Setting up a WooCommerce store, step by step

To set up a WooCommerce store you need WordPress hosting, the free WooCommerce plugin, a payment gateway, shipping zones and a handful of legal pages, then a few test orders before you go live. The whole job can be done in a weekend if your products are ready. This guide walks through the order that causes the least rework.

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Before you install anything

Decide how you will trade. In South Africa a sole proprietor can sell online without registering a company, but many owners register a company with CIPC early because it keeps business and personal money apart and makes bank and payment-provider applications easier. You only have to register for VAT once your taxable turnover passes R1 million in a 12-month period (check SARS for the current threshold, as it can change), though you can do it voluntarily sooner.

Also settle the basics of what you sell. Write down your product list, the cost of each item, your target selling price and the weight and size of every parcel. You will type all of this into WooCommerce, and having it in a spreadsheet first saves hours.

Choose hosting and a domain

WooCommerce runs on WordPress, so you are responsible for hosting. Look for a host that offers WordPress-specific plans, automatic backups, free SSL certificates and PHP 8 or newer. Cheap shared hosting works for a small catalogue, but a slow checkout loses sales, so check what the plan does under load before you commit.

Pick a domain that is short and easy to say out loud. A .co.za or .com both work. Point the domain at your host and make sure the site loads over https before you add a single product.

Install WordPress and WooCommerce

Install WordPress through your host's one-click installer and log in to the dashboard.
Go to Plugins, search for WooCommerce, install it and activate it. The setup wizard will open.
Enter your store address, country and currency. Choose rand as your currency if you sell mainly in South Africa.
Pick a theme built for WooCommerce. Fast and plain beats flashy. Test it on your phone, because most shoppers will use one.
Set permalinks to Post name under Settings so product URLs are readable.

Add products that sell

Photography does more work than copy. Shoot on a plain background in daylight, show the product from at least three angles, and include one image with something for scale. Keep file sizes small so pages load quickly.

Write descriptions that answer the questions a buyer would ask in a shop: size, material, what is in the box, care instructions. Use clear categories and give every product an accurate weight and dimensions, because shipping rates depend on them. Add stock quantities so you do not oversell.

Set up payments and tax

Install a gateway that supports your market. Local options such as PayFast, Yoco, Ozow and Paystack handle rand payments and cards, and international gateways cover overseas buyers. Run a test transaction in the gateway's sandbox before you switch to live keys.

Under WooCommerce tax settings, decide whether your prices include VAT. If you are VAT registered, enter the standard rate and show VAT on invoices. Install an invoicing plugin if you want PDF invoices emailed automatically.

Configure shipping and returns

Create shipping zones for the areas you serve, then add flat-rate, weight-based or free-shipping methods to each. Check real courier quotes first so you do not undercharge. Many new stores offer free delivery above a certain order value and build that cost into their prices.

Publish a returns policy before launch. Online buyers in South Africa have a statutory seven-day cooling-off right under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, and the Consumer Protection Act adds rules about faulty goods. Write the policy in plain language, link it from the footer and the checkout, and have a template reply ready for return requests.

Handle order tracking from the first sale

New stores are often surprised by how many messages arrive after a purchase. The buyer has paid, nothing visible has happened, and within a day or two the email or WhatsApp message arrives asking where the order is. With a handful of orders that is manageable. With a few dozen a week it eats the time you wanted for sourcing and marketing, and slow replies turn into bad reviews.

TrackIt For Business connects directly to WooCommerce. Once you link your store, completed orders become tracked shipments automatically, so you do not copy tracking numbers anywhere. It follows parcels across 3,000+ carriers, which means you keep whichever courier you already use. Customers get automatic notifications and a self-serve tracking page, and can add a branded Apple Wallet or Google Wallet pass that updates as the parcel is scanned. Your dashboard flags shipments that are at risk or delayed, so you hear about a stuck parcel before the customer does.

Pricing is $14.99 a month, plus R1.50 per package the first time its Wallet passes are generated. Packages that are only tracked cost nothing extra, and you can cancel at any time.

Test, then launch

Place a test order with each payment method and refund it.
Check that order emails arrive and do not land in spam. Use an SMTP plugin if they do.
Open the store on a phone and complete a purchase from start to finish.
Confirm your privacy policy, terms and returns policy are published, and that you handle customer data in line with POPIA.
Install a backup and a security plugin, and set up Google Analytics or a similar tool.
Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console so your products can be found.

Preguntas frecuentes

How much does it cost to set up a WooCommerce store?

WooCommerce itself is free. Your main costs are hosting, a domain, a theme if you buy a premium one, payment gateway fees per sale and any paid plugins. Many small stores start for a modest monthly hosting fee and add extensions as they grow.

Do I need a developer to set up WooCommerce?

Not for a basic store. The setup wizard, a good theme and a few well-known plugins cover most needs. A developer becomes useful for custom checkout changes, migrations or complex shipping rules.

Can WooCommerce orders be tracked automatically?

Yes. With TrackIt For Business you connect your WooCommerce store and completed orders become tracked shipments without manual entry. Customers can then follow their parcel on a tracking page or through a Wallet pass.

How do I reduce 'where is my order' messages?

Send tracking updates automatically and give customers a page where they can look up their parcel themselves. Proactive notifications answer the question before it is asked, so your inbox only sees real problems.

Which payment gateway should a South African WooCommerce store use?

Compare PayFast, Yoco, Ozow and Paystack on fees, payout speed and supported payment methods. Choose the one your customers are most likely to trust, and test it in sandbox mode before going live.