Do you want to start your own online store? We know that building an online store can be a terrifying thought especially when you are not a techy.
Well, you’re not alone. After helping hundreds of users start their online store, we have decided to create the most comprehensive guide on how to build your online store with WordPress (step by step)
What Do You Need to Start an Online Store?
There had never been a better time to start an online business than today.
Anyone with a computer can get started within a matter of minutes and without acquiring any special skills.
The three things you need to start an online store are:
- A domain name idea (this will be the business name of your online store i.e wpbeginner.com)
- A web hosting account (this is where your website lives on the internet)
- Your undivided attention for 30 minutes.
Yep, it is really that simple.
You can setup your own online store with WordPress in less than 30 minutes and we’ll walk you through each step of the process.
In this tutorial, we will cover:
- How to Register a Domain Name for Free
- How to Choose the Best WooCommerce Hosting
- How to Get a SSL Certificate for Free (required for accepting payments)
- How to Install WordPress
- How to Create a WooCommerce Store
- How to Add Products in your Online Store
- How to Select and Customize Your Theme
- How to Extend Your Online Store with Plugins
- Learning to Learn WordPress & Grow Your Business
Ready? Let’s get started.
Video Tutorial
If you don’t like the video or need more instructions, then continue reading.
Step 1: Setting up Your Online Store Platform
The biggest mistake most users make is not choosing the right platform for their online store.
Thankfully you’re here, so you won’t be making that mistake.
There are two popular eCommerce platforms that we recommend: Shopify or WordPress + WooCommerce.
Shopify is a fully hosted eCommerce solution that starts at $29 / month (paid monthly or yearly upfront to earn a discount). It’s a hassle-free solution where you just log in and start selling. The downside to Shopify is that it gets quite expensive, and your payment options are limited unless you pay additional fees.
This is why most users choose WordPress + WooCommerce because of the flexibility it offers. It does require some setup, but it’s worth doing it in the long run. WordPress is the most popular website builder and WooCommerce is the world’s largest eCommerce platform (see: Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison).
In this tutorial, we will walk you through how to set up an online store in WordPress using WooCommerce.
To set up your eCommerce store, you need to a domain name, web hosting, and an SSL certificate.
A domain name is your website’s address on the internet. It is what users will type in their browsers to reach your website (for example: google.com or wpbeginner.com).
Web hosting is where your eCommerce website lives on the internet. It’s your website’s house on the internet. Every website on the internet needs web hosting.
SSL certificate adds a special security layer to your website, so you can accept sensitive information such as credit card numbers and other personal information. This is required for you to accept credit card payments on your eCommerce site.
Normally a domain name costs around $14.99 / year, web hosting costs around $7.99 / month, and SSL certificate costs around $69.99 / year.
That’s a lot of startup cost.
Thankfully, Bluehost, an official WordPress and WooCommerce recommended hosting provider, has agreed to offer our users a free domain name, free SSL certificate, and a discount on web hosting.
Basically, you can get started for $2.75 / month.
→ Click here to Claim this Exclusive Bluehost offer ←
Bluehost is one of the oldest web hosting companies, started in 1996 (that’s before Google). They are also the largest brand name when it comes to WordPress hosting because they host millions of websites.
NOTE: At WPBeginner, we believe in transparency. If you sign up with Bluehost using our referral link, then we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you (in fact, you will save money and get a free domain). We would get this commission for recommending just about any WordPress hosting company, but we only recommend products that we use personally use and believe will add value to our readers.
Let’s go ahead and purchase your domain + hosting + SSL.
Open up Bluehost in a new window using this link and follow along.
The first thing you need to do is click on the green Get Started Now button to get started.
On the next screen, select the plan that you need (Basic and Plus are the most popular).
After that, you will be asked to enter the domain name for your website.
Lastly, you will need to add your account information and finalize the package info to complete the process. On this screen, you will see optional extras that you can purchase.
It’s entirely up to you whether or not you purchase these, but we generally don’t recommend purchasing these. You can always add them later on, if you decide that you need them.
Once completed, you will receive an email with details on how to login to your web hosting control panel (cPanel). This is where you manage everything from support, emails, among other things.
Once you are logged into the cPanel, you’ll notice that Bluehost has already installed WordPress for you and you can simply click on the ‘Log in to WordPress’ button.
You just need to click on ‘Login to WordPress’ button, and it will take you to your WordPress site’s dashboard. It looks something like this:
Congrats, you have finished setting up hosting and domain part.
The next step is to set up WordPress and your online store.
Step 2. Setting up WordPress
Upon your first login to your WordPress website, Bluehost may offer you help with setting up your website.
Go ahead and click on ‘I don’t need help’ link. Don’t worry we will walk you through all the necessary steps.
Let’s set up your WordPress website.
First, you need to visit Settings » General page to setup your WordPress site title and description.
You can use your store name as site title and provide a catchy description for your business. The description part is optional so don’t worry if you can’t come with something right away.
Setting up HTTPS to Use SSL
Your WordPress hosting package came with a free SSL Certificate. This certificate is pre-installed for your domain name. However, your WordPress site needs to be configured, so it loads as https vs http.
On the Settings » General page, you need to change your WordPress Address and Site Address to use https instead of http.
Don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your settings.
Your basic WordPress setup is complete. Now it is time to setup your online store.
Step 3. Setting up Your WooCommerce Store
WooCommerce is the best online store builder on the market. It is built on top of WordPress which gives the flexibility of WordPress with freedom to sell any type of products you want.
First, you need to install and activate the WooCommerce plugin. For more details, see our step by step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Simply go to Plugins » Add New page and search for WooCommerce. In the search results, click on the Install Now button next to WooCommerce listing.
WordPress will now fetch and install WooCommerce plugin for you. Wait for it and to finish downloading the plugin and then click on the ‘Activate’ button to continue.
Upon activation, WooCommerce will launch the set up wizard and you’ll see the Welcome to WooCommerce screen. This set up wizard will walk you through important WooCommerce settings.
First, you need to provide basic information for your online store such as address, country, and region. If you are a retailer, then you can add your retail location information as the address.
After that, click on the Continue button to move on to the next step.
Next, you’ll be asked to choose a store industry. You can choose an industry closest to the type of store you want to make.
Click on the continue button to move on.
After that, you’ll be asked to choose the types of products you’ll be selling on your store. For instance, if your products need shipping, then you can choose physical products.
You can also choose multiple product types. For example, you can choose both Physical Products and Downloads too. Don’t worry about selling different product types. You can select which type of product you are adding for each product.
Click on the ‘Continue’ button.
Next, you’ll be asked to provide some business details like how many products you plan to sell and if you are selling elsewhere. You can choose that I don’t have products yet and select ‘No’ for the other option.
Now, you need to switch to the ‘Free Features’ tab. You’ll see a box pre-checked to install free features for your website.
You need to uncheck this option as it will install several other WooCommerce extensions that you may not need. If you need them later, then you can always install them on your own.
Click on the ‘Continue’ button for the next step.
Next, you’ll be asked to choose a theme for your online store. You can continue with your current default theme, choose ‘Storefront’ or any of the free options listed on the page.
Don’t worry about choosing the perfect theme right away. We’ll show you how to choose the best theme for your online store later in this article.
That’s all, you have successfully completed basic WooCommerce setup.
Step 4. Setting up Payments for Your Online Store
Next, you need to set up payment methods to accept online payments on your store. WooCommerce provides a bunch of payment gateways that you can easily setup.
Simply go to the WooCommerce » Settings page and switch to the ‘Payments’ tab. By default, you can choose from PayPal Standard, Cash on Delivery, Checks, and Bank Transfers.
Scroll below and you will also see the option to install Stripe, PayPal Checkout, and WooCommerce Payments. We recommend choosing Stripe and PayPal Standard as your payment options.
For each payment gateway, you can click on the Set up button and provide the required information. For instance, you can enable Stripe and enter your API Keys (you can find this information under your Stripe account).
Don’t forget to click on the Save changes button to store your payment settings.
Note: Instead of using WooCommerce’s default Stripe addon, we recommend using the free Stripe Payment Gateway for WooCommerce plugin. It comes with more features like a quick setup wizard, automatic webhook creation, one-click express payments, and more.
Step 5. Adding Products to Your Online Store
Let’s start with adding the first product to your online store.
You need to visit Products » Add New page to add a new product.
First, provide a title for your product and then some detailed description.
On the right hand column, you will see the ‘Product Categories’ box. Click on the ‘+ Add New Product Category’ to create a category for this product. This allows you and your customers to sort and browse products easily.
Scroll down a little and you will notice the ‘Product Data’ box. This is where you will provide product related information like pricing, inventory, shipping etc.
Below product data box, you will see a box to add product short description. These product descriptions will be used when users are viewing multiple products on a page.
Lastly, on your right hand column you will see boxes to add a main product image and a product gallery.
Once you are satisfied with all the product information you have added, you can click on the ‘Publish’ button to make it live on your website.
Repeat the process to add more products as needed.
Step 6. Select and Customize WordPress Theme
Themes control how your WordPress sites look to the users when they visit it. For a WooCommerce shop, they also control how your products are displayed.
There are thousands of paid and free WordPress themes available that help you create a stunning online presence.
However, not all WordPress themes are designed specifically for eCommerce stores. We have hand-picked some of the best WooCommerce themes that you can choose from.
If you need help selecting a theme, then please refer to our guide on 9 things you should consider when selecting a perfect WordPress theme.
Once you have installed a WooCommerce theme you can customize its appearance to your own requirements.
Simply head over to Appearance » Customize page. This will launch theme customizer where you can change different theme settings.
Most modern WooCommerce themes come with different customization options and work well with desktop as well as mobile devices.
Step 7. Extend Your Online Store With Plugins
Now that your store is almost ready, you may want to add more features to create a successful online store. For example, you can add a customer support form or promote your new business on social media to make your first sale.
This is where plugins come in.
Both WooCommerce and WordPress allow you to easily add new features to your website by using plugins or extensions.
Plugins are like apps for your WordPress website. There are thousands of them that you can use, both free and premium. The WordPress.org plugin directory alone has more than 60,000 plugins.
However, this abundance of choice also makes it difficult for beginners to choose the right plugins. How do you know which plugin to choose?
Here are some of our top picks for essential plugins that every online store should install.
OptinMonster helps you easily convert website visitors into paying customers. It comes with tools like lightbox popups, sticky header and footer banners, countdown timers, spin to win, and more.
All of them help to improve conversions, boost sales, grow your email list, and reduce shopping cart abandonment.
Note: You can get a free version of OptinMonster if you sign up from inside the OptinMonster WordPress plugin.
WPForms is the best form builder plugin for WordPress. It allows you to easily create any type of form for your store including contact forms, surveys, login forms, gift cards order form, and more.
It has an intuitive drag and drop form builder that allows you to just point and click to create forms. See our guide on how to easily create a contact form in WordPress for detailed instructions.
Note: WPForms also has a free version called WPForms Lite that you can use if you don’t need the Pro features.
AffiliateWP helps you easily add an affiliate program to your online store. This allows you to partner up with affiliate marketers to promote your products for a commission.
It comes with powerful affiliate tracking, no transaction fees, fraud detection, 1-click payouts, and an affiliate dashboard for your partners. For more details, see our guide on how to create a referral program for your online store.
Advanced Coupons is the best coupon code plugin for WooCommerce. It allows you to extend default WooCommerce coupon functionality and create highly effective coupons to grow your business.
With Advanced Coupons you can create loyalty program, scheduled coupons, Buy 1 Get 1 Free deals, shipping coupons, and more. For more details, see our guide on how to create smart coupons for your eCommerce store.
SeedProd is the best page builder plugin for WordPress and WooCommerce. It allows you to easily create custom landing pages for your online shop.
It comes with ready-to-use templates designed for conversions and sales. It also includes WooCommerce blocks that you can just drag and drop to create custom product pages, custom homepage, checkout page, thank you page, and more. Plus, you can connect it to your email marketing service so you can grow your email list.
Note: You can try the free version of SeedProd directly from WordPress.org.
PushEngage is the best push notification software for WordPress and WooCommerce. It allows you to easily send web push notifications to your website visitors on their computers and mobile phones.
With PushEngage, you can send personalized messages to your target audience such as new product announcements, abandoned cart reminders, back in stock notifications, welcome messages, and more.
7. All in One SEO for WordPress
All in One SEO for WordPress is the best SEO plugin for WooCommerce. It allows you to easily optimize your online store for SEO without any search engine optimization skills.
It comes with a full eCommerce support, schema markup, sitemaps, breadcrumbs, and more. This helps you bring more traffic to your online store. For details, see our complete WooCommerce SEO guide for beginners.
Note: There is also a free version of AIOSEO which is still pretty powerful for those who’re just starting out.
MonsterInsights is the best Google Analytics plugin for WordPress. It helps you see where your customers are coming from and what they do on your website.
MonsterInsights comes with WooCommerce tracking so you can see the conversions and sales data on your website. This helps you adjust your marketing strategy and grow your small business with data driven decisions.
HubSpot is one of the best CRM plugins for WordPress and WooCommerce. It allows you to automatically sync your forms, manage contacts, segment them into lists, and see every interaction your visitors have with your site. It also has free email marketing feature built-in.
They also let you add live chat to your website pages and get analytics on the performance of your entire marketing program.
FunnelKit is the most powerful sales funnel builder and marketing automation platform for WordPress. It helps you create high-converting checkouts, sliding side carts, order bumps, one-click upsells, and other automations that help you boost your online store profits.
They also have a marketing automation plugin for WordPress eCommerce sites that lets you do timely follow-up emails, send broadcasts, build email drip campaigns, and more.
For more plugin recommendations, see our expert-pick of essential WooCommerce plugins for an eCommerce business.
Learning WordPress to Grow Your Online Business
WordPress is incredibly powerful and flexible, but sometimes it can be hard for beginners to set it up the way they want.
At WPBeginner, our main goal is to provide cutting-edge helpful WordPress tutorials that are easy to understand even for non-techy WordPress website owners (see more about us).
WPBeginner is the largest free WordPress resource site for beginners. We offer many resources including:
- WPBeginner Blog – The central place for all our WordPress tutorials.
- WPBeginner Videos – New to WordPress? Watch these free video tutorials to master WordPress.
- WPBeginner Dictionary – Your one stop to learn the commonly used WordPress terms and lingo.
- WPBeginner Engage Facebook Group – Get free expert support in the largest WordPress group on Facebook.
You can also subscribe to WPBeginner’s YouTube Channel where we regularly share video tutorials to help you learn WordPress.
We also have a guide to show users how to make the most out of WPBeginner’s free resources.
Many of our users type their question in Google and just add wpbeginner at the end of it. This shows them related articles from WPBeginner.
FAQs About Starting an Online Store
Many of our users regularly reach out to us with questions about starting their own business with an online store. We have tried to answer some of the most frequently asked questions below:
1. Where do I find products to sell on my store?
There are different ways store owners source products. Some sell products like software, digital art, music, and other downloadable products.
Others source products from local or offshore vendors using online marketplaces like Alibaba or AliExpress. If you don’t want to handle your own inventory or shipping, then you could also look into starting a print on demand shop or dropshipping.
For more details, see our article on how to choose products to sell online.
2. Can I start an online store for free?
Yes, some eCommerce platforms offer limited free trials so you can start your online store for free, but after the trial is over, you’ll have to pay. While WooCommerce itself is free, you’ll need a domain name and a web hosting account to run it which will cost money.
3. How much does it cost to start an online store?
The cost of starting an online store depends on your business plan and budget. You can start with Bluehost for $2.75 per month and rely on free plugins and theme to limit your costs. We recommend a business model where you start small and then spend money as your business grows.
For a detailed cost analysis, see our article on how much does it cost to build an eCommerce site.
4. Can I create an online store without shipping products?
Yes, you can. For instance, you can make an online store using dropshipping plugins, create an Amazon affiliate store, or make an eBay like marketplace. You can also use the same online store to sell external products as well as your own products.
5. How to manage shipping costs and taxes for my online store?
Depending on your region, you may be required to add sales tax, VAT, or other taxes. WooCommerce allows you to add taxes by enabling them under WooCommerce » Settings page.
From here, you can also switch to the Shipping tab and create different shipping zones, add shipping rates, set flat shipping rates, and more.
We hope that this tutorial helped you learn how to build an online store. You may also want to see these actionable tips to drive traffic to your new WordPress site, or see our comparison of the best live chat software and best business phone services for small business.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
Syed Balkhi says
Hey WPBeginner readers,
Did you know you can win exciting prizes by commenting on WPBeginner?
Every month, our top blog commenters will win HUGE rewards, including premium WordPress plugin licenses and cash prizes.
You can get more details about the contest from here.
Start sharing your thoughts below to stand a chance to win!
Roman says
Is it possible to create an online shop on the free wordpress.com website?
I just need it for a short time to know that it works, and then create my own website.
Editorial Staff says
Hi Roman, no it’s not possible to create an online shop on the free wordpress.com site.
Admin
Todd Peterson says
I followed your tutorial, and when I changed the http:// to https:// I now can’t log into word press, it says my connection isn’t secure, and I can’t even get back in to change it back to what it was previously……..
Debra Fear says
changed my settings to https:// and now locked out of my dashboard which is locally hosted aka on my iMac
Safari error page says that it can not establish a secure connection with the localhost
newbie to wordpress.org and now end of day of learning getting a bit freaked out so any suggestions to get it back to http i.e I can get back in?
Thanks
Zahid says
The article is good and detailed. However it would help in creating a website for international customers. How to create a website which is focused on pakistani customers only and in which payment methods are in place that are practical in pakistan. pay pal and others cannot be used for pakistani customers. Moreover kindly tell us whats the benefit of having an affiliate business like being Ali Express Plugin affiliate?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Zahid,
Once you have your store setup, you can go about adding different payment methods available to your customers.
For affiliate business, please take a look at our affiliate marketing guide.
Admin
James says
I have approximately 100 products in a category. I would like to provide price breaks at every 5. For example
1 to 5 = $25 each
5 to 10 = $20 each
Etc.
Is it possible to do in Woocommerce
Camy says
Hi there!
This article is very helpful. However, I’m wondering: After you set up the plugin and online store, what are options for delivery methods? I’m specifically wondering about paid PDF downloads. Are there companies that will automatically deliver the digital download? Or is this done by yourself?
Thanks!
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Camy,
You can upload the digital download and your users will be able to download it after making the payment.
Admin
Efi says
Hi ! I would like to ask you! I have already installed the woocommerce and I am seeing that needs update. Should I update it to 4.9.8? also, how we can build the communication with the customer? welcome email, confirmation email etc?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Efi,
Yes, you need to update. There are different ways to communicate with customers. You can ask customers to make an account before they checkout. You can also start an email list and ask your customers to subscribe your newsletter.
Admin
Henni says
Hi there,
I already have a website (webhost and domain) running that was built and wrote by our partner. I think he uses joomla, sorry i am a newbie. Somehow we had issues, and he left.
I plan to rebuild the website using wordpress after reading all your helpful articles.
My question: can I install wordpress in my webhosting but still leave the old website running while I am working on the wordpress one?
Your help would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Henni,
Yes, you can do that.
Admin
Tina says
Excellent post. Which themes do you recommend for an online marketplace with blog? Thank you!
Shoaib Akhtar Nadeem says
Hello sir,How are you?
I want to open an online shopping store in which other sellers sell their products on my store and some of them are commission mine, how it is possible.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Shoaib,
Please see our article on how to create an online marketplace using WordPress.
Admin
Nick says
Hi WP Beginner,
Thank for the clear and concise tutorial.
I was able to complete the set up for my existing WP site but ever since I changed the address of my site (as per your tutorial) I can’t login in.
When I log in to blue host everything is fine. I then click on the “Log in to WordPress” button on the home page I get a “Not Found” page:
Not Found
The requested URL /~flaregea/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php was not found on this server.
Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Apache Server at Port 443
I can still access my site if I just enter the URL into a browser and I can still access the wp-admin “back end” of my site but nothing to do with Blue Host.
Any thoughts on how I should proceed?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Nick,
Try backing up and then deleting your website’s .htaccess file using FTP.
Admin
Rebecca says
And then is the website not https? Is there a reason some people have this problem? (I did as well and had to jump through hoops to fix)
WPBeginner Support says
It would depend on your SSL certificate for if the site is able to use HTTPS or is limited to HTTP. If you’re not able to use HTTPS then you can normally reach out to your host to help fix your SSL.
t. redwood says
Hello,
Thank you for the video it was super helpful and informative. My question is that:
I already have wordpress.org installed, will I be installing wordpress again by using blue host? Also does blue host install wordpress.org or .com ? thanks again!
WPBeginner Support says
Hello,
If you already have a WordPress.org website, then you can move it to Bluehost. See our guide on how to move WordPress to new host.
Bluehost installs self-hosted WordPress.org.
Admin
Vanessa says
Hi there!!! Thank you so much for such an amazing page! You have boosted my motivation to learn to use WordPress after some people told me to forget the idea because it is “too complicated”, so thank you!
I have just one question before I embarked on this experience. I would like check with you if the propose I am looking to have is possible with WordPress. I would like to create an online store to promote the products I sell on amazon. Can I have an plug in “buy with amazon” instead of the common purchasing/delivery options?
Any information about this I would highly appreciate it!
Cheers,
Vanessa
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Vanessa,
Please see our article on how to build an amazon affiliate store using WordPress.
Admin
Min says
You guys are awesome! Thanks for the wonderful information and tips <3 <3
Edward says
The scope of my business licence is Canada-wide.
1) Can I still sell products, both digital ebooks(my major business items) and physical goods(my minor and potential business items) to non-Canada regions, e.g. USA, UK, China, etc.?
2) My bank account that is to be linked to Woocommerce is in Canada Dollar. If my ebooks and goods are purchased by non-Canada region customers, can Woocommerce convert the C$ product amount to the customer region’s currency, and show it on the client webpage ahead before the customer make the transaction? Also can Woocommerce do the opposite when processing returns and refunds?
Thank you very much.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Edward,
1. Yes.
2. WooCommerce itself does not process payments. It depends on the payment method you choose (Stripe or PayPal), and your bank. For example, Stripe allows Canada based users to receive payouts in Canadian or US dollars. If you have a local currency account, then you can select your local currency as your settlement currency.
Admin
Natasha says
I purchased a theme with WP+WooCommerce on Envato Market. They say the theme is only good to use with WP.org and not compatible with WP.com Is it anyway I can still install it on WP.com host or I just wasted my money? What should I do now? Look for another theme which is compatible with commercial host? If I switch to BlueHost from my current host, can they make use of this theme so I don’t loose money? My current host does not help beginners like BlueHost does. In fact, I have no help at all, unless I always pay them for every little thing. If I transfer my existing domain to Bluehost, will it be free of charge? Thanks a lot for your quick reply.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Natasha,
Yes, if you switch to Bluehost then you can use the theme you have purchased. To learn more, see our guide on the difference between self hosted WordPress.org vs free WordPress.com blog.
Admin
Bolaji says
Hello. Please, is it compulsory to do the plan for 36 months or we can pay per month?
Kindly respond because I was about to start the process but noticed that it only had the $6.95 for 36 months which defeats the affordability, to be honest.
Kindly respond. Thank you.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Bolaji,
Yes, this gives you the maximum discount on the offer.
Admin
Remi says
When I put my payment info, will I get charged per month ( $14.95) or per year ($ 179.40)?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Remi,
You will be charged anually and you will be able to select the duration during the sign up. It will also show you the total amount you will be charged when you are entering your payment info.
Admin
Fanya says
Hi!!!
Thank you so much for the information! I took the leap of faith and got the hosting through your affiliate link (to make sure you get the referral fees because you’re worth it!)
Yay to you! LOL
WPBeginner Support says
Hey Fanya,
Thank you, we are glad you found this information helpful.
Admin
Ik says
How do i create and connect database/database table in wordpress(form)
Jacob says
1.Is it a Multi Address extension to collect shipping addresses for each basket purchases?
2. How can i use my own graphics for the site?
George Nikoff says
Hello,
Thanks for the useful information though I have a question as a future online seller. I’m an artist currently working on my website and I’ll be selling my artworks on it through Woocommerce using Paypal. When selling do I need to be a registered business in the country I’m residing and pay taxes, or everything is handled by Paypal tax invoice system?
Thank you in advance!
Suraj Barai says
Can you please explain. How to ship products?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Suraj,
It depends on your location, size of products, and delivery methods available. Many small businesses process their orders by getting them picked up by a delivery service.
Admin
Suraj Barai says
Can you explain… What is shipping? And how to ship.
Liberty says
I have two questions
1) I am wanting to set up an online store that includes my blog. Is this possible using wordpress and/or Woocommerce?
2) I already have a domain that is not through WordPress. Can I use this domain still, or do I have to get one through WordPress in order to use your services?
Thank you!
WPBeginner Support says
Hey Liberty,
1. Yes, you can create a WordPress website and run a WooCommerce store and a blog on it.
2. There are two types of WordPress websites. WordPress.com which is a hosted solution. You will need at least business plan to install WooCommerce on WordPress.com.
Then there is WordPress.org, which is a self-hosted solution. You will need a domain name and hosting for that. In both cases, you can use the domain name you already have.
Please see our guide on the difference between self hosted WordPress.org vs free WordPress.com blog.
Admin
mercy says
Hi,
I got a theme with built in WOO Commerce.
I wanna sell my EBook through my BLOG.
Pls tell me a way by which it will be delivered to the user automatically who buys it.
MK
rana says
So glad to come across your website, thank you. I have two questions.
1- How do I prevent a person I add to wordpress to see information on my woocommerce with client and sales?
2-I set up the store but cannot seem to sort products in the order I want. How do I do that?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Rana,
Make sure that the person you add has appropriate user role and permissions.
You can sort products by visiting WooCommerce > Settings page. Under the Products tab you will see the default product sorting option.
Admin
Alisha says
Someone asked this question in an earlier post and I don’t see a reply for it. I also want to know your reply to this question:
“How do I get manufacturers and suppliers to sell products on my store? Basically I don’t wanna sell my products. I want to open a store like Amazon which sells other’s products”
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Alisha,
Please see our article on how to create an online marketplace using WordPress.
Admin
ELMOKHTAR says
thank you for the tutorial. I want to ask is it work for Morroco
WPBeginner Support says
Hi ElMokhtar,
Yes, it would. All you need is a credit card to purchase your hosting.
Admin
Jennelyn Barja says
Is this working here in Philippines?
Editorial Staff says
Hey Jennelyn,
Yes, it should be working in Philippines and every other country
Admin
Kennie says
Hi, thank you for your article. I’ve actually bought a domain from bluehost, and i want to build a web that both contain my blog/article and the online shop. Is it possible for me to set “Shop” as 1 page of my blog that my viewers can click and link to online shop?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Kennie,
Yes you can have a blog and a shop page on your site.
Admin
Jaime Rodea says
Hello,
I am looking at opening my own online shop as well. I have a few questions.
1. Do you have to get a small business license before setting up online?
2. How do you know if you need to charge taxed?
3. When someone makes a purchase, does this automatically give you an invoice to print off for each order?
Thanks for your time.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Jaime,
First, good luck with your online shop
Now to answer your questions:
1. It depends on where you are located. You can usually find this out by typing this question with your location (city, county, state, or country) next to it.
2. This too can be found out online. Once you know the figures you can add enable taxes option in WooCommerce to calculate taxes.
3. You can enable invoices and print them.
Admin
Soumi says
That’s a great guide. I will buy a domain here and connect with woo commerce.
But I have a question.
How do I get manufacturers and suppliers to sell products on my store? Basically I don’t wanna sell my products. I want to open a store like Amazon which sells other’s products.
Braile says
Hi. Your blog was very helpful. Just one question. Does database automatically created when you install wordpress on bluehost?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Braile,
Yes. Their automated setup takes care of it.
Admin
Kabir khan says
Hi I just have a question!
If I want to make a website for my client who will be responsible for buying domain name, web hosting service and SSL certificate?
Also will I have to ask for PayPal account of the client?
Saroj Meher says
Hello sir
I am an artist from India. Recently buy a wordpress hosting plan. I want to built a website just to welcome other artist also to show their artworks. How can it bw possible. The woocommerce, Dokan, Wp marketplace plugin shows the vendor forms that is not suitable for artists. I need to built artist registration, login, dashboard, uplord artwork forms for this websites. Can you help me plz.
Ana says
hi
is this working in france too?
thanks
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Ana,
Yes, it works in France too.
Admin
Akshay says
Hi sir,
i am facing problem in woo commerce shipping setting
your guidance is amazing.
Dagmar says
Hi. I have Personal plan for WP. Do I have to upgrade before setting up the store following this tutorial? Thank you.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Dagmar,
Seems like you are using WordPress.com. Please see our guide on the difference between self hosted WordPress.org vs free WordPress.com blog.
Admin
Gayle says
I would love to learn how to have a page dedicated to Amazon. I want to do a bookstore through Amazon. I can’t find any plugins that work and I don’t want a dedicated site, just a page. How can I do this?
Danielle says
Hi, may I know how long does it take to set up SSL? I have followed your instruction and changed “http” to “https”. However, the changes are still not reflected. My site is still not secured. Any advice for this?
Sonia says
Hi there,
I recently bought a domain name on Shopify and haven’t subscribed to anything yet and still running on the trial phase for the next few days but after reading your article I’m much more interested in following these steps explained above. Am I gonna have to buy another domain name or will I be able to use the one I just purchased?
Thank you
Sonia
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Sonia,
You can use the same domain. You will need to change its DNS settings and point them to Bluehost.
Admin
Esther says
Hi there,
I have an onlive store with Shopify but want to move to wordpress and woocommerce. How do I change the DNS setting to move my domain to bluehost. Also, can i just buy the $2.95 Hosting and install free woocommerce? Or does it need to be the plan you mentioned, 6.95? What about backup? Would I need to purchase that as well? Thanks.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Esther,
You can change your domain name settings in Shopify by visiting Online Store > Domains and then under Shopify Managed Domains section click on your domain name. Next click on DNS settings to edit them.
WooCommerce is a bit more resource intensive than a typical starter WordPress blog. That’s we recommend their eCommerce plan it is optimized for WooCommerce hosting.
Patrick Thomas says
Good tips really nice. I tried following your steps i select $6.95 per month and chose a domain name….on getting to paying with my credit card I received a message ” insufficient fund on my account ” of which I do know I have more than $6.95 on my account. Please is this a familiar error message , are there other hidden charges or am I missing something? Please I really need your advice. Doing this is so important to me. Thanks
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Patrick,
This could be a temporary error. If your card wasn’t charged, you can retry again. If the same error occurs again, please contact their support staff.
Admin
Vishal Mittal says
Hi, read your article and found the article very informative. But still have one query how can we add a login and register feature(just like a seller in flipkart) who can have these own market place.
Hoping for answers
Thanks and best regards
Beth says
Hello, I want to create an online store but I just bought a domain and hosting plan on another platform. Does my domain have to be with WordPress, do I have to transfer it or I can go ahead with the already made domain
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Beth,
If your hosting provider supports WordPress then you can start there. Othwerwise, you may want to consider moving your site.
Admin
Mohamed Ramadan says
I want to know the difference between using normal wordpress bluehost, then install woocommerce plugins for free and using bluehost wordpress + woocommerce. isn’t the first option more affordable and cheaper?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Mohamed Ramadan,
Yes, and WooCommerce would probably run too. However, resources on shared servers are very low and WooCommerce is a very transactional app. If you start getting more customers your site will slow down, shared host may block your processes to save other sites from slowing down, and transactions may not complete due to slow site or server interruptions. That’s why we recommend using Bluehost‘s eCommerce plan.
Admin
Jenny says
Thanks for this great WooCommerce tutorial! I’ve installed the plugin and started setting everything up but I noticed that WooCommerce has automatically pulled products from my existing /products page. This is incorrect and these items should not be populated on my WooCommerce /shop page. But when I delete these items from the WooCommerce products tab, it actually deletes them from my /products page as well. I absolutely don’t want WooCommerce automatically populating their /store page with information from any of my other pages and can’t seem to find a way to prevent this from happening. Do you have any advice for me?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Jenny,
It seems like your product pages have the same post type as WooCommerce products. One thing that you can try is switching your older products to a different post type. See our article on how to switch post types in WordPress. However, this could have adverse consequences like broken links. Make sure you create a complete WordPress backup before you try this.
Admin
sham khan says
hi i want to make onlinestore in which there is every thing including gift items also what can i have to do?
bamidele says
Hello, why does checkout, basket…… appear on the menu list. I thinks thats abnormal; please how do i make them invisible to my site visitors.
Also on my site (customizr pro theme) submenus do not appear under their parent menus (I mean sub menus are supposed to be invisible until you hover or click the parent) how do i resolve this.
Thanks.
Yomi says
Hello, weldone.Pls i am interested in settling up a blog for job/vacancies advertisement and online store like WooCommerce.pls how do i get started?
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Yomi,
For an online store please follow the instructions above. For vacancies and jobs you may want to checkout our article on how to add a job board in WordPress.
Admin