Optimize WooCommerce Settings for Performance. Let’s start with the basics by optimizing. WooCommerce is developer friendly, too. Built with a REST API, WooCommerce is scalable and can integrate with virtually any service. Design a complex store from scratch, extend a store for a client, or simply add a single product to a WordPress site—your store, your way.
In this Getting Started guide, we teach you how to set up a website with WooCommerce.
Choose Hosting ↑ Back to top
You need to be running WordPress on a self-hosted site.
We have partnered with a few hosting companies that offer pre-installs of WordPress, WooCommerce, our Storefront theme and ecommerce-specific features, such as a dedicated IP and SSL certificate to keep your store protected and secure.
- Single sites: Bluehost, SiteGround, and WordPress.com
- Multiple sites (5-site deal): Pressable
Install WordPress ↑ Back to top
Now you have a space to start building your website. To lay a foundation, use the free WordPress software platform.
Many hosting companies have one-click WordPress installation available, so be sure to look for this option or ask if it’s available. Otherwise, you can download from WordPress.org and then install by following instructions at: How to install WordPress
Activate WooCommerce
Woocommerce Website Design
With your website up and running, it’s time to install e-commerce functionality with WooCommerce. There are three ways to do this.
- Create a free account on WooCommerce.com
- Sign-up for an account on WordPress.com and WooCommerce.com
- Select from:
- A pre-installed solution with a trusted host
- Auto-installing WooCommerce if you have a WordPress site already
- Download the zip file and do it yourself
- Download the WooCommerce plugin
- Download the plugin
- Go to your website
- Go to: Dashboard > Plugins > Add New > Upload
- Select the downloaded plugin
- Install
- Activate
- Search for the WooCommerce plugin from within your website
- Go to your website
- Go to: Dashboard > Plugins > Add New > Search Plugins
- Search for “WooCommerce”
- Install
- Activate
Upon activating the plugin, you are prompted with a Setup Wizard. We strongly advise following these steps, as it takes you through initial setup.
Pick a Theme ↑ Back to top
In the Setup Wizard mentioned above, you will be asked to pick a theme. The theme you choose will determine the starting look and layout of your store/site (though you can customize it from there!). You can use a free theme included with WordPress or purchase a premium theme.
We recommend Storefrontand itschild themes because they are built and optimized for WooCommerce. Storefront is free. If you wish to add functionality, you can purchase Storefront extensions.
If Storefront isn’t for you, there are lots of other themes that work great with WooCommerce.
Extend WooCommerce ↑ Back to top
Grow your store by adding functionality with extensions. We sell extensions for nearly everything: Subscriptions, Bookings, Memberships, payment gateways, shipping and much more.
You can start a store/website for free and scale up as your customer base and revenue grow. Each extension is purchased on a subscription that gives you access to support and product updates. A subscription is billed annually.
Woocommerce Webshop
Learn More ↑ Back to top
To learn more about working with WooCommerce:
Woocommerce Website Development Cost
- Read our WooCommerce documentation