WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that turns your website into a fully functional online store. This guide walks you through the installation and initial setup so you can start selling products online.
Installing WooCommerce
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New from the left-hand menu
- Search for WooCommerce
- Click Install Now next to the WooCommerce plugin by Automattic
- Once installed, click Activate
Running the Setup Wizard
After activating WooCommerce, the setup wizard will launch automatically to help you configure your store.
- Store Details — Enter your business address, email, and the industry your store belongs to
- Products — Choose what type of products you'll be selling (physical, digital, or both)
- Business Details — Provide information about the size of your business and how you plan to use WooCommerce
- Theme — Choose a WooCommerce-compatible theme or continue with your current one
- Complete Setup — Click Finish to complete the wizard
Key Settings to Configure
Once the wizard is complete, review these important settings under WooCommerce > Settings:
- General — Set your store's currency, location, and tax options
- Products — Configure product display settings, measurements, and inventory management
- Shipping — Set up shipping zones, methods, and rates
- Payments — Enable payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, or bank transfer
- Emails — Customise the automated emails sent to you and your customers for orders, refunds, and account notifications
Adding Your First Product
- Navigate to Products > Add New from the left-hand menu
- Enter a product name and description
- Set the price under the Product data section
- Upload a product image in the Product image panel on the right
- Assign the product to a category
- Click Publish to make the product live on your store