Do you want to set up an online store with WooCommerce? In this mini guide, we’ll explore how to build an online store using WooCommerce in a few simple steps. We’ll also look at key WooCommerce add-ons to help you get started with your eCommerce shop setup.
Key Takeaways
- A step-by-step guide on how to launch a WooCommerce store from scratch.
- Best way to configure WooCommerce store settings with WordPress plugins
WooCommerce is the largest eCommerce platform for setting up digital commerce websites on WordPress.
Did you know?
WooCommerce, one of the leading eCommerce platforms, powers over 5 million websites globally, with a market share of 16% (Barn2 Plugins).
WordPress and WooCommerce are highly user-friendly and require no technical expertise, making them popular among businesses worldwide. Setting up a WooCommerce store may seem intimidating, but it’s easier than you might think. WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that adds eCommerce functionality to your website.
Furthermore, numerous WordPress plugins are available that can extend WooCommerce’s core features. These plugins allow eCommerce stores to easily create advanced WooCommerce configurations without having to write a single line of code.
Setting up a WooCommerce store from scratch involves several processes. Let’s look at them one by one.
1. Choose a Hosting Solutions Provider
To start with your WooCommerce store, you need a domain name and web hosting provider.
Choose a domain name that reflects your brand and is easy to remember. Then, select a reliable web hosting service that can support the demands of an eCommerce site.
Some hosting companies such as WordPress.com, DreamHost, Bluehost, Pressable, and SiteGround have partnered with WordPress to offer pre-installations of WordPress and WooCommerce. So, it would be ideal to use the official WordPress and WooCommerce recommended hosting provider to set up hosting.
Once you purchase your hosting plan, you can register your domain name and set up your hosting account. Refer to the respective hosting partner documentation to know more about setting up hosting accounts and the domain name. You may also refer to this blog on hosting websites to know more.
Additionally, ensure to install the dedicated IP and SSL certificates on your domain name. It keeps your online store secure and protected against digital threats.
2. Create a WordPress Installation
WooCommerce is an extension for WordPress, so to create a WooCommerce website you will need to have a WordPress installation. Several hosting companies, such as Bluehost, offer one-click WordPress installation, so do check if your hosting provider offers such features before installing WordPress.
If you don’t, you can download WordPress and follow the installation guide to successfully complete the installation.
3. Set up WooCommerce
Once you have your WordPress installation up and running, you can extend your website to add eCommerce functionality. To do so, you will have to install and activate WooCommerce on WordPress.
- To set up WooCommerce on WordPress, log into your WordPress admin console and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for the keyword WooCommerce and locate the plugin. Now click on Install Now and then Activate the plugin.
- Upon activation, the plugin launches its setup wizard. Here, you will need to input the basic details of your WooCommerce store.
- On the Store Details page, specify the basic WooCommerce store details, such as the country, address, zip code, city, and email address of the store owner/admin.
- Once this is set up, click on Continue.
- Next, choose the industry in which the store operates and select the one suitable for you.
- Now, you will be asked to choose the type of products that you will be selling.
Physical products, downloadable products, and subscription services can be set up using the basic features of WooCommerce. However, to set up more advanced products or offerings like memberships, bookings, bundles, and customizable products, you will have to add additional extensions to WooCommerce. Even if you don’t configure it here, you can add these extensions in the future.
- Next, enter some of the basic details of your store, such as the number of products you plan to sell and other marketplaces or platforms where you sell. If you are setting this up for your client, you can specify that on the same page.
- By default WooCommerce will include business features on your site, if you don’t want that, you can disable that in the next step.
- You will then be asked to pick a theme for your eCommerce site. You will find several free and premium themes in that setup wizard. Pick a suitable theme to build a modern eCommerce website. Note that the appearance of your theme completely depends on the theme of your website, so take good care when selecting one for your store. WooCommerce recommends using Storefront or its child themes as these are optimized for eCommerce.
4. Add Products to Your WooCommerce Store
- To add products to your WooCommerce, navigate to Products > Add New from the WordPress admin panel.
You can add physical, digital, variable, subscription, grouped, and external products in WooCommerce. The following are the most basic details of the product that you add to your store.
- Name of the product
- Product image
- Type of product
- Price of the product
- Stock settings
- Shipping details
- Product attributes if any
- Category of the product
You can add any number of products to your WooCommerce store this way. You may also use the WooCommerce CSV import to import products to your store in bulk.
5. Set up WooCommerce Payments
Your customers should be able to pay to purchase any products from your WooCommerce store. To set up payment in your WooCommerce store,
- Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments and toggle on the required payment options. By default, WooCommerce payments (credit and debit cards), direct bank transfers, check payments, and cash on delivery are available. Each payment method can be enabled by toggling it on.
- You may also add additional payment methods other than these with third-party payment plugins.
6. Configure Your WooCommerce Store’s Tax Settings
- To best configure the WooCommerce store’s tax settings, navigate to WooCommerce > Home.
- Click on Add tax rates. Here, you can add taxes using the WooCommerce Tax or Avalara plugins. You may also set up taxes manually or opt not to charge taxes altogether.
To set up WooCommerce store taxes manually,
- Go to WooCommerce > Settings > General and make sure the option Enable taxes is turned on. Then, go to the Tax tab and set up the Tax options.
That’s it! Your WooCommerce store is now fully functional. The plugin automatically creates essential pages like WooCommerce shop and product pages and sets up a seamless checkout process with your chosen payment methods.
However, WooCommerce offers a wide variety of settings you can customize. As a powerful plugin with extensive features, it’s worth taking the time to explore its full range of features. Doing so will ensure that your store runs exactly how you envision it from the start.
We have addressed how to set up a WooCommerce store. Now let’s look at a few WooCommerce extensions you will need to best configure WooCommerce store settings:
Must-have Plugins to Set up WooCommerce Store Administration
1-Product Import Export Plugin For WooCommerce
Seamlessly import and export WooCommerce products, including simple, variable, and custom products and subscriptions. You may also import and export product images, tags, categories, reviews, and ratings.
2-WordPress Users & WooCommerce Customers Import Export
Easily import and export WordPress users and WooCommerce customers using this Import Export plugin for WooCommerce. The plugin supports the use of CSV, XML, TSV, XLS, and XLSX file formats.
3-Order, Coupon, Subscription Export Import for WooCommerce
Export and Import WooCommerce orders, subscriptions, and discount coupons using a single Import Export plugin. You may customize the export and import files with advanced filters and settings.
4-Import Export Suite for WooCommerce
An all-in-one plugin to import and export WooCommerce store data. You can import and export products, product reviews, orders, customers, discount coupons, and subscriptions using this single plugin.
5-WebToffee WooCommerce Product Feed & Sync Manager
Generate unlimited WooCommerce product feeds for Google Shopping and Facebook Business Manager. Use the Facebook catalog sync manager to sync WooCommerce products with Facebook and Instagram shops.
Must-have Plugins to Set up WooCommerce Store Accounting and Invoicing
1-WooCommerce PDF Invoices, Packing Slips and Credit Notes
You can use this WooCommerce PDF Invoices and Packing Slips plugin to customize, auto-generate, and print WooCommerce PDF invoices, packing slips, and credit notes. You can also send these documents to customers by attaching them to the WooCommerce order emails.
2-WooCommerce Shipping Labels, Dispatch Labels and Delivery Notes
Customize the settings and appearance of your WooCommerce shipping labels, dispatch labels, and delivery notes. The plugin auto-generates these documents when the order status changes to a set value.
3-WooCommerce Picklists Plugin
Set up and customize WooCommerce picklists that are automatically generated when the order status changes into a pre-set value. The picklists can be printed or downloaded from the admin order page.
4-WooCommerce Proforma Invoices Plugin
Automate the generation of WooCommerce proforma invoices when new orders are placed and send them to your customers via order emails. You can also customize the layout and the contents of the invoice.
5-WooCommerce Address Labels
Generate address labels for all WooCommerce orders in your store and easily print them in bulk using the plugin. You can also customize the label layout and create labels of different types with ease.
6-Sequential Order Numbers for WooCommerce
Organize your WooCommerce orders in a custom, sequential & manageable format. The Sequential Order Number plugin lets your orders follow a custom & unique numbering sequence suitable for your business.
7-Remote Print Addon for WooCommerce PDF Invoices – PrintNode
A WooCommerce PDF invoice cloud printing solution to remotely print all the WooCommerce store documents generated using the invoice plugin ‘WooCommerce PDF Invoices, Packing Slips, and Credit Notes’.
8-QR Code Add-on for WooCommerce PDF Invoices
Add a QR Code encoded with the order number, invoice number, and other custom data to your store PDF Invoices. The QR code add-on plugin lets you easily comply with the invoice mandates of various countries.
Must-have Plugins to Set up WooCommerce Store Promotions
1-Smart Coupons for WooCommerce
Create coupons to offer discounts and free products to your customers with Smart Coupons for WooCommerce. You can set up BOGO coupons, giveaways, gift cards, store credits, and more with this advanced WooCommerce coupon plugin.
2-WebToffee WooCommerce Gift Cards
Create and manage advanced gift cards in WooCommerce stores. Enable your customers to buy, redeem, and share gift cards from your store.
3-WooCommerce Product Recommendations
The WooCommerce Product Recommendations plugin allows you to create different types of popular product recommendations on your WooCommerce. Recommend best-sellers, new arrivals, recently viewed, frequently bought together, and more. All the recommendations are automated, meaning it will automatically choose the products to be recommended. Additionally, you can create custom recommendations with custom display rules and conditions.
4-Frequently Bought Together for WooCommerce
Effortlessly identify the WooCommerce Frequently Bought Together products in your store and boost their visibility on the individual product pages. Grow your sales by setting up discounts and bundle deals.
5-URL Coupons for WooCommerce
Generate custom URLs and QR codes for every discount coupon in your store with the WooCommerce URL coupons plugin. These unique coupons are easy to share and can even be set to add new products to the cart upon application.
Must-have Plugins to Set up WooCommerce Store Payments
1-PayPal Express Checkout Payment Gateway for WooCommerce
Offer customers a faster checkout experience with the PayPal Payment Gateway. You can set up the PayPal Express Checkout option on the product pages to reduce the clicks to complete the checkout.
2-WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
Ensure a fast and secure checkout experience for your users with WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway. Stripe checkout accepts credit/debit cards and offers integrations with Apple Pay, SEPA, Alipay, and more.
Additional WordPress extensions to set up a WooCommerce store
1- GDPR Cookie Consent Plugin (CCPA Ready)
The plugin helps you get compliant with GDPR, CCPA, and other major cookie laws. You can create and manage cookie consent banners, scan website cookies, and generate cookie policies with this plugin.
2- Subscriptions for WooCommerce
Enable subscriptions on the WooCommerce store to sell products (physical and digital) and services that require accepting recurring payments. Supports both simple and variable subscription products.
3- WooCommerce Request a Quote
This plugin allows customers to request quotes for WooCommerce products, get price quotes, and submit proposals to the store admin, which the admin and customer can respond to.
Before launching your WooCommerce store, it’s important to test it thoroughly to ensure everything is working as expected. Test the site’s checkout process, payment methods, and overall functionality to ensure the best WooCommerce customer shopping experience.
After testing, you can launch your store and start promoting it to potential customers.
Also Read: Check out the article on five primary factors you should consider while building an eCommerce store.
To set up a WooCommerce store, you can follow these steps:
1. Sign up for a hosting provider and install WordPress
2. Install the WooCommerce plugin from the WordPress dashboard
3. Activate the plugin and follow the WooCommerce setup wizard
4. Start adding products and customize your store
5. Configure basic WooCommerce store settings like currency, payments, tax and shipping.
6. Start selling!
The choice between Shopify and WooCommerce depends on your specific needs. Shopify is a fully hosted platform offering ease of use, scalability, and a wide range of built-in features. WooCommerce, on the other hand, offers more flexibility, customization options and access to an extensive plugin library.
To set up the WooCommerce Storefront in your store, first install the Storefront theme. This free theme for WooCommerce is available in the WordPress theme repository. After installation, you can customize it according to your branding requirements.
WooCommerce allows you to sell a wide range of products, including physical, digital, subscription-based, variable, and more. To set up more advanced products, you would need third-party WooCommerce plugins.