How to Set Up a Custom Shipping Profile for Subscription Orders Only

Introduction

By default, subscription orders can use the same shipping rates as your regular Shopify orders. A custom shipping profile lets you set rates that apply only to subscription orders, useful when subscription fulfillment costs differ from one-time orders, for example if subscriptions ship from a different location or in smaller, lighter packaging.

This setup happens in two parts: creating and naming the shipping method inside Easy Subscriptions and connecting it to specific subscription plans, then configuring the actual shipping profile, its products, locations, zones, and rates, through Shopify’s native shipping settings.

Why It Matters

A subscription-specific shipping profile lets you price shipping accurately for recurring orders instead of applying your general store rates by default. This matters most when subscription fulfillment genuinely differs from one-time order fulfillment, whether that’s a different warehouse, a different package size, or a different carrier arrangement.

Part 1: Create the Shipping Method in Easy Subscriptions

Step 1: Access Easy Subscriptions

1. Log in to the Shopify admin dashboard.
2. Open Easy Subscriptions.

Step 2: Open the Shipping Method Tab

1. Click Settings.
2. Select the Shipping Method tab.

Step 3: Create the Method

1. Click Create Method.
2. Configure the title for this shipping method, this is an internal label to identify it.

Step 4: Connect Subscription Plans

Select which subscription plans this shipping method should apply to. Only orders under the connected plans will use this method’s rates.

Part 2: Configure the Shipping Profile in Shopify

Clicking Manage Rates takes you into Shopify’s native shipping profile settings, where the actual rates, coverage, and locations are configured.

Step 1: Name the Profile

Enter a Profile Name. Customers won’t see this; it’s for your own internal reference.

Step 2: Assign Products

Add the products this shipping profile should cover. Only orders containing these products will use this profile’s rates rather than your default shipping settings.

Step 3: Set the Fulfillment Location

Confirm which location this profile is not fulfilling from, or update it to the correct shop location, so rates calculate correctly for where subscription orders actually ship from.

Step 4: Create a Shipping Zone

1. Click Create New Shipping Zone.
2. Enter a Zone Name. Customers won’t see this; it’s for internal reference.
3. Search and select the countries, states, or provinces this zone covers, for example selecting specific states within the United States or a broader region like North America.

Step 5: Add a Rate

For each shipping zone, configure a rate:

• Name → The rate’s internal name.
• Rate type → Choose Flat, Carrier or App Calculated, Order Amount, or Package Weight.
• Price → The amount charged for this rate, if using a flat or conditional rate type.
• Transit time → Select an estimated delivery window: 1 to 2 business days, 3 to 5 business days, 5 to 8 business days, Custom, or None.
• Rate name → What customers see at checkout for this option, for example “FREE” for a free shipping rate.

The Example at Checkout preview shows how the rate will display to customers, including estimated delivery dates, which Shopify calculates automatically based on your transit time selection.

Best Practice

• Only assign products to this profile that genuinely need subscription-specific shipping rates, since any product left off will fall back to your store’s default shipping settings.
• Double check the fulfillment location matches where subscription orders are actually shipped from, particularly if it differs from your primary store location.
• Use clear internal profile and zone names, since these help your team manage multiple shipping profiles later, even though customers never see them.
• Preview the checkout rate name and estimated delivery date before publishing, to confirm it presents the way you intend to customers.

Support

For assistance or clarification, contact support at support@easysubscription.io.

Frequently Asked Questions