Table of Contents
WooCommerce is the free plugin that turns a regular WordPress site into a full online store — product listings, a shopping cart, checkout, and payment processing, all inside the WordPress dashboard you already know.
1. Install the plugin
In wp-admin, go to Plugins → Add New, search for WooCommerce, and click Install then Activate. This launches the setup wizard automatically.
2. Run the setup wizard
The wizard asks for your store's address, currency, and the type of products you'll sell (physical, digital, or both) — these settings drive tax and shipping calculations later, so fill them in accurately.
3. Set up payment methods
WooCommerce supports Stripe and PayPal out of the box, but for Ghanaian customers, adding a local gateway like Paystack (via its official WooCommerce plugin) is essential, since it lets you accept mobile money alongside card payments directly at checkout.
4. Configure shipping zones
Under WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping, set up zones for the regions you deliver to — a flat rate for Accra and Kumasi, a different rate for the rest of Ghana, and a separate zone entirely if you ship internationally.
5. Add your products
Go to Products → Add New for each item — include clear photos, an honest description, a price, and stock quantity if you're tracking inventory. Product categories help customers browse rather than search blindly.
6. Check your tax settings
Under WooCommerce → Settings → Tax, decide whether prices include or exclude VAT and set the correct rate for your business — get this right before launch, since changing it after orders start coming in gets messier.
7. Choose a theme suited to e-commerce
Not every WordPress theme handles product grids and checkout pages well — Storefront (built specifically for WooCommerce) or another WooCommerce-optimised theme avoids layout issues that generic themes sometimes introduce.
8. Test a full order before launch
Place a real test order all the way through checkout, using a small real payment if possible, to confirm the payment gateway, order confirmation email, and admin notification all work correctly before customers see the store live.
Key takeaway: A local payment gateway that accepts mobile money isn't optional for a Ghanaian store — it's often the payment method most of your customers will actually try to use first, so get it working and tested before anything else.