Starting an online store may sound complicated—especially when you’re diving into open-source platforms. But if you’re considering WooCommerce, you’ve already made one of the smartest choices in the eCommerce world. It’s powerful, customizable, backed by WordPress, and—best of all—free.
This article walks you through every step of installing WooCommerce, from scratch. Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or a WordPress veteran launching your next product line, this human-centered guide is designed to make sure you never feel lost or overwhelmed.
Let’s begin at the beginning.
What Is WooCommerce, Exactly?
Before we install anything, let’s quickly understand what we’re installing.
WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress that turns your website into a fully functional online store. You can sell physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, memberships, and even bookings. It’s incredibly flexible and integrates tightly with WordPress, which powers over 40% of the internet.
Think of it this way: WordPress is your website’s structure, and WooCommerce is the engine that powers your shop.
What Do You Need Before Installing WooCommerce?
WooCommerce doesn’t work in isolation—it runs on WordPress. So there are a few things you’ll need before you can get started.
1. A Domain Name
This is your online address (like yourstorename.com). You can purchase one through registrars like Namecheap, GoDaddy, or your web host.
2. Web Hosting
WooCommerce is self-hosted, so you’ll need a server to install WordPress and WooCommerce.
Recommended WooCommerce-friendly hosts include:
- SiteGround (easy setup, great speed)
- Cloudways (cloud performance for growing stores)
- Bluehost (good for beginners)
- Kinsta (managed WordPress hosting)
When choosing hosting, make sure it supports:
- PHP 7.4 or higher
- MySQL 5.6 or higher OR MariaDB 10.1 or higher
- HTTPS (SSL certificate)
- WordPress auto-installer (most hosts have this)
3. A Clean WordPress Installation
Once your hosting is active, you’ll need to install WordPress. Most modern hosts offer a one-click installation process.
Step-by-Step: How to Install WooCommerce
Now that your WordPress site is ready, it’s time to install WooCommerce.
Step 1: Log In to Your WordPress Dashboard
Go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin and log in using your credentials.
Step 2: Install the WooCommerce Plugin
- In the WordPress sidebar, go to Plugins > Add New
- In the search bar, type WooCommerce
- Click Install Now
- Once it’s installed, click Activate
At this point, WooCommerce is technically installed—but we’re not done yet.
Step-by-Step: The WooCommerce Setup Wizard
After activation, WooCommerce automatically launches a setup wizard to walk you through your basic store settings.
Let’s explore each step in detail.
1. Store Details
Here you’ll input your business information:
- Store address (used for taxes and shipping)
- Country and currency
- Whether you’re selling physical or digital products—or both
Why it matters: This information determines default tax rules, shipping options, and regional configurations.
2. Industry
Choose the industry your store operates in. This helps WooCommerce tailor your recommendations.
3. Product Types
You can sell:
- Physical products (items you ship)
- Downloads (ebooks, music, software)
- Subscriptions (via a paid plugin)
- Bookings (for services or appointments)
If you want to expand beyond physical or digital products, WooCommerce will suggest relevant paid extensions (you can skip them for now).
4. Business Details
WooCommerce may ask:
- If you’re selling elsewhere (eBay, Etsy, offline)
- Estimated number of products
- If you’re setting up the store for a client
This data helps personalize your dashboard experience.
5. Theme Selection
You’ll be offered a choice of WooCommerce-compatible themes. If you’re unsure, start with:
- Storefront – Free, official theme
- Astra – Lightweight and customizable
- Neve – Fast, mobile-first
- Or stick with your existing WordPress theme
Configuring WooCommerce After Setup Wizard
Even though the wizard gets you started, you’ll need to fine-tune things before you start selling.
1. General Settings (WooCommerce > Settings > General)
- Set your base country
- Define selling and shipping zones (e.g., sell to worldwide but only ship locally)
- Choose your default currency
2. Product Settings
- Select product measurement units (kg, lbs, inches)
- Enable or disable product reviews
- Choose how inventory is managed (auto reduce stock, out-of-stock notifications)
3. Tax Settings
- Enable taxes (if needed)
- Choose whether prices include or exclude tax
- Define tax rates for countries or regions
4. Payment Gateways
WooCommerce comes with:
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Direct Bank Transfer
- Cash on Delivery
You can add others like:
- PayTabs (MENA region)
- Payoneer Checkout (Hong Kong)
- 2Checkout
- Klarna
- Razorpay, etc.
Activate the ones you want, and configure their API keys and merchant IDs as needed.
5. Shipping Setup
- Add shipping zones (like Local, National, International)
- Assign rates (flat rate, free shipping, real-time rates)
- Add handling fees or conditions (e.g., free shipping over $100)
6. Emails
WooCommerce sends automatic emails for:
- New orders
- Order confirmation
- Shipping updates
- Refunds
You can customize:
- Email templates
- From name and email address
- Logo and colors
Adding Your First Product
Once your store is configured, it’s time to add your first product.
Go to: Products > Add New
Fill in the following:
- Title and description
- Price (regular + sale)
- Product image and optional gallery
- Inventory status (SKU, stock levels)
- Shipping dimensions (weight, size)
- Choose if it’s virtual or downloadable
- Set categories and tags
Publish the product, and it’s live.
Install Essential Extensions (Optional but Recommended)
While WooCommerce works well on its own, you’ll likely want to enhance it with additional functionality.
Popular Free Extensions:
- WooCommerce Payments (Stripe-powered checkout)
- PDF Invoices & Packing Slips
- WooCommerce Shipping
- Mailchimp for WooCommerce
- WooCommerce Admin (custom dashboard analytics)
Popular Premium Extensions:
- WooCommerce Subscriptions
- WooCommerce Bookings
- Product Bundles
- Advanced Coupons
- Dynamic Pricing and Discounts
Testing Your Store Before Going Live
Before you accept real payments, do a full walkthrough:
- Make a test purchase using a sandbox gateway
- Confirm emails are received
- Verify tax and shipping calculations
- Check for mobile responsiveness
- Test loading speed (use GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights)
Also install security and backup plugins like:
- Wordfence or iThemes Security
- UpdraftPlus or Jetpack Backup
What Happens After Installation?
After WooCommerce is set up, the journey is just beginning.
You’ll continue:
- Adding more products
- Customizing design
- Promoting through social media and email
- Analyzing traffic and sales reports
- Optimizing for speed and SEO
- Expanding with plugins as your store grows
Final Thoughts: WooCommerce Installation Is Just the Beginning
Installing WooCommerce might only take 5–10 minutes, but launching and running a great online store takes patience, testing, and learning. The beauty of WooCommerce is its freedom: no monthly lock-in, no design restrictions, no walled garden. But that freedom means you take the wheel.
The more time you invest in understanding how WooCommerce works, the more powerful your store will become. And now that you’ve got WooCommerce installed and configured, you’re well on your way to building something truly yours.
