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WordPress how-tos

How do I use WooCommerce to sell a few products or services on WordPress?

By Chris Parsons, founder of ParsonsHosting. Published .

Install the free WooCommerce plugin, run its setup steps, add your products with a price and photo, and turn on a payment method such as Stripe or PayPal. Then place a test order before you tell customers. For a handful of products, gift certificates or deposits, that covers the basics.

Seller reviewing orders on a laptop next to stacked shipping boxes

Is WooCommerce right for you?

WooCommerce suits you if you want to:

  • Sell a few physical items (local goods, merchandise, parts)
  • Take deposits or payments for set-price services
  • Sell gift certificates or event tickets

If you only need people to request a quote, a contact form is simpler. If you plan to sell hundreds of products or expect heavy traffic, Redis object caching is available as a per-account upgrade that helps busy stores; our team sets it up, and you can request it on the Redis request page.

Before you start

  • Check that your site loads with HTTPS (the padlock in the browser). Every ParsonsHosting site gets a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate. If your DNS is on Cloudflare, follow our Cloudflare DNS, email and SSL guide so order emails reach your customers.
  • Have your business details, tax information and shipping rules ready.
  • Decide how you will be paid. You will need an account with a payment provider (for example Stripe, PayPal or Square).
  • Back up first. ParsonsHosting keeps offsite backups three times a week (Monday, Tuesday and Friday), but take your own backup before installing a store.
  • Consider building and testing the store on a staging copy first (staging with WP Toolkit is included on every plan).

Step 1: Install WooCommerce

  1. In your dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New Plugin.
  2. Search for WooCommerce.
  3. Click Install Now, then Activate.
  4. Follow the setup screens. They ask for your store address, what you sell and a few business details. You can skip optional extras.

Step 2: Add a product

  1. Go to Products > Add New.
  2. Enter the product name, for example "Gift Certificate – $100."
  3. Write a short, clear description: what it is, what is included, any limits.
  4. In the Product data box, choose Simple product and enter the Regular price.
  5. Tick Virtual if nothing is shipped (services, gift certificates, deposits).
  6. Add a product image on the right.
  7. Click Publish.

Repeat for each product. Use Categories if you have more than a few.

Step 3: Turn on payments

  1. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments.
  2. Choose a payment provider and follow its steps to connect your account.
  3. Many providers offer a test mode. Use it for your first order.

You can also enable offline methods like Cash on delivery or Check payments if you collect payment in person.

Two people labeling and packing boxes for customer orders

Step 4: Set shipping and taxes

  1. Under WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping, add a shipping zone (for example "Oregon" or "United States") and a method such as flat rate, free shipping or Local pickup.
  2. Under WooCommerce > Settings > General, check your store address and whether taxes are enabled.
  3. Sales tax rules depend on where you and your customers are. Oregon has no general state sales tax, but if you sell to other states, ask your accountant what applies to you.

Step 5: Check emails and pages

  1. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Emails and make sure new-order emails go to an inbox you check.
  2. Confirm your Shop, Cart and Checkout pages exist and look right.
  3. Add a link to your shop in the site menu.
  4. Add a refund and returns policy page and link to it from checkout.

Step 6: Place a test order

  1. In test mode, add a product to the cart and check out.
  2. Confirm you get the order email and the customer email.
  3. Look at the order under WooCommerce > Orders.
  4. Switch payments to live mode, then place one small real order and refund it.

Keep your store healthy

  • Update WooCommerce and its extensions promptly. Store plugins handle payments and customer data.
  • Before major WooCommerce updates, make a fresh backup, test the update on a staging copy, then update live during a quiet time.
  • Only add extensions you need. Each one adds weight and upkeep.

Need help?

If checkout is slow, emails do not arrive, or you are not sure about setup, email support@parsonshosting.com or call 530-710-8726. We reply the same day, often within an hour, during business hours (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific, 7 days a week). See WordPress hosting or the FAQ. Already have a store elsewhere? We migrate it for free regardless of size or time.

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