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WooCommerce is the most popular e-commerce plugin for WordPress, allowing you to turn an existing website into a fully-fledged online shop in just a few steps. This article covers the basic settings required before you get started; for information on the hosting required for your online shop and the next steps, please see our blog post featuring a step-by-step guide to installing WooCommerce.
Before you start
- SSL certificate: as the shop handles payment and personal data, it must run over HTTPS. There is a separate article on redirecting the website to HTTPS.
- Up-to-date WordPress and PHP: WooCommerce always requires the latest versions of WordPress and PHP. The PHP version can be configured in cPanel.
- Backup: if you are installing on an existing site, please make a backup beforehand.
1. Installing the extension
In the WordPress admin panel, go to Plugins **> **Add New Plugin, search for ‘WooCommerce’, then install and activate it. You can also install it from the WP Toolkit, via the Plugins tab on your website.
2. The setup wizard
Once activated, WooCommerce will launch the setup wizard. Here, you’ll need to specify whether you’re starting a business, are already selling, or are setting up the shop for a client, followed by the shop name, product types, the shop’s country and your email address. You are not obliged to install the recommended add-ons: simply choose the ones you actually need, as every add-on can slow down the site. At the end of the wizard, on the WooCommerce > Home page, a to-do list will guide you through the next steps.
3. General settings
On the WooCommerce > Settings > General page:
- Please enter your shop address (this will appear on letters and invoices),
- Select the countries to which you sell and deliver,
- The currency should be the Hungarian forint (Ft); for prices in forints, it is advisable to set the number of decimal places to 0,
- If you wish to manage VAT, tick the ‘Enable tax rates and calculations’ option.
4. Taxation
On the ‘Tax’ tab that appears after logging in, specify whether you wish to enter product prices as gross or net amounts, and add the relevant VAT rates. In Hungary, the standard rate is 27 per cent, whilst certain products and services are subject to 18 per cent or 5 per cent. Please consult your accountant to determine which rate applies to your products and whether you require an invoicing add-on.
5. Payment methods
On the WooCommerce > Settings > Payments page, enable the desired payment methods: bank transfer, cash on delivery or credit/debit card payment via a payment service provider. Most domestic and international payment service providers offer their own WooCommerce plugin; you should always install it from the provider’s official website or the WordPress.org plugin repository.
6. Delivery
On the ‘Shipping’ tab, create shipping zones (e.g. Hungary, European Union) and specify the shipping methods for each: flat-rate fee, free delivery above a certain order value, or collection in person. For parcel locker and courier deliveries, you will need the service providers’ own plugins.
7. Products and legal pages
Upload your products via the Products > Add New menu item (name, description, price, images, stock). To launch your shop, you will also need Terms and Conditions, a Data Protection Notice and a Cancellation Policy; please consult a lawyer or accountant regarding the content of these documents.
Checks before launch
Place a test order using any payment method and check that the customer and administrator notification emails are received. Order emails count towards your hosting’s email sending quota: with WordPress hosting plans, you can send 100–300 emails per hour, which is sufficient for most start-up shops but not enough to send out a newsletter.
Performance and security
An online shop places a greater load on the server than a simple landing page, as the shopping basket and checkout pages cannot be cached. You can read more about this in our article ‘How can I speed up my WordPress site?’. The official WooCommerce video (in English) demonstrates how to set up your shop and upload your first products: