We’ve been selling products online for the past 16+ years, and we’ve learned a lot of lessons about how to design attractive eCommerce stores and make more sales. Although setting up an online store in the past required some technical knowledge, it’s now easier than ever for beginners to get started.
For example, we use Easy Digital Downloads to sell our own digital products with minimal hassle. And many WordPress users rely on WooCommerce, which is the largest eCommerce platform on the market and very easy for beginners.
What makes starting an online store so appealing? You can work flexible hours, be your own boss, and start with much lower costs than a physical store. Plus, it’s easy to start small and scale up as you grow.
That said, ‘easy to start’ doesn’t always mean ‘easy to succeed.’ You need to make smart decisions about everything from payment systems to marketing strategies. That’s where proper guidance becomes important.
In this guide, you will learn how to start an online store, step by step. Whether you already have a product in mind or are just exploring possibilities, you’ll find actionable advice based on our years of eCommerce experience.
This guide will walk you through each step, from choosing the right platform to building your online business to optimizing it for success.
But if you’d rather skip the DIY route, you can contact our team at WPBeginner Pro Services and let our experts create a custom online store for you, all from scratch.
→ Click Here to Book a FREE Appointment With WordPress Experts ←
What Is the Best Online Store Platform?
💡 Editor’s Note: In this article, we recommend WordPress.org + WooCommerce because they give you complete control over your online store. If you want to skip this section and jump straight to building your store, go ahead and start reading the tutorial 😀
Starting an online store is exciting, but we know the first big question can feel overwhelming: which eCommerce platform should you use? We’ve helped thousands of store owners make this decision, so let’s make it simple for you.
Essentially, you have two main choices for building your online store. You can either go with WordPress.org and add an eCommerce plugin like WooCommerce or use a hosted platform like Shopify or BigCommerce.
Think of it like owning versus renting a physical store. With WordPress.org and WooCommerce, you will own your store completely. You choose your hosting, control all your costs, and can customize everything exactly how you want.
Using eCommerce solutions like Shopify is more like renting a store in a mall. While it’s easier to get started, you’ll have less control, and the platform often requires you to upgrade to a higher plan as your business grows. Not to mention, you’re limited to the features they offer.
You can read our comparison piece on Shopify vs. WooCommerce for more details. And here’s a quick comparison table of the different options for online stores:
| WordPress.org + eCommerce Plugin | Hosted Solutions (Shopify, BigCommerce) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | • Complete customization control • Lower long-term costs • Own all your data and content | • Easier to set up • Built-in technical support • Regular automatic updates |
| Cons | • Initial setup takes longer • Responsible for updates • Need to handle security | • Higher monthly costs • Limited customization options • Locked into the platform’s features |
| Best For | • Growing businesses wanting full control • Budget-conscious store owners • Unique or complex store needs | • Beginners wanting quick setup • Hands-off management • Simple stores with basic needs |
Overall, our advice is to go with WordPress.org for eCommerce. We’ve had plenty of experience using this platform, and we’ve never felt locked in or limited by what we can create. Plus, you won’t face surprising cost increases as your store grows.
WordPress also lets you choose the perfect eCommerce plugin for your specific needs.
Want to sell physical products? WooCommerce has you covered. Looking to sell digital downloads? Easy Digital Downloads works perfectly. Or need to create a membership site? Check out MemberPress.
For this complete guide, we will use WordPress.org with WooCommerce, as it’s the most popular eCommerce plugin. Here are the simple steps we will cover, and you can use the links below to skip to your preferred topic:
- Step 1: Choose a Product to Sell
- Step 2: Design Your Brand
- Step 3: Register Your Business
- Step 4: Set Up WordPress Hosting & Domain Name
- Step 5: Install WordPress
- Step 6: Set Up Your WooCommerce Store
- Step 7: Select and Customize Your Online Store’s Design
- Step 8: Add Products to Your Online Store
- Step 9: Set Up Payments, Taxes, and Shipping
- Step 10: Optimize Your Online Store
- Step 11: Master WordPress to Grow Your Business
- Step 12: Take It Further
- FAQs About Starting an Online Store
- Video Tutorial
Ready? Let’s get started.
💡Want to create an online store without all the hassle? Let WPBeginner Pro Services help! Our expert team can create a custom WooCommerce site easily and affordably. From design to SEO, we’ve got you covered. Get Our WordPress Website Design Services Today!
Step 1: Choose a Product to Sell
The first and perhaps most important step in launching your online store is deciding what to sell. Your product choice shapes everything about your business, from your brand identity and website features to your marketing strategy and operational needs.
To find the right online business idea, you can start by asking yourself these questions:
- What interests you deeply? Choose a product category you’re passionate about. Running an online store takes time and effort, so selling something you care about will help you stay motivated and knowledgeable about your products.
- Is there a gap in your local market? Sometimes, the best eCommerce business ideas come from bringing existing products to markets where they’re not yet available. Look around your area or region for unmet needs.
- Do you see a problem you can solve? Maybe you’ve noticed a common frustration that needs a solution. Market research can help confirm if other people share this pain point and would pay for a solution.
- Can you improve on existing products? If similar products exist, think about your unique angle. Maybe you can offer better quality, lower prices, or target a specific audience that’s being overlooked.
After identifying potential products, you’ll need to decide how you’ll produce, source, and manage them. The table below shows some of your main options:
| Business Model | What Is It? | Requirements | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homemade Products | Make products by hand using your personal skills and creativity | • Working space and basic tools • Creative skills and time • Quality materials | Creative people who want to sell unique, handmade items |
| Wholesale | Buy products in bulk at lower prices to resell | • Storage room for inventory • Money to buy stock upfront • Organization skills | Sellers who want proven products and can handle storage |
| Print-on-Demand | Put your designs on products that get made after each sale | • Basic design skills • Computer and internet • Photo editing knowledge | Artists and creators wanting to start with low risk |
| Dropshipping | Sell products that others store and ship for you | • Research and marketing skills • Customer service • Basic tech setup | Beginners who want to start with minimal investment |
| Digital Products | Create and sell downloadable items like courses or ebooks | • Expert knowledge • Content creation skills • Basic tech understanding | Experts and creators wanting passive income potential |
| Manufacturing | Partner with factories to make your product ideas | • Product designs • Larger starting budget • Patience for development | Businesses ready to create unique products at scale |
Additionally, you should consider how to price your eCommerce products properly. This decision affects everything from your profit margins to your target market.
For more information, we have broken down all the proven pricing strategies in our beginner’s guide to eCommerce pricing models.
Once you know what product you want to sell, you can move on to the next step.
Step 2: Design Your Brand
At this stage, you know what product to sell and have an idea of your target customers. Now, it’s time to create a brand that catches their attention and builds trust. Your brand design will affect everything from your website to your packaging, so it’s worth getting right.
Let’s start with your business name. You will want something memorable that clearly communicates what you do. It should also be easy to spell, remember, and type into a browser.
Take our name, WPBeginner, for example. It’s simple and straightforward, instantly telling visitors that we help WordPress beginners.
Before settling on a name, check if it’s available as a domain name. Ideally, your business name and domain name should match exactly. This makes it easier for customers to find and remember your store.
Also, research whether your chosen name might have trademark issues. Take time to search trademark databases like WIPO and ensure your name has not been taken by someone else.
If you need help brainstorming, you can try our free business name generator.
Next comes your logo design. Modern AI-powered logo makers have made professional logo design affordable for everyone.
Remember, the best logos are often the simplest. Think of Nike’s swoosh or Apple’s apple. These iconic symbols prove that effective logos don’t need to be complicated to be memorable.
You can head over to our beginner’s guide on how to make a logo for more information.
Your color scheme is another crucial element. The colors you choose will appear everywhere, from your website to your social media profiles and marketing materials.
Different colors evoke different emotions and send different messages to your customers.
For example, blue often represents trust and professionalism. That’s why companies like PayPal and Visa use it as their primary color, as it helps customers feel secure when making transactions.
Finally, you will need to consider your typography (the fonts you’ll use). Good typography makes your content easy to read while reinforcing your brand personality.
For instance, serif fonts like Times New Roman often promote tradition and reliability, while sans-serif fonts like Arial suggest modernity and simplicity.
We recommend choosing one font for headings and other important elements to grab attention and another for the body text to maintain readability. Here’s a good example by Poppi:
Once you’ve finished designing your branding, you can move on to actually registering and setting up your online business.
Step 3: Register Your Business
Note: The following information is for general guidance only and is not legal advice. We strongly recommend consulting with local authorities, a legal professional, or an accountant to make sure your business complies with relevant regulations in your area.
You’re almost ready to build your online store, but first, you need to make your business official.
Some business owners choose to do this after launching their WordPress site. This allows them to test their market and product ideas with minimal investment. Others prefer registering before launch so they can claim business expense deductions from the start and avoid potential legal issues.
While the exact process varies by location, here are the key things you’ll typically need:
- Business license – This is your official permission to operate. Most areas require at least a basic business license. Depending on what you sell, you might need additional permits.
- Tax registration – You’ll need a tax ID number to collect and pay sales tax.
- Business structure – Decide whether you’ll operate as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. Each has different legal and tax implications.
- Bank account – Keep your personal and business finances separate by opening a dedicated business bank account. This makes accounting easier and looks more professional to customers.
- Business insurance – Even small businesses can face unexpected challenges. This insurance can protect your online store from various risks and potential losses.
- Business credit card – A separate credit card for business expenses helps track spending and build business credit.
Now that you have everything legally set up, you can move on to creating your online store.
Step 4: Set Up WordPress Hosting & Domain Name
Before you can start building your online store with WordPress.org, you need two essential things: a domain name and web hosting.
Think of launching your online store like opening a physical shop – you need both an address where customers can find you and an actual building to put your store in.
A domain name is what customers type into their web browser to visit your store. For instance, when someone wants to find our website, they type in wpbeginner.com.
Domain names usually cost about $15 per year, and you can choose different endings like .com, .shop, or .store.
Web hosting, on the other hand, is like renting space for your store’s contents. It’s where all your product photos, descriptions, and everything else live. Just like physical stores need different sizes of buildings, websites need different types of hosting based on their size and needs.
Looking at all the hosting options out there can make your head spin. There’s shared hosting, managed WordPress hosting, VPS, and many more.
We’ve tested dozens of hosting companies over the years, and for new online stores, we consistently recommend Bluehost. Here’s why:
- They give you a free domain name for your first year (saves you that $14.99!).
- They’ve been WordPress.org’s recommended hosting since 2005.
- They’re affordable with prices that work for new business owners.
- Their Online Store plan comes with WordPress + WooCommerce pre-installed, so some of your website setup is already taken care of.
Our founder, Syed Balkhi, is also a huge fan of Bluehost:
I’ve been recommending Bluehost since 2012, and their commitment to quality has only improved over the years.
I host several personal and business websites on Bluehost. Their ease of use and reliability make them a go-to choice for me.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to grow your online presence, Bluehost offers a solid hosting platform to build on.
To learn more about this web hosting provider, you can read our complete Bluehost review.
Great news! We’ve arranged a special Bluehost deal for WPBeginner readers. You’ll get your domain name free, plus a big discount on hosting. Just click below to get started:
Note: If you use our Bluehost link, we do earn a commission – but here’s the thing: you don’t pay anything extra. In fact, you’ll pay less thanks to our special discount arrangement. While we could partner with any hosting company, we only recommend services we actually use and trust ourselves.
Let’s go ahead and purchase your domain and hosting. After clicking on our Bluehost link, you need to click on the green ‘Get Started Now’ button.
You’ll see different hosting plans on the next page.
Since you’re building an online store, we recommend the Online Store plan. It comes with everything you need to start selling, including WooCommerce already installed. Just click ‘Select’ to choose this plan.
Now comes the fun part – choosing your domain name. You’ll see two options: creating a new domain or using one you already own.
For a new domain, simply type your desired name in the box. Already have a domain? There’s a separate section where you can enter it.
We strongly recommend going with a .com domain if it’s available. Most people automatically type .com when entering web addresses. However, if .com is taken, you can check out our guide to alternative domain extensions for other professional options.
Once you’ve chosen a domain name, just click ‘Next’ to continue.
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 it. You can always add them later on if you decide that you need them.
Once you have completed your purchase, you can go to your email inbox, where you’ll find your Bluehost login details. This will let you log in to your web hosting dashboard to manage your website.
Step 5: Install WordPress
Here’s the best part about using our Bluehost link: WordPress and WooCommerce come pre-installed with your hosting. Bluehost created this automatic setup specifically for people who don’t want to deal with technical details.
Getting to your new WordPress site is straightforward. Just sign in to your Bluehost account, find the ‘Websites’ section in the left menu, and click ‘Edit Site.’ That’s it – you’re in!
You can also type your domain name followed by /wp-admin/ in your web browser (like mystore.com/wp-admin/), and it’ll take you straight to your WordPress dashboard. This is your WordPress login URL.
Using another hosting company like SiteGround, Hostinger, or HostGator? No problem. Check out our WordPress installation guide, which includes detailed instructions for all major WordPress hosting providers.
With WordPress ready to go, we can move on to the exciting part: setting up WooCommerce.
Step 6: Set Up Your WooCommerce Store
If you have WooCommerce pre-installed, you will most likely immediately see the WooCommerce setup wizard immediately after logging in to your WordPress dashboard.
But if not, don’t worry. You can read our WooCommerce made simple tutorial, which will walk you through the installation process.
Once you have installed the WooCommerce eCommerce plugin in WordPress, you can start the setup wizard by clicking ‘Set up my store.’
You can technically skip this step, but we don’t recommend doing that as this setup wizard will automatically create your WooCommerce store pages for you. This way, you don’t have to make them from scratch.
On the next page, WooCommerce will ask a question about you as an online business owner.
If you’re just starting out, then you can pick the ‘I’m just starting my business’ option.
Next, you need to provide WooCommerce with some information about your business. This includes your business name, type of products, store location, and business email address.
Once you have entered all these details, click ‘Continue.’
On the next page, WooCommerce will show you some free WooCommerce extensions that you can choose to install.
You can click on the ones you plan to use and click ‘Continue.’ Alternatively, you can click on the ‘Skip this step’ button.
Now, you will have to wait a few minutes for the plugin to be installed.
After the setup is complete, you will be directed to the WooCommerce plugin page, where you’ll see a checklist of things to do to build your online store.
Step 7: Select and Customize Your Online Store’s Design
As you can see in the previous section, the first step to building your online store is choosing the right WordPress theme for your WooCommerce store.
Think of a theme as your store’s entire design package. It controls everything from how your products look to your customers’ journey throughout your online store.
While WordPress offers thousands of themes, not all of them work well for online stores. You need a theme specifically built for WooCommerce to ensure your products look great and your checkout process works smoothly.
That’s why we’ve created a handpicked list of the best WooCommerce themes to help you choose.
Installing a WordPress theme for your online store is easy. Simply go to Appearance » Themes in your WordPress dashboard and click ‘Add New Theme’. From there, you can browse and install any theme you like.
When it comes to customizing your theme, WordPress gives you two options: the classic theme customizer or the newer full-site editor for block themes.
We have detailed instructions on how to use both in our ultimate guide on how to edit a WordPress website.
Both work fine, but honestly? We prefer using SeedProd’s theme builder instead.
Why SeedProd? It’s like having a professional designer at your fingertips. You get a simple drag-and-drop page builder anyone can use, over 350 ready-made website designs to start with, and an AI website builder that can create your entire store design in seconds.
Here’s a great example of a SeedProd theme for an online clothing store:
With eCommerce website builders like this, you can customize your online store to look and function exactly how you want. It’s also search engine optimization (SEO) friendly, so you can optimize your store for search engines, making it easier for potential customers to find your products.
Stacey Corrin, Lead Writer for SeedProd
Stacey Corrin, Lead Writer for SeedProdSeedProd even comes with an AI website builder that builds a custom theme for you in less than 60 seconds.
Want to see how fast it works? Just check out the video below:
Whichever method you choose, make sure it matches your comfort level. The best website design tool is one that is easiest for you to use. Otherwise, you’ll feel frustrated fast by how complicated the tool is.
Also, don’t feel pressured to perfect your design right away. Theme customization is an ongoing process – you can always make changes as your store grows.
For specific help with store pages, check out our guide on how to edit WooCommerce pages.
Step 8: Add Products to Your Online Store
Let’s start adding products to your store. The process is simple: go to Products » Add New from your WordPress menu. Then, you can add your product title and description.
From here, you can follow our tutorial on how to add products to your online store in our WooCommerce made simple guide.
The guide covers everything from uploading product images to adding categories, tags, and attributes to your items.
Don’t have products ready yet? No problem! You can add sample data to see how your store will look with products. Our guide on how to add WooCommerce sample data shows you how.
If you have been listing your product information on a CSV spreadsheet, then you can also save time by importing them all at once. Our tutorial on importing and exporting WooCommerce products shows you how to avoid adding products manually.
Once you’ve added your products, here’s how to make them more appealing to customers:
- Add compelling product galleries with multiple images.
- Include short, catchy product descriptions that grab attention.
- Embed product videos to showcase features.
- Add a product Q&A section to address common customer questions.
- Set up product subscriptions for recurring sales.
- Prevent overselling with inventory controls.
Other than that, you will also need to optimize your WooCommerce product pages. Your product pages are like your digital showroom – they need to look professional and convert WooCommerce visitors into customers.
How you customize these pages will largely depend on your theme choice. Some themes include special features for product displays, while others only offer basic layouts.
This is where SeedProd really shines. It gives you powerful tools to enhance your product pages. For example, you can add customer reviews with star ratings to build trust and persuade potential buyers.
Other than that, you can display related products for upselling, recently viewed products to help users compare items, social buttons for users to share the products, and more.
Want to learn all the ways to make your product pages more effective? Check out our guide on how to customize WooCommerce product pages without code.
Step 9: Set Up Payments, Taxes, and Shipping
Let’s get your store ready to accept orders. First, let’s focus on setting up payments.
Head to WooCommerce » Settings and click the ‘Payments’ tab. You’ll start with basic options like Cash on Delivery, Checks, and Bank Transfers. WooCommerce also offers its own payment gateway called WooPayments.
While WooPayments seems convenient, it’s not always the best choice. It’s not available in all countries, and some users report issues with payment holds.
We recommend exploring other options, like Stripe with FunnelKit’s free gateway plugin. It offers helpful features like one-click payments through Apple Pay and Google Pay, plus an easy setup wizard.
You may also want to check out other WooCommerce payment options below:
- Allow users to choose from various payment options.
- Accept credit card payments.
- Set up installment payments for big-ticket items.
- Accept recurring payments for subscriptions.
- Add ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ options.
- Enable digital wallets like Venmo.
Next, let’s tackle taxes. You can go to WooCommerce » Settings and click the ‘Tax’ tab.
In ‘Tax options’, you can choose whether to include tax in your prices, display tax in your shop and cart, what to base tax calculations on, and whether to add special tax classes.
Then, under ‘Standard rates’, you can set up your tax rules. Go ahead and enter details like countries and regions you sell to, tax rates for each area, and names for different taxes (like GST or VAT)
Need to add lots of tax rates? Save time by importing them via CSV file.
Don’t forget to click ‘Save changes’ once you’re done.
Finally, let’s set up shipping. You can find this under the ‘Shipping’ tab in WooCommerce settings.
You can use ‘Shipping zones’ to define where you’ll ship to and set different shipping methods for each area, like free shipping or flat rates.
In ‘Shipping settings’, you can configure important options like whether to show the shipping calculator on the cart page, set the default shipping address (either shipping or billing address), and enable shipping debug mode if you need to troubleshoot issues
Remember not to hide shipping costs until checkout – this often leads to abandoned carts. Being transparent about shipping costs early in the shopping process helps build trust with your customers.
Under ‘Classes’, you can create special shipping rates for different products.
For example, feel free to set higher rates for heavier items or fragile products that need special handling.
To make it easier for customers to track their orders, consider adding a shipment tracking feature to your online store.
Offering local pickup? You can enable this option in the ‘Local pickup’ tab.
While it’s free by default, you can add some pricing based on your business needs.
Your online store is now ready to accept orders. But first, we need to fine-tune it to set up your business for success.
Step 10: Optimize Your Online Store
Before you launch your online store, we recommend setting up some key optimizations. While these aren’t mandatory, they can significantly boost your store’s success and help you provide a better shopping experience for your customers.
Let’s start with three must-have WordPress plugins that every online store needs:
Connects your store with Google Analytics
Why we love it: See customer behavior and sales data right in WordPress
Paid plans start from $99.60/yr
Optimizes your online store for search engines
Why we love it: Makes complex SEO simple with automated features
Paid plans start from $49.60/yr
Creates optimized checkout experiences
Why we love it: Reduces cart abandonment with smart checkout flows
Paid plans start from $99.50/yr
Beyond these essentials, here are other important optimizations to consider:
- Contact forms – Every professional store needs a way for customers to get in touch. We recommend WPForms for creating professional contact forms that build trust with customers.
- Product search – Make it easier for potential buyers to look for their desired products. Use SearchWP to improve your WooCommerce search engine.
- Social proof – Show potential customers that others trust your store. Use TrustPulse to display live sale notifications and Smash Balloon Reviews Feed to showcase reviews from platforms like Google and Trustpilot.
- Customer updates – Keep your customers coming back by staying in touch. We recommend PushEngage for browser notifications and Constant Contact for email marketing.
- Backups – Protect your store’s data and content from unexpected issues. We recommend Duplicator for creating reliable backups of your entire store.
- Security – Keep your store and customer data safe from threats. We recommend Cloudflare for additional security features and better performance.
You may also want to check out our expert picks of the best WooCommerce extensions to improve your online store.
Expert Tip: Ready to launch? Make sure you haven’t missed anything important by checking our ultimate eCommerce launch checklist.
Step 11: Master WordPress to Grow Your Business
WordPress is incredibly powerful and flexible, but we understand it can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially for beginners. That’s why we’ve created a lot of free resources to help you succeed.
At WPBeginner, we make WordPress easy to understand, even if you’re not tech-savvy. Here are all the ways you can learn from us:
Learning Resources
- WPBeginner Blog for detailed WordPress tutorials
- WPBeginner Videos for step-by-step visual guides
- WPBeginner Dictionary to easily understand WordPress terms
- WPBeginner’s YouTube Channel with regular video tutorials
Community Support
- WPBeginner Engage Facebook Group for free expert support in the largest WordPress group on Facebook
- Contact form for direct questions to our team
Tool Recommendations
- WPBeginner Business Tools for free growth resources
- WPBeginner Deals for exclusive WordPress discounts
- WPBeginner Solution Center to find the best WordPress plugins, themes, and tools
- WPBeginner Blueprint to see exactly which tools and plugins we use
We also have a guide to show users how to make the most out of WPBeginner’s free resources.
Many of our users also type their questions in Google and just add ‘wpbeginner’ at the end of it. This shows them related articles from WPBeginner. For example: ‘how to add product search in woocommerce wpbeginner.’
Step 12: Take It Further
You’ve learned the basics of setting up a WooCommerce store. But did you know your online store can be customized to sell practically anything?
Here are some exciting product possibilities we’ve helped our users sell:
- Furniture
- Photos
- Videos
- Digital art and graphics
- Fonts
- Online boutiques
- Audiobooks
- Music
- Online marketplaces
- Event tickets
- Excel or Google Spreadsheets
- Online thrift stores
- Car parts
The best part? WooCommerce makes selling any of these possible with the right plugins and setup – no coding needed.
Want to explore other options? Check out our detailed WordPress eCommerce setup guide for different product types.
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:
Where do I find products to sell in my store?
Store owners source products in different ways. Some sell 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.
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.
How much does it cost to start an online store?
The cost of starting an online store depends on your business plan and budget. With our link, you can start with Bluehost for $1.99 per month and rely on free plugins and themes to limit your costs.
We recommend a business model where you start small and then spend money as your business grows.
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.
Video Tutorial
If you don’t want to follow our written instructions, then you can check out our video tutorial on how to start an online store:
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 online store or see our comparison of the best business phone services for small businesses.
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.
Chandra
Great article!! Very useful for beginners
WPBeginner Support
Thank you, glad you found our article helpful
Admin
Dawn Groves
Folks, when I posted this article link in linkedin, the caption for the image was “How to start an online store in 2019” You might want to update that.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you for letting us know
Admin
Leah
I would like to set up my art gallery with just a Buy it Now button from PayPal. Is this possible or do I have to use WooCommerce?
WPBeginner Support
For single items you could do that, WooCommerce gives you more tools for showing and tracking purchases on your site.
Admin
Medha
Great tutorial! I’m in the process of setting up an e-commerce business but don’t have my branding / business name yet.
In the meantime I want to start a blog to start building my audience.
If I start the blog with a particular name and domain name, and then decide to launch the business under another name – will this cause me a big issue in future?
Thanks,
Medha
WPBeginner Support
Long term it should not cause an issue but in the short term, you may see a drop in visitors.
Admin
Phillip
When I use your affiliate link to purchase hosting from Bluehost with wordpress and woocommerce is this a wordpress.org or a wordpress.com site? Thanks.
WPBeginner Support
You would be creating a WordPress.org site
Admin
Steve
Hi, nice tutorial, but…
I am looking to create an online showroom (for antiques, second-hand furniture etc.) but do NOT want a shopping cart – I don’t want people to be able to order online.
I have read that this can be called catalog mode…
Do you have any views (or experience) of how this can be achieved?
Thanks
WPBeginner Support
For creating a catalog, you would want to take a look at our How to Create a Product Catalog article here:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-create-a-product-catalog-in-wordpress-without-a-shopping-cart/
Admin
Elias
This is a great tutorial. I’m curious about setting up a platform for mobile users and if that’s a whole different animal. I’m looking to launch a merch Store but would like to have the option to have mobile support as well
WPBeginner Support
As long as your theme does not have issues on mobile browsers this should also work for mobile devices.
Admin
Deanna
I love the information you provided. I’m interested in starting an Online Store to sell products and I would like to sell my own Courses. Can that be done on one website?
WPBeginner Support
You can certainly sell courses on your site, we would normally recommend using an LMS plugin for your courses. For some recommended LMS plugins you could take a look at our list here:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/best-wordpress-lms-plugins-compared/
Admin
Kel
Thank you very much for the update. Was a bit confused and I thought having an online store would be expensive, a lot of work and demanding, after reading. However, with the screenshots and explanation provided it seems a lot more easier.
Thank you very much for the information.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our article was able to simplify the process for you
Admin
jyoti
Impressive blog.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you
Admin
Alan
I’m new and am eager to get started. I have a domain and FatCow is my hosting service. Can WooCommerce work with it? I am intending to promote both digital and material content/products. Anything else I should do…besides study WPBeginner…:)
WPBeginner Support
WooCommerce should work on any hosting provider, for now our recommendation is to go through our articles and take a look at the WooCommerce documentation on WooCommerce’s site
Admin
Sharon
Where do the actual products come from?
WPBeginner Support
Either yourself or if you’re creating an affiliate store you could take a look at our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-build-an-amazon-affiliate-store-using-wordpress/
Admin
John james
Great for beginners ,iam a 77 year old man I love business this was great for me
I want to open an on line store at this time I continue to learn .
We will talk iam just about ready
Thank you JJ
WPBeginner Support
Thank you, glad our article could be helpful
Admin
Kunthea Johnson
Thank you for the in depth post. I’m getting ready to switch my ecommerce site from weebly to WordPress woocommerce.
I currently have my hosting on hostgator.
I have a couple of questions.
1. Should I use WordPress. Com or WordPress. Org as recommended by other bloggers?
2. Are the instructions in this blog valid for hostgator?
Thanks in advance
WPBeginner Support
If you are signing up on HostGator your site would be a WordPress.org site. Our instructions should work on any host other than the installation steps as hosts can have different installation tools for WordPress.
Admin
Chris
Very impactful, I really learnt a lot.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you, glad our article could be helpful
Admin
Mathukutty P. V.
Great post giving all reqd information step by step. Your posts are free tutorials.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you, glad you like our free tutorials
Admin
Chris H
Thanks for providing this information. I definitely have a better idea of how to set this up on my own.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our guide could be helpful
Admin
Netshifhefhe Unarine
I am really impressed by WordPress I thought that to make an online store would be hard but it’s easy after reading this article whereby I learnt that I can setup the website in 30 minutes and how to install Woocommerce which is the heart of online store.Thanks for the information.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our article could be helpful
Admin
Marty Langenberg
Thanks for this detailed guide.
With your help, I set up my WP site in 2017 through BlueHost.
I have just added the WooCommerce Plugin as I try to set up a way of directly selling my ebooks.
I was able to upload a PDF file for one of my books but not a .mobi (for Kindle) file. The error message said that type of file could not be uploaded for security reasons.
Am I doing something wrong or do I need a different plugin?
Thanks for your interest and support.
WPBeginner Support
For fixing that error, you would want to take a look at our guide here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-add-additional-file-types-to-be-uploaded-in-wordpress/
Admin
Nema Supply
Thanks for sharing…
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for reading our article
Admin
Cody
Am I able to accept credit card numbers without having to process payment online? I would much rather use my Square to type in the credit card credentials and charge that way, then ship to my customers.
WPBeginner Support
Unless I hear otherwise, we don’t have a method we would recommend for setting that up.
Admin
Harish Kumar
great stuff, I willing to start an online store but I am facing some difficulties on that because I don’t have complete knowledge about the business, now I got a great knowledge, keep doing this great work and keep sharing with us.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could be helpful
Admin
Vince Comfort
Awesome post. This is really helpful. So simple that even a 7 year old can set this up.
A little tip here for those who may not be able to accept payments through Paypal and Stripe.
Go to your add new plugin page and search for “payment gateway [Your country]. Replace [Your country] with your country.
Now, make sure you research about the plugin you choose. Always ensure it is compatible with your installed wordpress version.
Thank you
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing your recommendation
Admin
Sac Jac
Hello Dear,
Thanks for sharing kind of article, It really nice and big article and as a Blogger, I can understand your efforts :).
It will also help me for my E-Commerce website where having multiple products
Thanks Again!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad you like our content
Admin
Christina Blue
Hi, this convinced me to bite the bullet and get a site. I followed your link and paid for an account, got my website name, created my password and logged in but I’m not getting the “You will be greeted with a popup informing you that WordPress with WooCommerce is pre-installed on your website.” I waited another hour in case something wasn’t set up yet. I also verified that my receipt states WooCommerce included. Now I’m completely at a loss…
WPBeginner Support
You can reach out to BlueHost and check with them, there is a chance that your browser or a browser addon prevented the popup from appearing.
Admin
Samuel Smart
But when i check the hosting price for Bluehost as you rightly said. The Price d total price outside extra packages was 179.40 dollars
WPBeginner Support
BlueHost does have multiple plan options so if you select a different plan that could change your pricing. At the moment BlueHost is also having the payment upfront rather than a monthly fee which may be part of the confusion.
Admin
Calvin
I tried to do a Shopify account but when I got to the billing section it required only a Credit Card. The problem is I’m a student and I don’t have a credit card. I do however have a Paypal account and debit cards. Does WordPress/Woocommerce also require only credit card payments for billing purposes or are there alternative options I can explore?
Thanks, and also great video!
WPBeginner Support
WooCommerce starts as a free plugin with paid addons, for the cost of WordPress it would depend on the hosting provider you use for what’s available.
Admin
Vinz
Hi, on setting up the payment by selecting Paypal standard, is it a personal or business paypal account? I asked because my paypal is a personal account. Can it be used in my online shop to accept payment by paypal and credit cards? Do I have to have a paypal business account.? If yes, then I will have to go tjrough the whole hassle of a business/company registration process, business name, incorporation, company bank account, etc… please advise.
WPBeginner Support
Unless I hear otherwise, Paypal business is required for receiving payments
Admin
Linda Wills
Came to this post looking for an answer and knowing of WPBeginner’s positive reputation. Couldn’t find the answer so …
I’m using WooCommerce, I keep being asked to connect my store to my wordpress.com account. I have one, but don’t use it as our blogs are on the .org site.
Do I need to do this? It seems odd to me, but I’m no tech expert!
WPBeginner Support
WooCommerce is requesting that as that is how they are handling keeping their extensions updated. While not required, it is recommended.
Admin
Beca
-Is this the same if I use Siteground instead of Bluehost?
-Can I manage my website/online shop with a mobile device or only a desktop computer?
Thank you!
WPBeginner Support
The installation steps for WordPress would be different but you could do the other steps the same. Yes you should be able to edit the site from mobile or computer as you would with any WordPress site
Admin
Lama
Hello,
When I reached step 3, I changed the URLs as shown but no I cant access Wordpress Admin page! Please, help!
The error is:
“Not Found
The requested URL /404.html was not found on this server.
Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
WPBeginner Support
You may not have an SSL certificate active at the moment if you tried to change to https and can no longer reach your admin area. You would want to start by reaching out to your hosting provider to have them ensure your SSL certificate is active for your site.
Admin
Zuryna
Can I follow this guide if I want a blog and and online store to be on the same site?
WPBeginner Support
You certainly can
Admin
Nook
Wow! That’s awsome!
I’m setting my Etsy shop, but it is not ready yet.
I just want to maie sure that I understand the cost of having a website vias Wordpress+Woocommerce = 6.95$/month?
Or does Woocommerce has other fees? I can’t see if they are on their website.
Because if this is less expensive than Etsy, I would switch right away.
Thank you
WPBeginner Support
Unless you want to purchase one of their paid addons, WooCommerce does not have any extra fees to be used.
Admin
Alex
Nice post! I learned something new today.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our content could be helpful
Admin
Sarmad Alsaadi
This is a wonderful post that taught a lot on WooCommerce.
alex
nice post
WPBeginner Support
Thank you
Admin
Cheryl
Hi WPBeginner,
May I ask a question.
I have a site using Wordpress – barely used in five years because I detest it.
Domain is hosted on Siteground.
I would like to do a clean set up of a new site using same domain name.
Is this possible?
Where do I start?
Regards Cheryl
WPBeginner Support
You would want to take a look at the first two steps in our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-permanently-delete-a-wordpress-site-from-internet/
Admin
Vanessa Gomez
Dear Wpbeginner team,
Thank you so much for such wonderful material, I cannot wait to start my ecommerce website.
Unfortunately, I did not find/read Wpbeginners before buying the domain, web hosting and SSL certificate, otherwise I would have done it thorugh Bluehost since it seems pretty userfriendly.
I have one question, do you have a tuttorial that I can follow (something just like this) when my website works with print on demand? becuase I do not have to deal myself with shipments or inventory, etc. Or which would be the right process to follow?
Thank you so much in advance!!
Best Regards,
Vanessa
WPBeginner Support
We do not have a tutorial at the moment for that purpose.
Admin
CraftNShop
Good and well-researched blog.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you
Admin
Tyrone
How is your WPB discount better than the current discount prices? Seem like the month to month with the same comparison is cheaper straight from bluehost. right now $4.45 a month gets me more for the money. unlimited sites and unlimited storage which is not included in 6.95. just one site and 100G. — is there somethings I am missing?
WPBeginner Support
BlueHost has multiple types of hosting, you may be looking at the standard shared hosting with that pricing.
Admin
Christian
Hi
I would lige to know if there is a standard setup for taxes and transport in all counties , so the customer will be able to calculate the actual price for buying the goods ?
Best regards
Christian
WPBeginner Support
There are a few different methods to set this up, if you reach out to WooCommerce with how you would like it specifically they should be able to let you know which method would work best for you.
Admin
Romanik
thanks,I need to read it again to understand
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could be helpful
Admin
Larry
Hi
Great tutorials. Do some of the theme templates allow for pages of informational content plus a eCommerce store? Any advice on setting up a dropshipping site. Thanks for your time
WPBeginner Support
Yes, most themes are able to accommodate pages as well as a store. For dropshipping you may want to take a look at WooCommerce and their dropshipping addon: https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/make-money-online/#create-a-dropshipping-store
Admin
Monica
Hi,
your bluehost link doesn’t work. I clicked on it to get your discount pricing but there’s nothing on the landing page. Help!
Thank you for your awesome tutorials!
Monica
WPBeginner Support
At the moment, there should be a large green button on the left-hand side once your browser finishes loading the BlueHost site. If you mean you can’t get to the BlueHost site you may want to try a private/incognito browser to see if the issue could be caused by a browser addon
Admin
Sonia
I would like to start my blog with my online store… Is this possible?
WPBeginner Support
You certainly could, you would normally want to set a posts page under Settings>Reading to specify what page your blog will be on
Admin
DHAIRYA ARORA
its so good i like the way you give so nice tutorials
WPBeginner Support
Hey Dhairya,
Thanks. We are glad you found these tutorials helpful.
Admin
Linda
I have looked online and on Wordpress, but I can’t find anything that gives me good info on the differences between Wordpress Premium and Business. I just posted a previous question, which may help inform this one.
On my site, I want to provide lots of information (health-related) as well as the products. There will be about 20 products. Most people will be interested in about 4 or 5 of them. There is a huge price jump between Premium and Business. Thank you again for your help.
WPBeginner Support
Hi Linda,
You are probably comparing WordPress.com packages. Please see our guide on the difference between self hosted WordPress.org vs free WordPress.com blog.
Admin
Trina
How much does it cost per month for the ecommerce store? I am confused about the pricing you listed.
Silver
Hello, I am from Nigeria. I will like to know if I can choose Nigeria as my store location.
WPBeginner Support
Hi Silver,
Yes you can.
Admin
David Price
I want to start a blog and an e commerce store which should l start first. I was thinking the blog first.
WPBeginner Support
Hi David,
You can do that, or you can start both of them together.
Admin
Preety
Hello,
First of all, I would like to thank the entire team for helping us out with such insightful information about each and everything related to WordPress.
Now having said that, I have few queries and I request you to please guide me through.
I am from India and I already have a Personal Blog and it’s on Wordpress platform (hosted by Bluehost)
Now I am willing to start a small business and it comprises of services related to Digital Marketing and also that of a Clothing brand.
<< I wish to know if I need to get a new website for the same or I can convert my personal blog into the Online Store.
<<Does all these features hold good in India and How to connect it to amazon.in
<<Also, can I add "Call to action" button and "payment option" in my personal blog.
<< How much I will be charged yearly and whats the validity period.
Please let me know, Thank you.
WPBeginner Support
Hi Preety,
Your business website and online store can be on your personal domain name if you are using your personal brand as your business identity. However, many businesses choose a suitable business name and then build it as a separate brand. In that case, you will need a new domain name and website.
Most of the tutorial would work fine for Indian users.
Yes you can add call to action buttons and payment options in your personal blog as well.
Admin