If you’re opening your first physical location off the back of an existing Shopify store, the hardware question tends to arrive later than it should, usually a few weeks before opening day, once the lease is signed and the fitout is underway. It’s a reasonable thing to leave until then, because unlike the software side, hardware is genuinely simple once you know what you’re choosing between.
This guide covers what’s actually required to run Shopify POS in an Australian retail setting: card readers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and the supporting bits (cash drawer, stand, network) that don’t get talked about as much but still trip people up. We’ll also flag where Shopify’s own hardware is the easiest path and where third-party gear is worth considering instead.
The short answer: what you need at minimum
At the bare minimum, a single Shopify POS checkout needs:
- A compatible device to run the Shopify POS app (iPad, Android tablet, or Shopify’s own POS Go handheld)
- A card reader for tap, chip and PIN payments
- Internet connectivity (Wi-Fi or mobile data)
That’s genuinely enough to open and take payments. Everything else, printers, scanners, cash drawers, stands, is about speed, accuracy and the in-store experience, not a hard requirement to process a sale.
Card readers: the one piece you shouldn’t skimp on
The card reader is the most important hardware decision because it’s tied directly to your Shopify Payments setup and the customer-facing checkout experience.
Shopify sells its own card readers through the Shopify Hardware Store, which ships to Australia. The two common options are:
- Shopify Tap & Chip Reader, a compact, portable reader that connects to your device via Bluetooth. Good for a simple single-till setup or a market stall alongside a fixed store.
- Shopify POS Go, an all-in-one handheld device that combines the POS app, a built-in card reader and a barcode scanner in a single unit, running on its own screen rather than pairing to a separate iPad. This is the option most small-to-medium AU retailers land on for a counter setup because it removes a point of failure (no Bluetooth pairing between separate devices).
Pricing and exact current models are best checked directly on Shopify’s Hardware Store at time of purchase, since Shopify periodically updates its lineup, but as a general rule, budget for the reader as a one-off hardware cost plus Shopify’s standard in-person transaction rate on Shopify Payments, which applies regardless of which compatible reader you use.
Some Australian merchants also run Tyro as their EFTPOS provider alongside Shopify POS, particularly retailers who already use Tyro terminals for other parts of their business or want a merchant-facing EFTPOS relationship separate from Shopify Payments. If you’re integrating an existing EFTPOS provider rather than using Shopify’s own reader, confirm with them directly that their current terminal model has an active Shopify POS integration before you commit, since compatibility can change between hardware generations.
POS Lite vs POS Pro: the software side of the hardware decision
Hardware compatibility is only half the equation, which Shopify POS plan you’re on affects what the hardware can actually do. Shopify’s POS Lite is included with every standard Shopify plan and covers the basics: taking payments in person, syncing sales and inventory back to your online store, and processing returns. POS Pro is a paid add-on, billed per location, and unlocks features more relevant to a growing multi-till or multi-location retailer, staff PIN permissions, shift and cash management reporting, and more advanced in-store inventory tools like stock transfers between locations.
This matters for hardware planning because it’s easy to buy a full counter setup (device, reader, printer, scanner) and then discover the reporting or staff management feature you actually needed is gated behind POS Pro. Before finalising your hardware order, work out which plan tier the store actually needs based on staff count and reporting requirements, not just which hardware looks right for the counter.
Receipt printers
Shopify POS supports digital receipts (email or SMS) natively with no extra hardware, which is genuinely enough for a lot of stores, especially ones already leaning digital-first for sustainability reasons. But most bricks-and-mortar retailers still want a physical printer at the counter, particularly for returns and exchanges, where a printed receipt remains the simplest proof of purchase.
For physical receipts, Shopify POS works with a defined list of supported receipt printers rather than any generic printer off the shelf, Star Micronics models are the most commonly used with Shopify in Australia, connecting via Bluetooth, USB or Ethernet depending on the model. Before buying, check Shopify’s current supported hardware list rather than assuming a printer will work just because it’s a “receipt printer”, POS integrations are protocol-specific, and an unsupported model simply won’t talk to the Shopify POS app correctly.
A few practical notes from real store setups:
- Bluetooth printers are easiest to place anywhere near the counter but can occasionally drop connection during a busy period, worth testing under real foot traffic before opening day, not just in a quiet fitout.
- Ethernet-connected printers are more reliable for a fixed till position but need a network point run to that spot, which is a fitout consideration, not a last-minute one.
- A receipt printer is usually the same unit that drives a cash drawer, which typically connects to the printer rather than directly to the iPad or POS Go device.
Barcode scanners
If you’re selling more than a handful of SKUs, a barcode scanner is worth having from day one, manually searching for products on a touchscreen during a queue is slow and error-prone, and it’s one of the fastest ways to create stock discrepancies between your POS and your online Shopify inventory.
Shopify POS Go has a barcode scanner built in, which is one of the reasons it’s a popular single-device choice for smaller stores. For setups using a separate iPad or Android tablet, Shopify POS supports external barcode scanners that connect via Bluetooth or as a USB/wired connection through a compatible dock or stand.
When choosing a standalone scanner:
- Confirm it’s on Shopify’s supported hardware list, not every generic barcode scanner pairs correctly with the POS app.
- Decide between a handheld scanner (better for larger or bulky items where the customer isn’t approaching a fixed counter) and a hands-free counter-mounted scanner (faster for a high-volume checkout with mostly small items).
- If you stock apparel, homewares or anything without a manufacturer barcode, factor in the cost and time of printing your own barcode labels before opening, this is a common gap that only surfaces once the till is live.
Stands, cash drawers and the setup people forget
- Device stands matter more than they seem to for a retail counter, a wobbly iPad on a generic stand looks unprofessional and can be knocked during a busy period. Shopify sells its own branded stands, and third-party retail stands designed for iPad POS use also work fine.
- Cash drawers are still worth having even in an increasingly cashless retail environment, both for float management and for customers who do pay cash. These typically connect through the receipt printer, triggered to open automatically on a cash sale.
- Network reliability is the quiet failure point in a lot of new stores. Shopify POS can process offline in limited scenarios, but a stable, dedicated Wi-Fi connection (ideally with a mobile data backup) should be part of your fitout plan, not an afterthought discovered on opening day when the shopping centre’s public Wi-Fi turns out to be unreliable.
A practical opening checklist
- [ ] Chosen device: Shopify POS Go, or iPad/Android tablet running the Shopify POS app
- [ ] Card reader confirmed and connected to Shopify Payments (or Tyro/other supported provider integration confirmed)
- [ ] Receipt printer selected from Shopify’s supported hardware list, tested with the intended connection method (Bluetooth, USB or Ethernet)
- [ ] Cash drawer connected via the receipt printer, if accepting cash
- [ ] Barcode scanner sourced and tested against a sample of your actual product barcodes
- [ ] Barcode labels printed for any SKUs without manufacturer barcodes
- [ ] Device stand or mount installed at the counter
- [ ] Dedicated, tested Wi-Fi connection with a mobile data fallback
- [ ] Full end-to-end test transaction run (sale, refund, and a barcode scan) before opening day, ideally under simulated foot traffic
Where a specialist setup helps
Getting individual pieces of hardware is straightforward. Where it gets genuinely complex is when a physical store needs to stay in sync with your online Shopify store, shared inventory across locations, staff permissions, reporting that combines online and in-store sales, and loyalty or gift card programs that work identically at the counter and at checkout online. That’s the omnichannel side of the setup, and it’s worth getting right before opening rather than patching it after the fact. Our omnichannel retail solutions work covers exactly this, connecting Shopify POS properly with your online store so stock, customers and reporting stay consistent across every channel.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my existing card reader with Shopify POS?
Only if it’s on Shopify’s supported hardware list or comes from a provider with an active Shopify POS integration, such as Tyro in Australia. Generic EFTPOS terminals without a built-in Shopify integration generally won’t connect to the POS app directly.
Does Shopify POS work on Android as well as iPad?
Yes, Shopify POS runs on both iPad and Android tablets, in addition to Shopify’s own POS Go handheld device. Hardware compatibility (printers, scanners) is generally the same across iPad and Android, but it’s worth confirming specific accessory compatibility before buying if you’re on Android.
Do I need a printed receipt, or can I go digital-only?
Digital receipts via email or SMS work natively in Shopify POS with no extra hardware. Many stores still keep a physical printer for returns and exchanges, but a digital-only counter is a legitimate and increasingly common setup, particularly for smaller footprint stores.
Is Shopify POS hardware available to buy in Australia?
Yes, Shopify’s Hardware Store ships to Australia, and Australian retailers also commonly source compatible third-party gear such as Star Micronics receipt printers and Bluetooth barcode scanners locally. Always check Shopify’s current supported hardware list before purchasing third-party equipment.
What happens if my internet drops mid-sale?
Shopify POS has limited offline capability for card payments in some circumstances, but reliability depends on your card reader and payment provider. A stable primary Wi-Fi connection with a mobile data backup is the safest way to avoid being unable to take payments during an outage.
Next step
Hardware is the easy part, the harder question is whether your Shopify store’s inventory, customer data and reporting are actually set up to handle a physical location without creating duplicate work. If you’re planning a store opening and want a second opinion on the setup before you commit to hardware and fitout, book a call with our team.
