How to create an online store with WooCommerce

In WordPress, go to Plugins > Add New, search for WooCommerce, install it and activate it. WooCommerce then opens its onboarding wizard and setup checklist, which cover the core store decisions.

Enter your store location, currency, business details and product type. Do not accept every optional recommendation automatically; some suggested services require extra accounts or connections that you may not need.

Use Products > Add New to create each item, or import a larger catalogue with WooCommerce's built-in CSV importer. Add a clear name, description, price, product image, stock status and shipping information. Choose the right product type, such as simple, variable, virtual or downloadable.

Check variations carefully. A size or colour variation needs its own price, stock status and, where relevant, SKU. Missing variation data is a common reason for products showing as unavailable at checkout.

Open WooCommerce > Settings > Payments and enable a payment method that supports your country and business. Follow the provider's connection or verification steps, then check which payment methods appear at checkout. WooCommerce's payment choices and setup requirements vary by location.

Review the checkout, account and order-confirmation experience before launch. A payment method can appear enabled in the dashboard but still fail if credentials, webhooks or verification have not been completed.

For physical products, create shipping zones for the regions you serve and add the methods and rates customers should see. Include product weights and dimensions if a carrier or live-rate service needs them. If checkout says that no shipping options are available, check the customer's address against the zone first, then confirm that the zone has an active method.

For tax, choose whether to configure rates manually or use an available automated service. WooCommerce provides the calculation settings, but it does not decide where your business must collect tax, so confirm your obligations with a qualified tax professional.

You can create the store without buying a specialised theme. Keep the active WordPress theme, use the Site Editor or Customizer where available, and set your homepage, shop, cart, checkout, account, contact and policy pages. Add the shop and account links to the main navigation, then check the layout on a phone.

This manual route is fine for a small catalogue and gives you control without adding another design system. Its drawback is time: you may need to build product grids, headers, filters and promotional sections yourself, and theme changes can affect WooCommerce templates. Do not edit the parent theme directly because updates can overwrite your changes.

Place a complete test order using a real customer path: open a product, add it to the cart, enter a shipping address, select a payment method, complete checkout and confirm the order email. Also test a failed payment, a variable product, mobile checkout, shipping to each important zone and the refund process.

Before launch, confirm stock decreases correctly, taxes and shipping are displayed as intended, emails arrive, HTTPS is working and your returns, privacy and terms pages are available. WooCommerce's checklist treats a completed test order, payment confirmation and email check as launch tasks.

Fast way: use Basel when you want the store design ready sooner than building it from the default theme. Its responsive layouts, WooCommerce integration, layout options, theme controls and demo import can reduce the design work, while you still complete the product, payment, tax, shipping and testing steps above.