Build a loyalty program in 5 minutes
3 steps. 5 minutes. $0.
Building a loyalty program sounds like a project. In reality it's 3 steps and 5 minutes. Your first regular gets a punch today.
You know you need a loyalty program. You just don't know where to start. This page walks you through every step.
How do I build a loyalty program? Building a loyalty program doesn't mean developing your own app or buying expensive software. Stempely gives you a digital punch card, a QR code and a customer list. You choose your reward, set the number of punches and print the QR code. Customers get a punch on every visit, see their progress and come back for the reward. All features, including push messages and win-back, are free for up to 25 customers. Only from your 26th customer does Premium cost $14.99 a month.
Stempely is built by a small German software company for local businesses – coffee shops, hair salons, bakeries, barbershops and more.
Business owners who built their loyalty program with Stempely
"I wanted a loyalty program but had no idea how. Stempely was running after 5 minutes. On the first day, 8 customers scanned the QR code."
M. K.
Barbershop owner, Chicago
"We used paper cards before. They always got lost. Since Stempely, regulars come back measurably more often – and I can see who's missing."
S. S.
Coffee shop owner, Glasgow
"Started for free, sent my first win-back message after 2 weeks. Three regulars were back in the chair right after."
P. B.
Hair salon owner, Perth
Why most people never start
You know you need a loyalty program. Yet you don't have one.
Not because you're lazy – but because it feels complicated. Which system? What does it cost? Do I need an app? Here are the real numbers.
73%
of small business owners know they should retain regulars – but have no system
5–25×
more expensive it is to win a new customer than to keep an existing one
5 min
is how long it takes to build a complete loyalty program with Stempely
What studies show: According to Harvard Business Review, acquiring a new customer costs 5–25x more than retaining an existing one. At the same time, Bain & Company shows that a 5% increase in customer retention can raise profit by up to 95%. You don't need a bigger advertising budget – you need a loyalty program.
Mike wants a loyalty program. He just has no idea where to start.
Mike runs a barbershop. He knows he needs a loyalty program — his regulars have been telling him for months. But where do you start? Which system? What does it cost? Do you need an app? Mike has no idea.
Mike googled “how to start a loyalty program.” The results? Enterprise software for $200 a month. Custom app development from $5,000. CRM systems with 6-month onboardings. None of it fits a barbershop with 30 customers a day.
What Mike didn't know: A digital loyalty program can be built in 5 minutes, costs $0 and runs from day one. No contract, no IT, no risk. Mike gave it a try – and that same afternoon, 8 customers scanned his QR code.
What's holding you back from building a loyalty program:
- “This is probably expensive” — Stempely is free for up to 25 customers, with every feature
- “I need my own app” — Your customers collect punches in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, or in the free Stempely app
- “This is technically complicated” — Print the QR code, done
- “My customers won't join in” — Scanning a QR code takes 2 seconds
Your loyalty program dashboard
This is what your loyalty program looks like when it's running
Real-time overview: who's collecting punches, who's close to a reward, who hasn't been in for weeks. Everything at a glance.
1.281
Gesamtkunden
6.316
Total stamps
3.114
Rewards redeemed
Live
Stamps today
Real production data. Customer data shown anonymized. All of this is included in the free plan.
Your loyalty program in practice
4 moments that never happen without a loyalty program
These aren't features. These are real situations that change your business – every day.
The honest math
What does it really cost to start a loyalty program?
Build your own app
$5,000+
Custom development, maintenance, updates. Months until launch. For most businesses, completely over the top.
Stempely free · up to 25 customers
0 €
QR code, NFC, digital punch card, customer list, push and win-back. Free for up to 25 customers. No contract, no credit card, no expiry date.
Stempely Premium / year
$159
Only from your 26th customer: unlimited customers and multiple locations. $14.99 a month – 1 won-back customer pays for the whole year.
Your own app = months and thousands of dollars. Stempely = 5 minutes and $0. Same result, better start.
Cheaper than any alternative – $0 and ready to use right away
Choose Your Plan
All features free for up to 25 customers. Then Premium.
Stempely
- Up to 25 customers
- Digital loyalty card
- QR code scanner
- Contactless stamps (NFC)
- Send offers & reminders
- Statistics
- QR code with logo
- Customer list
- More visibility with web
- Priority support
Franchise
- Everything in Premium
- Multiple locations
- Custom terms
- Dedicated account manager
All prices incl. VAT.
8 common questions: building a loyalty program
What do I need to build a loyalty program?
Just a smartphone or laptop and 5 minutes. You sign up with Stempely, set your reward (e.g. 10th coffee free), print the QR code – done. No technical knowledge, no budget, no contract needed.
What does it cost to build a loyalty program with Stempely?
Stempely is free for up to 25 customers – with every feature: QR code and NFC, digital punch card, customer list, push messages, win-back automation and statistics. From your 26th customer, Premium costs $14.99 a month – with unlimited customers and multiple locations. A single won-back customer pays for the whole year.
How long does it take to set up a loyalty program?
Under 5 minutes. You choose your reward, set the number of punches and print your QR code. Your loyalty program is live immediately – your first customer can get a punch the same day.
Do I need my own app for my loyalty program?
No. Your customers scan your QR code with their phone camera and save the punch card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet – or use the free Stempely app, which adds push notifications. No account, no personal data. You manage everything through your dashboard in the browser. No app development of your own, no IT costs.
Does a loyalty program work for small businesses too?
It pays off most for small businesses. Big chains automated customer loyalty long ago. As a small business owner you have an edge: a personal relationship plus a digital system. Stempely gives you the tools that otherwise only enterprise solutions offer – from $0.
Which reward should I choose for my loyalty program?
Choose something your customers really want and that costs you little. Examples: 10th coffee free, 20% off the next haircut, free dessert. Rule of thumb: the reward should be reachable after 8–12 visits – close enough to motivate, far enough to be worthwhile.
Do my customers have to install an app?
No. Customers simply scan the QR code with their phone camera and save the punch card straight to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet – no download, no account, no personal data. Or they can use the free Stempely app, which also gets them push notifications about your promotions. You choose in your dashboard which option your customers use.
Is Stempely privacy-compliant?
Yes. Stempely processes no personal customer data such as names or email addresses. Customers stay anonymous. Data is hosted in the EU and handled in line with GDPR and US privacy laws like CCPA – no extra effort or risk for you.
"I wanted a loyalty program but had no idea how. Stempely was running after 5 minutes. On the first day, 8 customers scanned the QR code."
— M. K., barbershop owner, Chicago
Your loyalty program is ready in 5 minutes. Start now.
Stop researching. Get started. Free, no contract, no risk.
Every feature free for up to 25 customers – no expiry date, no catch.
Start now — $0, no contract, no credit cardFree forever · GDPR-compliant · Set up in 5 minutes
Also available directly as an app