Who is this for?
Merchants, site-builders, and support agents helping customers configure a new WooCommerce store.
Prerequisites
WordPress is installed and accessible.
WooCommerce plugin installed and activated.
Admin access to the WordPress dashboard.
Quick checklist (what we’ll configure)
Run WooCommerce Setup Wizard (onboarding screen)
Store details: name, address, country, postcode
Currency and currency position
Business details: industry, product types
Shipping zones and methods
Taxes (enable/disable + basic VAT/Tax settings)
1) Start: Run the WooCommerce Setup Wizard (Onboarding screen)
Go to WooCommerce → Home in the WordPress admin.
You’ll be prompted to start the Setup Wizard. Click Set up your store.
If you skipped it earlier, reopen at any time: WooCommerce → Help → Setup Wizard (or WooCommerce → Home → Set up).
Tip: The wizard covers the essentials quickly — use it to capture store address, currency, shipping, and payments. You can refine settings later under WooCommerce → Settings.
2) Store Details (Onboarding step)
Complete these fields during the wizard or later at WooCommerce → Settings → General:
Store address/location: country, state, city, postcode. Important for tax and shipping calculations.
Store name: appears on invoices and in some emails (also set in WordPress → Settings → General site title).
Selling/Shipping locations: choose where you sell and ship to (all countries, specific countries, disabled).
Best practice: Use the legal business address for accurate tax/shipping calculations; use an international format if you ship worldwide.
3) Currency & Currency Settings
Set in WooCommerce → Settings → General:
Currency: choose the store currency (e.g., USD, EGP).
Currency position: left ($10) / right (10$) etc.
Thousand separator / Decimal separator / Number of decimals
Note for multi-currency stores: Use a currency switcher plugin (e.g., WooCommerce Multi-Currency) or a hosted payment provider supporting multiple currencies.
4) Taxes
WooCommerce can calculate taxes automatically (requires additional plugins/services) or manually configure standard tax rates.
Enable taxes: WooCommerce → Settings → General → Enable taxes.
Configure tax options: WooCommerce → Settings → Tax (standard rates, reduced, zero-rate).
Quick tax checklist:
Turn on taxes if you must charge VAT/sales tax.
Add standard tax rates or import rates via CSV if needed.
Confirm whether product prices include or exclude tax.
5) Shipping
Shipping setup happens across WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping and during the wizard.
Shipping Zones: region-based zones (e.g., Egypt, EU).
Shipping Methods: Flat rate, Free shipping, Local pickup.
Shipping classes: group products with similar shipping costs.
Pro tip: Start with simple flat rates per zone and add a carrier-specific plugin later for real-time rates (e.g., Aramex, DHL, FedEx plugins).
6) Recommended plugins & extensions (starter list)
WooCommerce Admin (improved analytics/dashboard — often bundled).
Payment gateways: Stripe, PayPal, local payment plugins.
Shipping integrations: carrier plugins for real-time rates.
Checkout and UX: Checkout blocks, Cart & Checkout optimization plugins.
7) Common troubleshooting & tips
Currency not changing: Check theme overrides or currency plugins that may lock the display.
Taxes incorrect: Verify store address and whether product prices include tax.
8) Short FAQs
Q: Can I change currency later?
A: Yes — but changing currency after taking orders or having existing prices can create inconsistencies. Prefer setting the correct store currency from the start.
Q: Do I need a plugin for shipping rates?
A: For advanced carrier rates (live DHL, FedEx, Aramex), yes — use a dedicated shipping plugin for real-time quotes.