Setting up a digital loyalty program takes under 10 minutes with LoyaltyPass. You need your business logo, a colour choice, and a reward structure. No developer, no POS integration, no hardware. Your customers join by scanning a QR code and the card saves to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet in one tap.
What you need before you start
- Your business logo (any format, any size)
- A reward structure decision: stamp card (buy 9, get 1 free) or points program ($1 = 1 point, 100 points = $5 off)
- A smartphone for the merchant scanner (any iPhone or Android already in your pocket)
If you are unsure whether to use a stamp card or a points program, see the stamp card vs points guide. The short version: use a stamp card for consistent-ticket businesses (coffee shops, barbershops, bakeries), use points for variable-spend businesses (restaurants, retail, salons).
The 5 steps
Step 1: start your free trial
Go to LoyaltyPass and create an account. No credit card required. The 14-day trial gives you access to all features.
Step 2: Design your loyalty card (5 minutes)
In the dashboard, you will find a card builder. Upload your logo, set your brand colour, and add your business name. A live preview shows exactly how the card will appear in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.
The card has a standard wallet pass layout: your branding on a coloured background, your business name, and the customer's current stamp count or points balance displayed prominently. There is nothing to code.
Step 3: set your reward rules (3 minutes)
Choose stamp card or points:
For a stamp card:
- Number of stamps required (8-12 is standard)
- Reward description ("free coffee", "$10 off your next visit", "free haircut")
For a points program:
- Earn rate: how many points per dollar spent
- Redemption threshold: how many points equal a reward
- Reward description
LoyaltyPass handles all calculations automatically. Staff do not manually count anything.
Step 4: Install the merchant app (1 minute)
Download the free LoyaltyPass merchant app from the App Store or Google Play onto any staff smartphone. This is the app used to scan customer passes at checkout. Log in with your LoyaltyPass account. Done.
Test it by scanning a pass from your own phone: sign up for your own loyalty card first, then scan it with the merchant app to confirm stamps or points award correctly.
Step 5: Display your QR code and enroll your first customers
LoyaltyPass generates a QR code for your program. You can:
- Print it and tape it to your counter
- Display it on a tablet or monitor behind the till
- Add it to your receipts or packaging
- Share the sign-up link via SMS after checkout
When customers scan the code, their phone detects it as a wallet pass. One tap adds the card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet permanently. No account creation required.
What the first week looks like
Most businesses enroll 20-50 customers in their first week simply by mentioning the program at checkout: "Scan this code to earn a free [item] after [X] visits." A QR code at the counter is all the infrastructure you need.
After the first week, go to the dashboard and check your enrollment numbers and visit frequency data. This is where the program starts paying off: you will see who is returning, who has lapsed, and how many visits are happening per member.
After 30 days, you can send your first push notification to re-engage anyone who has not returned. Push notifications from wallet passes reach approximately 90% of enrolled members on their lock screens.
Getting your first 50 members
The single most effective enrollment tactic is a counter QR code and a verbal prompt. "Scan this for your loyalty card" at the end of a transaction converts a high percentage of customers who would otherwise never think to join.
For a faster start: share the sign-up link in your next Instagram post or email newsletter before your first day live.
Pricing
LoyaltyPass is $99/month (Pro plan, unlimited members). No setup fee. 14-day free trial.
Ready to launch? Join the LoyaltyPass waitlist and have your first customer scan in under 10 minutes.
Related reading: What Is a Wallet Pass Loyalty Program? for background on what customers will see on their phones. Create a Loyalty Card for Apple Wallet and Google Wallet for the technical setup guide covering both wallet platforms. Loyalty Program Launch Checklist for a complete go-live checklist after setup.
About the author
Sacha Blanc writes about loyalty marketing and small business growth for LoyaltyPass, covering European markets and international SaaS comparisons.
