If you want to build an e-commerce website on WordPress, WooCommerce is your best friend. By 2025, WooCommerce powers over 6.5 million online stores, thanks to its flexibility and zero licensing fees. This guide will take you from installation to launching your first store — even if you’re not a tech expert.
Why Choose WooCommerce in 2025?
Free and open-source
Works with any WordPress theme
Thousands of extensions for payment, shipping, and marketing
Prerequisites
A running WordPress website
SSL certificate for secure payments
Basic understanding of WordPress dashboard
Installing WooCommerce
Go to Plugins → Add New → Search “WooCommerce” → Install → Activate
Setup wizard: Add store details, currency, shipping region, payment gateways
Adding Your First Product
Navigate to Products → Add New
Add product title, description, price, and product image
Choose between Simple, Variable, or Grouped products
Configuring Payments and Shipping
Payments: Stripe, PayPal, COD, bank transfer
Shipping: Free shipping, flat rate, real-time carriers via plugins
Essential WooCommerce Settings
Set tax rates (manual or automatic via plugins)
Customize checkout fields
Enable email notifications for orders
Testing and Launching Your Store
Use sandbox mode for payment testing
Place test orders to verify checkout process
Check mobile responsiveness before going live
With WooCommerce, you can set up a fully functional online store in just a few hours. Once configured, focus on SEO, speed, and marketing to drive traffic and increase sales.