into your Square POS and unlocks membership revenue without the hassle.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the real-world tactics to onboard subscribers, manage memberships, and retain customers—all using Square + Subport as your growth engine.
TL;DR – Grow Your Subscription Business with These Core Moves
| Strategy | What It Does | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Branded App Onboarding | Converts walk-ins into members via mobile | Personalized experience + easy signup |
| Square Integration | Syncs payments, redemptions, and analytics | No double entry, full POS reporting |
| Retention Automations | Sends renewal alerts, perks, and thank-yous | Boosts loyalty and decreases churn |
| Tiered Memberships | Different price points for different needs | Increases customer LTV and plan adoption |
| QR Code Signups | Puts memberships in your customer’s hands | Capture sales at checkout, tables, flyers, etc. |
1. Build an Irresistible Onboarding Experience
If your membership isn’t easy to join, it won’t scale. Most local businesses miss conversions because they rely on slow, manual signups or force customers to ask about a subscription.
Subport fixes this with your own branded app—available in both the Apple and Google app stores. A customer can scan a QR code, download your app, and buy a membership in under 30 seconds.
- Discounted first month (e.g., “First month $1”)
- Limited-time perks (“Sign up this week, get 1 free drink”)
- Exclusive access (VIP hours, member-only items)
Pro Tip: Print a QR flyer with the text: “Join our membership. Earn rewards, skip the line, and unlock VIP pricing.”
2. Manage Everything Through Square + Subport
Managing a subscription program should be automated, not another task. Subport is built to integrate seamlessly with Square, so there’s zero technical lift for your team.
Here’s how it works:
| Feature | Square Alone | Square + Subport |
|---|---|---|
| Branded App | ❌ | ✅ |
| Subscription Billing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Customer Perks/Redemptions | ❌ | ✅ |
| POS Membership Sync | ❌ | ✅ |
| Automated Renewal Management | ❌ | ✅ |
| QR Membership Signups | ❌ | ✅ |
3. Retain Members with Smart Automation
Getting a subscriber is just the first step. You need to remind, reward, and retain to keep that recurring revenue going strong.
Top Retention Tactics Built Into Subport:
- Auto-renewal reminders: Let customers know before they’re charged
- Usage nudges: “You have 1 free drip coffee left—don’t miss it”
- Loyalty boosts: Surprise free item after 3 redemptions
- Member-only events: VIP night, priority access, etc.
When a customer feels like they’re getting value consistently, they stick. Subport tracks this behavior and lets you build automations around it—without needing Zapier, Mailchimp, or custom dev work.
4. Create Tiered Membership Plans
If you’re running a “one-size-fits-all” subscription, you’re leaving money on the table. Your business likely has both casual fans and die-hard regulars—so let them choose how they commit.
Subport lets you build as many plans as you want—weekly, monthly, even prepaid.
| Tier | Price | Includes | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Brew Pass | $25/mo | 1 drip coffee per day, 10% off other drinks | Everyday coffee drinkers |
| VIP Club | $60/mo | 12 redemptions/month, priority ordering | Power users |
| Friends & Family | $100/mo | Shareable, 2 redemptions/day, exclusive items | Families or loyal fans |
Upsell tip: Use your app’s redemption history to suggest plan upgrades when customers consistently max out their current one.
5. Promote Your Membership Like a Product
Too many local businesses treat subscriptions like a back-room offer. If you want to grow, you need to market your membership as if it’s your #1 product.
Push It Everywhere:
- Instagram Posts + Stories: Show members redeeming perks
- POS Tablet Display: “Ask us about our VIP membership”
- Email Blasts: “3 perks of joining this month”
- Tabletop QR Flyers: Link directly to the app’s checkout page
Subport gives you all the assets—QR codes, plan links, redemption graphics, app screenshots—so you can launch with zero design work.
Bonus: How Subport Simplifies It All
| Challenge | Without Subport | With Subport |
|---|---|---|
| Signups Are Manual | Paper forms, POS confusion | Tap-to-join via app |
| Retention Is Weak | No reminders or loyalty flow | Automated renewals + push alerts |
| Analytics Are Scattered | Can’t track usage cleanly | Central dashboard in Square |
| Customers Forget Membership Exists | No reminders or rewards | App notifications + status bar |
| Staff Training Is Inconsistent | “What’s the VIP plan again?” | Subport dashboard shows all plans |
FAQ – Growing a Subscription Business Using Square
What’s the best way to get people to subscribe?
Use your branded app + in-store QR flyers. Offer a first-month discount or limited-time perk to drive urgency.
Can I create different tiers for memberships?
Yes. Subport allows full tier customization (e.g., basic, VIP, family plans) with separate pricing and perks.
Will this work with my current Square setup?
Absolutely. Subport is built to integrate natively with Square POS, syncing redemptions, billing, and customer data.
Can I track which members are using their perks?
Yes. The Subport dashboard shows redemption history, usage trends, and inactive members for better targeting.
What if I want to cancel or change a membership?
You can pause, cancel, or edit plans anytime through Subport's backend—fully synced with Square.
