How to Sell Internationally with WooCommerce? Start Here!

April 8, 2025

Sell internationally with WooCommerce it sounds big, but it’s actually something more and more store owners are doing every day.
If you’ve ever thought about getting your products into the hands of customers in other countries, you’re not alone.
And the good news?
It’s very doable, even if you’re just one person running a small store!

➡ In this article:
We’ll walk you through what it really takes to sell across borders using WooCommerce.
You’ll learn what to prepare, how to handle things like shipping and payments, and which tools can help make everything smoother.

Having worked with thousands of online businesses, We at WPFactory—a trusted developer of WooCommerce plugins—have seen what works, what doesn’t, and the common challenges store owners face when going global.

So if you’re ready to take your store beyond your local area and into new markets, this guide will help you get started the right way.

Table of Contents

Why Selling Internationally Is a Smart Next Step?

If your WooCommerce store is already making sales locally, that’s great, but what if there are people in other countries who want your products too?
That’s where selling internationally comes in.
It’s simply about offering your products to people outside your home country, and it can open up a lot of opportunities.

Let’s say you’re selling handmade candles from the UAE, and someone in Germany finds your product through a Google search.
If your store is set up to accept international orders, they can buy it just like anyone else.

But if it’s not? That’s a lost sale.

Here’s why going global with your WooCommerce store makes a lot of sense:

You reach more customers

Your local market might be small, but the world is big, selling internationally means you’re not limited by your location.
If your product solves a problem or offers something unique, people across the globe might be looking for it.

Your products might be in higher demand elsewhere

Some products do even better in international markets.
➡ For example:
Eco-friendly items, specialty foods, or unique fashion pieces often stand out more abroad than at home.

You protect your business from local slowdowns

If local sales drop because of holidays, economic shifts, or season changes, international orders can keep things running, it spreads the risk.

It’s easier than you think with WooCommerce

What used to take a big team and huge shipping budgets can now be done with the right plugins, payment gateways, and WooCommerce shipping setups.
Tools exist to translate your store, convert currencies, calculate taxes, and manage global deliveries.

Many store owners who started local tell us at WPFactory that expanding internationally was the best decision they made.
It didn’t just grow their sales, it helped them learn more about what customers in different regions want, and how to serve them better.

In the next section, we’ll look at how to prepare your store to start selling globally, without getting overwhelmed.

Preparing Your WooCommerce Store for Global Sales

Before you start accepting orders from around the world, it’s important to make sure your store is actually ready.
Two things really matter here:
✅ What you’re selling
✅ And How you’ll handle shipping and returns.

Let’s break them down.

1. Choosing International-Ready Products

Before you start to sell internationally with WooCommerce, it’s essential to choose the right products and set clear policies.

Not every product is easy to sell across borders.
Some items are perfect for international shipping, while others might cause delays, high costs, or even legal problems in certain countries.

👉 Here’s how to choose what’s best:

Keep it lightweight and small

Smaller items cost less to ship and are easier to handle.
Think of things like jewelry, clothing, phone accessories, or books, these usually do well in international markets.

Avoid fragile or restricted products

Glass items, food, and anything with batteries or chemicals might be difficult to ship or might be blocked by customs.
Make sure to check international shipping rules for your product category.

Check if there’s demand in other countries

If you sell something unique or handmade, that might be what international buyers are looking for.
You can use tools like Google Trends or even check where your website traffic is coming from to get ideas.

2. Setting Clear Global Shipping & Return Policies

Now that you’ve chosen what to sell, you need to be clear about how it gets to your customer—and what happens if they want to return it.

Be transparent about shipping times

Shipping to another country usually takes longer than local delivery.
On your product and checkout pages, clearly say how many days it might take.
➡ For example:
“International delivery may take 7–21 business days, depending on location.”

Offer tracking if possible

International customers often feel nervous about long-distance orders, offering tracking numbers helps build trust and reduces refund requests.

List shipping costs clearly

No one likes surprises at checkout.
If shipping varies by country, use WooCommerce’s Shipping Zones to automatically show the correct price.

Make your return policy global-friendly

Will you accept international returns? Who pays for return shipping? These questions should be clearly answered in your store’s return policy. Even something simple like:
“International customers can return unused items within 30 days. Return shipping costs are the buyer’s responsibility.”

Taking the time to plan your products and shipping policies will save you from a lot of issues later.
It also makes your store feel more professional and trustworthy to new international customers.

Language & Currency: Speaking Your Customer’s Language

When expanding your WooCommerce store to international markets, it’s essential to make your customers feel at home.
This means presenting your store in their language and displaying prices in their local currency.

Let’s explore how to achieve this effectively.

1. Using Multilingual WooCommerce Plugins

Imagine visiting a website where you can’t understand the product descriptions or navigation menus.
Frustrating, right?
To cater to a global audience, translating your store’s content is crucial.

Multilingual plugins allow you to:

Translate Product Information: Ensure product names, descriptions, and attributes are available in multiple languages.
Localize Checkout Processes: Make the purchasing journey seamless by presenting forms and instructions in the customer’s native language.
Enhance User Experience: A localized store fosters trust and encourages purchases.

Popular plugins like WPML and TranslatePress offer comprehensive solutions to make your WooCommerce store multilingual.

2. Setting Up Multiple Currencies with Auto-Detection

Displaying prices in a customer’s local currency simplifies their shopping experience and can lead to higher conversion rates.

👉 Here’s how to implement this:

Automatic Currency Detection: Utilize plugins that detect a user’s location based on their IP address and display prices in the appropriate currency.
Manual Currency Switching: Provide a currency switcher, allowing users to select their preferred currency.
Real-Time Exchange Rates: Ensure prices reflect current exchange rates by integrating automatic updates.

Plugins like Multi-Currency Switcher for WooCommerce and CURCY – Multi Currency for WooCommerce offer these functionalities, enhancing the shopping experience for international customers.

3. Marketplace for WooCommerce – Multicurrency Addon

For marketplace-style stores with multiple vendors, managing currencies can be complex.
The Marketplace for WooCommerce – Multicurrency Addon by WPFactory addresses this challenge by:

Vendor-Specific Currencies: Allowing vendors to set and receive payments in their preferred currencies.
Automatic Commission Calculations: Handling commissions based on the currency of the order or the shop’s default currency.
Enhanced Flexibility: Facilitating a dynamic approach to currency management in a multi-vendor environment.

Payment Gateways That Work Globally

To sell internationally with WooCommerce and expand your store to international markets, ensuring that customers can pay seamlessly is crucial.
This involves selecting the right payment gateways, avoiding common errors, and utilizing tools that enhance the payment experience.

1. Popular International WooCommerce Payment Options

Here are some popular options:

PayPal: A globally recognized platform, PayPal allows customers to pay using their PayPal balance or linked bank accounts and cards.

Stripe: Known for its developer-friendly interface, Stripe supports payments in numerous countries and offers a variety of payment methods.

Square: Ideal for businesses with both online and physical stores, Square integrates in-person and online payments seamlessly.

Authorize.Net: Offers robust security features and supports a wide range of payment methods, making it suitable for businesses prioritizing fraud prevention.

Choosing the right gateway depends on factors like your target market, transaction fees, and the types of payments you wish to accept.

2. Avoiding Common Payment Errors for International Customers

International transactions can sometimes encounter issues.

Here are common errors and how to address them:

Incorrect Gateway Configuration: Ensure that API keys and credentials are correctly set up. Misconfigurations can lead to declined transactions.
Currency Mismatches: Display prices in the customer’s local currency to avoid confusion and potential cart abandonment.
SSL Certificate Issues: An expired or misconfigured SSL certificate can deter customers.
Regularly check and update your SSL certificates to maintain trust.
Limited Payment Methods: Offer a variety of payment options to cater to different preferences.
Limiting methods can exclude potential customers.

Regularly testing your checkout process and monitoring error logs can help identify and resolve issues promptly.

3. WooCommerce Payment Gateway Currency Plugin

Managing multiple currencies can be challenging, especially when different payment gateways support specific currencies.
The WooCommerce Payment Gateway Currency plugin offers a solution:

Assign Specific Currencies to Gateways: Set which currencies are available for each payment gateway, ensuring customers see relevant options.
Automatic Currency Conversion: Convert cart totals to a designated currency based on the selected payment method, using real-time exchange rates.
Transparent Pricing: Display both original and converted prices, along with exchange rates, providing clarity to customers.

Tax Settings & Compliance Made Simple

Let’s break down the essentials and explore tools that can simplify this process.

1. Understanding VAT, Duties, and Other Taxes

Taxes can be complex, especially when dealing with international sales.

👉 Here’s a straightforward overview:

Value Added Tax (VAT): Common in the European Union (EU) and the UK, VAT is a consumption tax added at each stage of production or distribution.
Rates vary across countries, typically ranging from 17% to 27%.
Duties: These are tariffs imposed on goods when they are transported across international borders.
Duties are usually calculated based on the product type and its value.
Sales Tax: In countries like the United States, sales tax is applied at the point of sale and varies by state and locality.

For WooCommerce sellers, it’s essential to determine where your customers are located and apply the appropriate taxes during checkout.
This ensures compliance with local laws and avoids potential penalties.

2. Using WooCommerce Plugins for Tax Handling

Manually calculating and applying taxes for each sale can be daunting.
Thankfully, WooCommerce offers plugins to automate this process:

WooCommerce Tax: This free extension automatically calculates sales tax based on your store’s location and your customer’s address.
It’s a straightforward solution for U.S.-based sales.

Quaderno: Ideal for global sellers, Quaderno handles tax calculations, reporting, and invoicing for sales tax, VAT, and GST, ensuring compliance across different regions.
Avalara AvaTax: A comprehensive solution that integrates with WooCommerce to provide real-time tax calculations and compliance across various jurisdictions.

These plugins not only automate tax calculations but also help in generating compliant invoices and reports, simplifying the tax management process.

3. WooCommerce EU & UK VAT Numbers Validation Plugin

The WooCommerce EU & UK VAT Numbers Validation plugin offers a tailored solution:

Real-Time VAT Validation: Automatically validates EU and UK VAT numbers during checkout, ensuring that only valid numbers are accepted.
Automatic Tax Adjustments: Based on the validation results, the plugin can automatically apply or exempt VAT, streamlining the checkout process.
Customizable Settings: Tailor the VAT field’s appearance and behavior to fit your store’s needs, enhancing user experience.

Smart Shipping for International Orders

Expanding your WooCommerce store to international markets requires a well-thought-out shipping strategy.

If you want to sell internationally with WooCommerce successfully, setting up clear shipping zones is non-negotiable.

1. Setting Up Shipping Zones and International Rates

Shipping zones in WooCommerce allow you to define specific regions and assign corresponding shipping methods and rates.

👉 To configure them:

Access Shipping Settings: Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping > Shipping Zones.
Add a New Shipping Zone: Click on “Add shipping zone” and specify the zone name (e.g., “Europe”) and select the regions or countries included.
Assign Shipping Methods: After defining the zone, add relevant shipping methods such as Flat Rate, Free Shipping, or International Shipping.
Set Shipping Rates: For each method, define the cost.
➡ For instance:
You might set a flat rate of $15 for European countries and $25 for Asian countries.

2. Integration with Global Shipping Providers

Partnering with reputable international carriers ensures reliable and timely deliveries.
WooCommerce facilitates integration with several global shipping providers:

DHL for WooCommerce: Enables label printing, tracking, and offers various shipping services tailored for international deliveries.
WordPress.org

UPS Shipping Method: Provides real-time shipping rates from UPS, catering to both domestic and international shipments.

FedEx Shipping Method: Fetches shipping rates directly from FedEx, suitable for worldwide shipping needs.
WooCommerce

Integrating these carriers allows you to offer customers multiple shipping options, real-time tracking, and potentially better shipping rates.

For more on this, see our article:
Best 10 WooCommerce Shipping Plugins to Boost Your Store

3. Offering Free Shipping Thresholds to Drive Larger Orders

Implementing a free shipping threshold involves:

Define the Free Shipping Threshold: Determine the minimum order amount required for free shipping, ensuring it aligns with your profit margins.
Communicate the Offer: Display messages informing customers how much more they need to spend to qualify for free shipping.

By the way, the following plugin can help you implement this feature seamlessly:

Amount Left for Free Shipping Bar for WooCommerce

This plugin dynamically displays the remaining amount a customer needs to add to their cart to avail of free shipping.

➡ Features include:

Real-Time Progress Alerts: Shows live updates on the amount left for free shipping.
Flexible Display Options: Integrate messages using widgets, shortcodes, or PHP functions.
Customizable Messaging: Tailor messages based on promotions and user actions.

Also, regarding shipping, you can check out the following plugins that will make things much easier for you:

Localizing Customer Experience

When you’re selling to people in other countries, it’s not just about shipping the product, it’s about making them feel like your store was made for them.
That’s what localization is all about.
It helps international customers shop with comfort and confidence by making your store feel familiar and easy to use.

1. Translating Product Descriptions, Emails, and Checkout

Imagine landing on a website where everything is in a language you don’t speak.
You’d probably leave, right?
That’s why translating your store’s content is so important.

Product Descriptions: Customers need to clearly understand what they’re buying.
Use a multilingual plugin to offer translations for each product.
Emails: Order confirmations, shipping updates, and other messages should be sent in your customer’s language whenever possible.
Checkout Pages: The checkout flow needs to be simple and readable.
If it’s not in their language, many users won’t complete their purchase.

Tip:
As mentioned above plugins like WPML or TranslatePress can help you translate your entire WooCommerce store without needing to rebuild anything from scratch.

2. Supporting Different Time Zones, Addresses, and Date Formats

Not everyone writes the date as 04/08/2025, some countries write it as 08/04/2025.
Some people might shop at 3 PM your time, which is 10 AM their time, these little differences matter.

👉 Here’s what to keep in mind:

Time Zones: Make sure things like delivery estimates and email notifications are based on the customer’s location, not yours.
Addresses: Some countries write addresses differently, so your checkout page should adjust to different formats (like postal codes or provinces).
Date Formats: Display dates in a way that makes sense to your customer’s region to avoid confusion.

These details build trust and reduce errors.

3. Providing Overseas Customer Support

Your customers might be in a completely different part of the world—and in a totally different time zone.

👉 To support them well:

Use Email or Ticketing Systems: So they don’t have to wait for you to be online.
Add a FAQ Page: Cover common questions about shipping, payments, and returns.
Offer Multilingual Support (if possible): Even if it’s basic, helping customers in their own language shows respect and builds loyalty.

You don’t have to hire a huge team, just make sure customers feel heard, no matter where they are.

Avoiding Pitfalls: What WPFactory Users Have Learned

Expanding your WooCommerce store to international markets sounds exciting, and it is! But like any big move, it comes with a few bumps along the road.
The good news?
Thousands of store owners have already walked this path, and thanks to what they’ve learned, you don’t have to repeat their mistakes.

1. Lessons from WooCommerce Store Owners Who Expanded Globally

WPFactory works with a huge number of WooCommerce users from all over the world.
From our experience helping stores go global, here’s what we’ve seen work, and what store owners wish they knew earlier:

“We thought everyone used PayPal.”

One store owner based in the US set up PayPal and thought that was enough, but customers in some countries couldn’t use it or didn’t trust it.
Once they added local gateways like Stripe or regional payment options, sales went up quickly.

“Our shipping setup wasn’t clear.”

A seller in the UK lost multiple international orders because customers didn’t know how long delivery would take.
After adding better shipping estimates and tracking, cart abandonment dropped noticeably.

“We underestimated taxes.”

Some sellers got caught off guard by VAT rules in the EU.
After using WPFactory’s tax validation plugin, they were able to collect the right taxes automatically and avoid compliance headaches.

You may be interested in:
How to Add VAT/Tax Rates Per Country in WooCommerce

2. Common Challenges and How They Solved Them

Here are a few roadblocks many WooCommerce stores face when expanding, and the smart ways they fixed them:

Challenge: Language Barriers
Fix: Use a multilingual plugin like TranslatePress or WPML to translate products, checkout, and emails.

Challenge: Currency Confusion
Fix: Add a multi-currency plugin so international customers can see prices in their local currency, WPFactory users who did this saw more completed checkouts.

Challenge: High Cart Abandonment on International Orders
Fix: They added exit-intent popups or free shipping progress bars to encourage customers to finish their order, small changes that led to big improvements.

Challenge: Inconsistent Support Across Time Zones
Fix: They added a help desk or FAQ section and committed to responding within 24 hours, even if they were asleep when the message came in.

When you learn from others who’ve already expanded, you skip the trial and error.
WPFactory’s community has shown that small, smart adjustments can make global selling smoother, and way more successful.

Final Tips & Action Plan

Quick Checklist to Launch Your International Store and sell internationally with WooCommerce

To make it easier, here’s a simple checklist you can follow before you open your virtual doors to the world:

✅ Choose Products That Make Sense for Global Shipping
Start with items that are light, easy to ship, and unlikely to face customs issues.

✅ Set Clear Shipping Zones & Rates
Use WooCommerce shipping zones to show accurate delivery times and costs by country.

✅ Enable Multiple Currencies
Make it easy for customers to shop in their local currency by using a multi-currency plugin.

✅ Translate Your Store
Use a multilingual plugin to make sure your product descriptions, checkout, and emails speak your customer’s language.

✅ Select Trusted Global Payment Gateways
Add international options like PayPal, Stripe, or region specific methods based on your target markets.

✅ Get Your Tax Settings Right
Use tools like WPFactory’s VAT plugin to handle EU/UK tax validation and apply correct rules automatically.

✅ Offer Local-Friendly Customer Support
Make sure your FAQ covers international questions and set up an email or ticket system for help across time zones.

✅ Use Smart Shipping Incentives
Consider adding a free shipping threshold to encourage bigger orders.

✅ Test Everything
Try buying something from your store as if you’re a customer in another country. Check if the experience feels smooth, clear, and trustworthy.

Taking your WooCommerce store international doesn’t mean starting from scratch, it means improving what you already have and adjusting it for a wider audience.
Each check on this list brings you one step closer to making your store truly global.