Do you want to start your own online store? We know that building an online store can be a terrifying thought, especially when you’re not a techy person.
But, there’s good news: launching an online store doesn’t have to be scary or complicated. Here at WPBeginner, we’ve helped hundreds of users start their online store and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
In this article, we will show you how to easily start an online store.
![Easily start an online store Easily start an online store](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/start-an-online-store-og-1.png)
What Do You Need to Start an Online Store?
There has 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 set up 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:
- Step 1. Set up Your Online Store Platform (Hosting & Domain)
- Step 2. Set Up Your WordPress Website
- Step 3. Set Up Your WooCommerce Store
- Step 4. Set Up Payments for Your Online Store
- Step 5. Add Products to Your Online Store
- Step 6. Select and Customize WordPress Theme
- Step 7. Extend Your Online Store With Plugins
- Learning WordPress to Grow Your Online Business
- FAQs About Starting an Online Store
Ready? Let’s get started.
💡Struggling to create an online store? Let WPBeginner Pro Services help! Our expert team can create a custom WooCommerce site for you, easily and affordably. From design to SEO, we’ve got you covered. Get Our WordPress Website Design Services Today!
Video Tutorial
If you don’t like the video or need more instructions, then continue reading.
Step 1. Set 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 per 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. For more details, see our Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison and our guide on WordPress for eCommerce.
In this tutorial, we will walk you through how to set up an online store in WordPress using WooCommerce on some of the best WooCommerce hosting.
To set up your eCommerce store, you need 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, web hosting, and an SSL certificate can total up to a hundred dollars. That’s a lot of startup costs.
Thankfully, Bluehost, an official WordPress and WooCommerce-recommended hosting provider, has agreed to offer our users a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and a discount on web hosting.
Basically, you can get started for as little as $1.99 per month.
Bluehost is one of the largest brand names 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 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.
![Start with Bluehost Clicking the Get Started button in the Bluehost website](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bluehost-pricing-get-started.png)
On the next screen, select the plan that you need.
For an online store, you can go with the Online Store plan. Go ahead and click the ‘Select’ button.
![Bluehost pricing plans Bluehost pricing plans](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bluehost-plans-new-new-min.png)
After that, you will be asked to enter the domain name for your website.
To create a new domain name, simply type it in the field. If you have one that you want to use already, there is a box you can enter that into, too.
Once you have chosen a domain name, click ‘Next.’
![Bluehost Free Domain Name Bluehost Free Domain Name](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bluehostdomainsetup.png)
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 them. You can always add them later on if you decide that you need them.
![Uncheck hosting addons Bluehost's package extras](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bluehost-package-extras-min.png)
Once completed, you can log in to the Bluehost hosting dashboard.
Bluehost will typically install WordPress for you so you can get right to building your WordPress site. However, if you somehow skip this step, you can follow these next instructions.
Note: If you use Hostinger, SiteGround, or HostGator, you can read our step-by-step article on how to install WordPress for more information.
How to Install WordPress in Bluehost
In the Bluehost dashboard, navigate to the ‘Websites’ tab and click ‘Add Site.’
![Adding a new site in Bluehost Adding a new site in Bluehost](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bluehost-add-site.png)
You will now complete the WordPress installation wizard.
First, select ‘Install WordPress’ on the screen and click ‘Continue.’
![Choosing WordPress as the CMS to use in Bluehost Choosing WordPress as the CMS to use in Bluehost](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bluehost-install-wordpress-min.png)
Next, you will insert a title for your new WordPress site.
It can be anything you want, and you can change it later if you change your mind. Go ahead and click ‘Continue.’
![Inserting a site title for a new Bluehost WordPress site Inserting a site title for a new Bluehost WordPress site](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bluehost-site-title-1.png)
Now, let’s connect your WordPress site with a domain name.
You can enter your chosen domain name or use a temporary Bluehost subdomain in the meantime. Once you’ve made your choice, click ‘Continue.’
![Connecting a new domain name to a website in Bluehost Connecting a new domain name to a website in Bluehost](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bluehost-connect-domain-min-1.png)
You will now return to the Websites tab and wait for Bluehost to install the WordPress software for you.
If the installation is successful, then the new website will appear on this tab. You can go ahead and click ‘Edit Site’ to log in to your WordPress dashboard.
![Accessing the WordPress dashboard from Bluehost Accessing the WordPress dashboard from Bluehost](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bluehost-edit-site-1.png)
Congratulations, you have finished setting up your hosting and domain!
If you’re unfamiliar with the WordPress dashboard or admin area, here’s what it looks like:
![WordPress dashboard WordPress dashboard](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/wp-dashboard.png)
Step 2. Set Up Your WordPress Website
Let’s set up your WordPress website.
First, you need to visit the Settings » General page to set up your WordPress site title and tagline. If you’re happy with the site title you’ve chosen before, then you don’t need to change it.
The tagline is also optional, so don’t worry if you can’t come up with something right away.
![WordPress online store title and description WordPress online store title and description](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/store-title-desc.png)
Set 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 that it loads as https instead of http.
On the Settings » General page, you need to change your WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to use https instead of http.
![Use HTTPs for your WordPress store address Use HTTPs for your WordPress store address](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/use-https.png)
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 set up your online store.
![Clicking 'Save Changes' in the WordPress General Settings page Clicking 'Save Changes' in the WordPress General Settings page](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wordpress-general-settings-save-changes-min.png)
Step 3. Set 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 the WooCommerce listing.
![Installing WooCommerce Installing WooCommerce](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/install-woocommerce.png)
WordPress will now fetch and install the WooCommerce plugin for you.
Wait for it to finish downloading the plugin, and then click on the ‘Activate’ button to continue.
![Activate WooCommerce Activate WooCommerce](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/activate-woocommerce.png)
Upon activation, WooCommerce will launch the setup wizard, and you’ll see the Welcome to WooCommerce screen.
This setup wizard will walk you through important WooCommerce settings.
![WooCommerce wizard WooCommerce wizard](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/woo-wizard-welcome.png)
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.
![Choose store industry Choose store industry](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/store-industry.png)
Click on the ‘Continue’ button to move on.
After that, you’ll be asked to choose the types of products you’ll be selling in your store. For instance, if your products need shipping, then you can choose ‘Physical Products.’
![Choose product types Choose product types](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/product-types.png)
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 the ‘I don’t have products yet’ option and select ‘No’ for the other option.
![Provide business details Provide business details](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/business-details.png)
Now, you need to switch to the ‘Free Features’ tab.
You’ll see a box pre-checked to install free features for your website.
![Uncheck free features Uncheck free features](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/uncheck-free-features.png)
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 WooCommerce themes listed on the page.
![Choose theme Choose theme](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/choose-theme.png)
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 the basic WooCommerce setup.
Step 4. Set 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 set up.
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.
![Payment settings Payment settings](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/payments-settings.png)
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.
![Install Stripe for your online store Install Stripe for your online store](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/additional-payment-gateways.png)
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).
![Stripe settings Stripe settings](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/stripe-settings.png)
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 WP Simple Pay plugin.
It comes with more features like a quick setup wizard, automatic webhook creation, one-click express payments, and more.
Step 5. Add Products to Your Online Store
Let’s start with adding the first product to your online store.
You need to visit the Products » Add New page to add a new product.
![Add new product Add new product](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/addnewproduct.jpg)
First, provide a title for your product and then a detailed description.
On the right-hand column, you will see the ‘Product Categories’ box. Click on the ‘+ Add new category’ to create a category for this product. This allows you and your customers to sort and browse products easily.
![Add product category Add product category](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/producy-categories.png)
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.
![Add product data Add product data](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/addproductdata.png)
Below the product data box, you will see a box to add a short product description.
These product descriptions will be used when users are viewing multiple products on a page.
![Product short description Product short description](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/product-short-description.png)
Lastly, on your right-hand column, you will see boxes to add a main product image and a product gallery.
Now, you just need to add the pictures that you think best showcase your products.
![Product images Product images](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/product-images.jpg)
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 site looks 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.
Once you have installed a WooCommerce theme, you can customize its appearance to your own requirements.
If you are using a classic theme, then simply head over to the Appearance » Customize page. This will launch the Theme Customizer, where you can change different theme settings.
![Customizing your WordPress theme Customizing your WordPress theme](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/theme-customizer.jpg)
Most modern WooCommerce themes come with different customization options and work well with desktop as well as mobile devices.
If you are using a block theme instead, then you can follow our tutorial on how to use the WordPress full site editor.
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 59,000 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 OptinMonster](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/optinmonster-min.png)
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.
![WPForms WPForms](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/wpforms-2.png)
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 card order forms, 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.
WPForms also has a free version called WPForms Lite that you can use if you don’t need the Pro features.
![Easy Affiliate AffiliateWP website](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/affiliatewp-1.png)
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 Advanced Coupons](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/advanced-coupons.png)
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 programs, 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 website SeedProd](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/seedprod-small.png)
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 homepages, checkout pages, thank you pages, and more.
Plus, you can connect it to your email marketing service so you can grow your email list.
You can try the free version of SeedProd directly from WordPress.org.
![PushEngage PushEngage](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/pushengage-site.png)
With PushEngage, you can easily send personalized eCommerce push notifications to your target audience, even after they’re no longer on your website.
You can send abandoned cart reminders, browse abandonment notifications, price drop alerts, new product announcements, back-in-stock notifications, welcome messages, and more.
For more details, see our guide about web push notifications and how they work.
7. All in One SEO for WordPress
![All in One SEO for WordPress All in One SEO website](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/aioseo-website-680.png)
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 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.
There is also a free version of AIOSEO, which is still pretty powerful for those who are just starting out.
![MonsterInsights MonsterInsights](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/monsterinsights.png)
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 WordPress CRM and Marketing Automation Plugin HubSpot WordPress CRM and Marketing Automation Plugin](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/hubspot-wordpress-plugin.png)
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 a 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 homepage FunnelKit homepage](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/funnelkit-min.png)
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 automation 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 questions 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 in 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. 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.
For a detailed cost analysis, see our article on how much it costs 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 the WooCommerce » Settings page.
![Enabling taxes in WooCommerce Enabling taxes in WooCommerce](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/enable-taxes.png)
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 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.
Syed Balkhi says
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Chandra says
Great article!! Very useful for beginners
WPBeginner Support says
Thank you, glad you found our article helpful![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Dawn Groves says
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.![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
WPBeginner Support says
Thank you for letting us know![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Leah says
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 says
For single items you could do that, WooCommerce gives you more tools for showing and tracking purchases on your site.
Admin
Medha says
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 says
Long term it should not cause an issue but in the short term, you may see a drop in visitors.
Admin
Phillip says
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 says
You would be creating a WordPress.org site![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Steve says
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 says
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 says
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 says
As long as your theme does not have issues on mobile browsers this should also work for mobile devices.
Admin
Deanna says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Glad our article was able to simplify the process for you![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
jyoti says
Impressive blog.
WPBeginner Support says
Thank you![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Alan says
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 says
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 says
Where do the actual products come from?
WPBeginner Support says
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 says
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 says
Thank you, glad our article could be helpful![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Kunthea Johnson says
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 says
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 says
Very impactful, I really learnt a lot.
WPBeginner Support says
Thank you, glad our article could be helpful![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Mathukutty P. V. says
Great post giving all reqd information step by step. Your posts are free tutorials.
WPBeginner Support says
Thank you, glad you like our free tutorials![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Chris H says
Thanks for providing this information. I definitely have a better idea of how to set this up on my own.
WPBeginner Support says
You’re welcome, glad our guide could be helpful![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Netshifhefhe Unarine says
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 says
You’re welcome, glad our article could be helpful![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Marty Langenberg says
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 says
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 says
Thanks for sharing…
WPBeginner Support says
Thanks for reading our article![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Cody says
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 says
Unless I hear otherwise, we don’t have a method we would recommend for setting that up.
Admin
Harish Kumar says
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 says
Glad our guide could be helpful![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Vince Comfort says
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 says
Thanks for sharing your recommendation![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Sac Jac says
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 says
You’re welcome, glad you like our content![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Christina Blue says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Unless I hear otherwise, Paypal business is required for receiving payments
Admin
Linda Wills says
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 says
WooCommerce is requesting that as that is how they are handling keeping their extensions updated. While not required, it is recommended.
Admin
Beca says
-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 says
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![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Lama says
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 says
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 says
Can I follow this guide if I want a blog and and online store to be on the same site?
WPBeginner Support says
You certainly can![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Nook says
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![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
WPBeginner Support says
Unless you want to purchase one of their paid addons, WooCommerce does not have any extra fees to be used.![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Alex says
Nice post! I learned something new today.
WPBeginner Support says
Glad our content could be helpful![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Sarmad Alsaadi says
This is a wonderful post that taught a lot on WooCommerce.
alex says
nice post
WPBeginner Support says
Thank you![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Cheryl says
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 says
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 says
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 says
We do not have a tutorial at the moment for that purpose.
Admin
CraftNShop says
Good and well-researched blog.
WPBeginner Support says
Thank you![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Tyrone says
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 says
BlueHost has multiple types of hosting, you may be looking at the standard shared hosting with that pricing.
Admin
Christian says
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 says
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 says
thanks,I need to read it again to understand
WPBeginner Support says
Glad our guide could be helpful![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Larry says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
Admin
Sonia says
I would like to start my blog with my online store… Is this possible?
WPBeginner Support says
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 says
its so good i like the way you give so nice tutorials![:)](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/plugins/classic-smilies/img/icon_smile.gif)
WPBeginner Support says
Hey Dhairya,
Thanks. We are glad you found these tutorials helpful.
Admin
Linda says
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 says
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 says
How much does it cost per month for the ecommerce store? I am confused about the pricing you listed.
Silver says
Hello, I am from Nigeria. I will like to know if I can choose Nigeria as my store location.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Silver,
Yes you can.
Admin
David Price says
I want to start a blog and an e commerce store which should l start first. I was thinking the blog first.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi David,
You can do that, or you can start both of them together.
Admin
Preety says
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 says
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