How to Create Multiple Websites in WooCommerce Using WordPress Multisite

Creating multiple websites in WooCommerce using the WordPress Multisite network can greatly enhance your online business capabilities, allowing you to manage, organize, and scale various business domains seamlessly. This article will guide you through the process step-by-step.

1. Enabling the WordPress Multisite Network Feature

To begin, you'll need to enable the WordPress Multisite network feature on your site. This can be done via your site's FTP or cPanel File Manager.

Open your file using an FTP client or your cPanel File Manager. Add the following line to enable Multisite support:

define('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true);

Note: Make sure to back up your WordPress installation before making any changes. Having FTP access to your site is also required for this process.

Save the file and upload it back to your server.

2. Setting Up a WordPress Multisite Network

Once the Multisite feature is enabled, you need to set up the multisite network on an existing WordPress site.

Deactivate all plugins. Go to Plugins Installed Plugins, select all plugins, choose 'Deactivate' from the 'Bulk Actions' dropdown menu, and click 'Apply'. Navigate to the Tools Network Setup page to configure your multisite network. Decide whether you want each site to be a subdomain (e.g., ) or a subdirectory (e.g., ). This setting affects all sites in your network, so you cannot change it later. Enter the Network Title and ensure the correct email address is listed in the Network admin email. Click the 'Install' button to proceed.

3. Adding Code to and .htaccess

To fully configure the multisite network, two additional steps are required.

Helper scripts need to be added to the file. Add the following code snippet immediately after the line that includes allowing multisite (just above 'That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging.'):

?php
// Multisite
if ( !defined( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE' ) ) define( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', '' );
if ( !defined( 'PATH_CURRENT_SITE' ) ) define( 'PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/' );
if ( !defined( 'SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE' ) ) define( 'SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );
if ( !defined( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE' ) ) define( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );
?

Save the file.

A corresponding configuration in the `.htaccess` file must also be added. Edit your .htaccess file and add the following code directly above the line containing 'That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging.':

# BEGIN WordPress
IfModule mod_rewrite.c
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^$ - [L]
# add a trailing slash to /wp-admin
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-] /)?wp-admin$ $1wp-admin/ [R301,L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-] /)?(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $2 [L]
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-] /)?(.*.php)$ $2 [L]
RewriteRule .  [L]
/IfModule
# END WordPress

Save the .htaccess file.

After configuring these settings, you will need to re-login to your WordPress site to access the multisite network.

4. Network Administration and Settings

With the Multisite network configured, you can now access the network admin area and manage multiple sites.

In the upper admin bar, you will see the new menu Network Admin. Dashboard: Use the dashboard widget to manage various aspects of your site. Sites: This widget shows you a list of all sites in your current multisite installation. By default, your primary site is listed as the only site in your WordPress multisite network. To add a new site, click on the 'Add New' button at the top and provide the site’s address (just the part you'd like to use as a subdomain or subdirectory), a site title, and an admin email address. Make sure to add an email address that is different from the one you are using to manage the multisite.

Once you are done, click on the 'Add Site' button.

5. Installing Plugins and Themes

Installing plugins and themes in a WordPress multisite network is managed from the Network Admin My Sites Plugins page.

The super admin can install, update, or uninstall plugins or themes. However, regular site admins can only activate, deactivate, and update them.

6. Adding Default Content

Adding or updating default content on each site in your multisite network can be done through the Network Admin Settings Network Settings page. This allows you to customize the default content for new sites.

It is highly recommended to replace the default content with something useful and relevant to your business.

By following these steps, you can create, manage, and scale multiple WooCommerce websites efficiently. Happy blogging and successful business!