How to upsell to subscriptions on the post-purchase page

Overview

Upselling subscriptions immediately after a customer completes a purchase can enhance customer retention and boost recurring revenue. While Shopify imposes certain limitations on post-purchase subscription offers, UpsellPlus provides a workaround to effectively convert one-time purchasers into subscribers.

Understanding Shopify's Limitations

Shopify restricts certain post-purchase subscription modifications:

Existing Subscription Orders: You cannot modify or add subscriptions to orders that already contain subscription products.
Conversion Restrictions: Directly converting a one-time purchase into a subscription order post-purchase is not permitted.

For a detailed overview of these limitations, refer to Shopify's documentation in our article about this.

Workaround to Upsell Subscriptions Post-Purchase

To navigate these restrictions, you can implement the following process:

Initial One-Time Purchase: The customer completes a purchase of a one-time product from your store.
Post-Purchase Subscription Offer: Immediately after the purchase, present a post-purchase offer inviting the customer to upgrade to a subscription.
Subscription Initiation with Delay: Upon acceptance, fulfill and ship the original one-time product. Schedule the subscription to commence after a delay equivalent to one subscription cycle.

This approach ensures a seamless experience, transitioning one-time buyers into subscribers without violating Shopify's post-purchase policies.

Implementing the Workaround with Recharge

If you utilize Recharge for subscription management, you can automate the delayed start of the subscription:

API Integration: Use Recharge's API to adjust the subscription's start date post-purchase.
Delay Configuration: Set the subscription to begin after a specified period, aligning with your subscription cycle.

For detailed instructions on delaying charge regeneration, consult Recharge's API documentation.

Key Considerations

Customer Communication: Clearly inform customers about the subscription start date to manage expectations.
Inventory Management: Ensure that inventory levels can support the initiation of subscriptions after the delay period.
Automation: Leverage subscription management tools like Recharge to streamline the process and reduce manual intervention.

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Updated on: 08/03/2025

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