Loyalty program for local businesses:
the complete, honest guide
This guide is written for a specific audience: the independent local business owner, running solo or with 1 to 3 employees, managing their own shop without a marketing department. You'll find definitions, program types, a real price comparison (subscription + hidden fees) of the main solutions on the market, a decision checklist, and an FAQ — no jargon, no sales pitch dressed up as an article.
How do you set up a loyalty program for your business? An independent local business can launch a digital loyalty program in three steps: 1) choose software that delivers a card compatible with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet (no app for the customer to install), 2) define a simple rule (points per euro spent, or stamps per visit) and a QR code displayed at the till, 3) scan that QR code at every visit to automatically credit the customer. EasyFid is French-made software designed for exactly this case — a solo owner or small team — starting at €9.99/month (up to 500 customers, no commitment, 14-day free trial with no charge before the trial ends).
- What is a loyalty program?
- The different program types (points, stamps, tiers)
- How to choose your loyalty program software
- Multi-brand app or your own branded solution: the real dilemma
- Price comparison: what loyalty software really costs
- The small-business checklist before you sign
- Loyalty programs by industry
- How much does a loyalty program cost for a local business?
- FAQ
What is a loyalty program?
A loyalty program is a system by which a business rewards its regular customers — through points, accumulated visits, or tiers — to encourage them to come back and turn occasional customers into recurring ones. In practice, it replaces the paper punch card with automatic tracking, in-store or via a digital card, letting the business owner know their best customers and reward them without manual bookkeeping.
For an independent business owner, the goal isn't to imitate large chains' loyalty programs (complex points cards, multiple tiers, reward catalogs). The goal is simpler: keep track of who comes back, encourage those who hesitate, and give a concrete reason to choose your shop over the one next door. A good loyalty program for a small business should stay understandable in one sentence — for you as much as for your customer.
What types of loyalty programs exist?
Three models cover nearly every need of an independent business. Here are their strengths and limits, with no default favorite.
Principle: the customer earns points proportional to the amount spent, redeemable for a discount or gift.
Advantage: fair, rewards bigger baskets, works for almost any business.
Limit: requires a clear points scale, a bit more abstract to explain than a stamp.
Principle: every visit or purchase adds a digital stamp; after a set number, a reward is unlocked.
Advantage: easy to understand, familiar (a direct descendant of the paper card), quick to set up.
Limit: doesn't distinguish a small purchase from a large one — less relevant if your basket sizes vary a lot.
Principle: the customer progresses through levels (bronze, silver, gold) based on cumulative loyalty, with growing perks.
Advantage: creates a long-term goal, rewards your best customers.
Limit: more complex to manage and communicate; mostly relevant once you have a sizeable customer base.
Principle: a percentage of the amount spent is converted into credit usable on a future purchase.
Advantage: very clear for the customer ("you have €5 in credit").
Limit: direct impact on margin with every redemption — calibrate carefully.
How do you choose your loyalty program software?
A business owner has three options: the paper punch card, a generic software solution, or a solution built for independents. Here's a factual comparison.
| Criterion | Paper punch card | Generic market software | EasyFid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Printing only (~€0.05-0.15/card), but no usable customer data | Typically €25 to €60/month | €9.99 to €19.99/month |
| Setup fees | None | Varies by provider, sometimes several hundred euros | None |
| App for the customer to install | No (but the card is easy to lose) | Often yes (dedicated or multi-brand app) | No — native Apple Wallet / Google Wallet |
| Usable customer data | None | Yes, varies by tool | Yes — dedicated dashboard |
| Contractual commitment | None | Varies, often 12 months for discounted rates | No commitment |
| Trial before paying | Not applicable | Rarely offered, or very limited | 14 days, no charge |
For a detailed named comparison against ZeroSix, see our full EasyFid vs ZeroSix comparison.
Multi-brand app or your own branded solution?
This is the most poorly explained choice on the market. Yet it directly shapes the image your customers will keep of your shop.
Solutions like Fidme, Fidelatoo, or Beefid have customers download a single app in which hundreds of businesses are listed side by side.
Advantage: free or very cheap to start, nothing technical to set up.
Honest limit: your shop has no visual identity of its own inside the app — the customer sees a directory of businesses, not "your" card. Segmentation and marketing campaigns are generally limited to stamping.
EasyFid, ZeroSix, or Adelya issue a card carrying your business's name and logo, natively integrated into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet — not inside a third-party app shared with other businesses.
Advantage: your business's identity stays visible every time the customer opens their Wallet, no brand dilution.
Honest limit: requires a minimum of initial setup (logo, colors, points rule) — a few minutes, but one more step than an already-installed app.
This choice depends on your priority: if you want to start with zero friction and don't care about branding, a multi-brand app works. If your business lives on its brand and customer relationship — which is the case for most local businesses — a card bearing your name, in a Wallet the customer already has, protects that relationship better over time.
How to compare published loyalty software prices
Swipe or scroll the table horizontally to compare all columns.
| Product | Published monthly price | Customers | Setup | Wallet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EasyFid | 9,99 € TTC / 19,99 € TTC | 500 / 1 500 | None | Apple + Google |
| Zerosix | 49 € HT | Unlimited | 190 € HT | Apple + Google |
| Loyeo | 0 € / 29 € HT / 49 € HT | 100 / unlimited | Confirm for the selected plan | Apple + Google |
Sources checked 9 September 2026: EasyFid, Zerosix, Loyeo. The plans have different limits and tax bases. Request a total quote including usage charges. More providers appear in the full comparison (French).
Compare by provider
The small-business checklist
A solo business owner or small team doesn't have the same needs as a chain. Here are the criteria that actually matter to you.
- No specific hardware to buy (no kiosk, no dedicated card terminal)
- No app for the customer to download — native Apple Wallet / Google Wallet card
- Free trial available, no charge during the 14 days
- Publicly listed flat price, no hidden tier or mandatory quote
- No contractual commitment imposed
- Setup possible in under 10 minutes, no mandatory onboarding support
- Clear GDPR compliance on collecting and storing customer data
EasyFid was built to check every one of these boxes, at a price 3 to 6 times lower than the main comparable solutions on the market (€9.99 vs. €25 to €59.90/month elsewhere).
Loyalty programs by industry
Every trade has its own visit habits and its own loyalty levers. See the guide dedicated to your industry.
Build loyalty with your everyday customers.
Learn more →Reward your regulars at the table.
Learn more →Loyalty program for hair salons.
Learn more →Loyalty card for dry cleaners.
Learn more →Build loyalty with your neighborhood customers.
Learn more →Loyalty card for tradespeople and service providers.
Learn more →Loyalty program for dog and cat groomers.
Learn more →Build loyalty with your local customers.
Learn more →Loyalty program for pharmacies and drugstores.
Learn more →Loyalty card for fashion boutiques.
Learn more →Build loyalty with wine enthusiasts.
Learn more →Loyalty program for cafés and tea rooms.
Learn more →Build loyalty with your salon's clients.
Learn more →Loyalty card for flower shops.
Learn more →Build loyalty with cheese lovers.
Learn more →Loyalty program for gyms and clubs.
Learn more →Build loyalty with your nail salon's clients.
Learn more →Loyalty card for barbershops.
Learn more →Build loyalty with your laundromat customers.
Learn more →Loyalty program for bars and pubs.
Learn more →Build loyalty with your fruit and vegetable customers.
Learn more →Loyalty card for fish markets.
Learn more →Build loyalty with your spa and wellness clients.
Learn more →Loyalty program for pet stores.
Learn more →Build loyalty with your organic-product customers.
Learn more →Loyalty card for caterers.
Learn more →Loyalty program for tattoo studios.
Learn more →How much does a loyalty program cost for a local business?
EasyFid offers two simple plans, no hidden fees, no commitment.
Up to 500 customers, 1 staff account. Ideal for launching your loyalty program.
Up to 1,500 customers, up to 3 staff accounts + admin account.
Both plans include a 14-day free trial with no charge, and no commitment. Full feature details on the pricing page.
FAQ — Loyalty program for local businesses
How do you set up a loyalty program for your business?
Create an account on a loyalty software, define a simple rule (points per euro or stamps per visit), customize your card, then display the generated QR code at the till. Your customers scan this code to join the program; you validate each visit in seconds from your phone. With EasyFid, setup takes under 10 minutes.
What's the best loyalty program for a small business?
There's no universal "best" program, but there are objective criteria for a small business: fixed, transparent pricing, no commitment, no app for the customer to install (Apple/Google Wallet card), and fast setup with no mandatory onboarding. EasyFid was designed specifically around these criteria, at a lower price than most comparable solutions.
How much does loyalty software cost for a business?
EasyFid costs €9.99 or €19.99 including tax per month. For other providers, check dated official prices and request a total including setup, options and usage charges.
Does a digital loyalty program replace the paper card?
Yes, and it's generally a clear improvement: the paper card can be lost, generates no usable data, and allows no contact with the customer between visits. A digital card in the smartphone's Wallet can't be lost, lets you track visit frequency, and, depending on the software, can send notifications to win back a customer who's stopped coming.
Does GDPR apply to a loyalty program?
Yes. As soon as a loyalty program collects personal data (name, phone number, purchase history), GDPR applies: the business must inform the customer how their data is used, obtain consent, and let them exercise their rights of access and deletion. Choose software that clearly documents its GDPR compliance rather than handling these obligations manually.
Do you need a dedicated app to build customer loyalty?
No. The most recent solutions rely on Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, already installed natively on nearly every smartphone. The customer scans a QR code, and their loyalty card is added directly to their Wallet — no download, no account to create, no password to remember.
What happens if I stop using my loyalty software?
It depends on the provider's terms — a question worth asking before signing. With no commitment, you can in theory cancel at any time, but check whether your customer data stays exportable. With EasyFid, no commitment is imposed and the goal is to keep business owners free to leave if they choose.
What's the real return on investment of a loyalty program for a small business?
ROI mostly depends on your ability to bring back customers who otherwise wouldn't have returned. For a business with an average basket of €15 to €30, just a few extra visits per month generated by the program are enough to cover a €9.99/month subscription. The key is choosing a tool whose cost stays marginal against the expected additional revenue, rather than one whose price weighs on your cash flow from month one.