Using Client Portal with WooCommerce

What the WooCommerce Integration Does

The Client Portal WooCommerce integration allows you to sell portal access directly from your website. When customers purchase a WooCommerce product, they automatically get added to a portal—either a brand new one created just for them, or an existing shared portal.

This automation eliminates manual portal setup after each sale and works for one-time products, subscriptions, and memberships.

Before You Start

You'll need the following set up before configuring the integration:

• WooCommerce installed and active on your WordPress site

• At least one portal template (for creating new portals per customer) or one existing portal (for adding customers to a shared space)

• Customer registration enabled in WooCommerce—this is critical because customers need a WordPress account to access their portal

Step 1: Configure WooCommerce Account Settings

Navigate to WooCommerce → Settings and click the Accounts & Privacy tab.

Make sure these settings are configured correctly:

Checkout:

• Uncheck "Enable guest checkout"—customers must have an account to receive portal access

Account Creation:

• Check "Allow customers to create an account" and select either:

  • After checkout (recommended)—customers create an account after placing their order

  • During checkout—customers create an account before placing their order

• Check "On 'My account' page" (optional but recommended)

Account Creation Options:

• Check "Send password setup link" (recommended)—new users receive an email to set up their password

Step 2: Link a Product to a Portal

Go to Products → Add New (or edit an existing product). You'll see a new tab in the Product Data metabox called "Linked Client Portal".

Choose Your Access Type

You have two options for how customers get portal access:

Option 1: Create New Project

This creates a brand new portal for each customer based on a template you've set up. Each customer gets their own private portal—ideal for one-on-one services like coaching, consulting, or client work.

To set this up:

1. Select "Create new project"

2. Choose a template from the dropdown (create templates at Client Portal → All CP Project Templates)

3. Set a project title—you can use placeholders like {first_name} or {last_name} to personalize the title (e.g., "Welcome {first_name}!")

4. Optionally check "Skip Project Creation" if the customer already has an active project (prevents duplicates on repeat purchases)

Option 2: Attach to Existing Project

This adds customers to a portal you've already created. All customers who purchase this product will see the same portal—perfect for memberships, online courses, or resource centers where everyone shares the same content.

To set this up:

1. Select "Attach a project"

2. Choose an existing portal from the dropdown (view portals at Client Portal → All CP Projects)

3. Update the product

What Happens After Purchase

When a customer completes their purchase:

1. They're automatically registered as a WordPress user (if they don't already have an account)

2. They're assigned the "CP Client" role in Client Portal

3. If you selected "Create new project," a new portal is generated from your template with their personalized title

4. If you selected "Attach to project," they're added to the existing portal

5. They can log in and access their portal immediately

What Happens with Refunds and Cancellations

Client Portal automatically manages access based on order status:

• Order refunded: Customer is removed from the portal

• Order cancelled: Customer is removed from the portal

• Subscription cancelled: Customer loses access when the subscription is no longer active

Ideas for What to Sell

Here are some ways businesses use the WooCommerce integration:

• Services: Web design, accounting, consulting, or legal services where clients pay a deposit and get immediate access to their project portal

• Productized services: Fixed-scope packages like SEO audits, brand identity kits, or blog article writing

• Monthly retainers: Website care plans, ongoing coaching, or maintenance subscriptions

• Online courses: Deliver course content through portal pages with embedded videos, text lessons, and downloadable resources

• Resource centers: Paid access to guides, templates, or tool collections

• Digital downloads: Provide a clean interface for managing downloads with support documentation and updates

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Warning: "Please adjust your Guest Checkout settings"

This appears when WooCommerce is configured to allow guest checkout or doesn't require account registration. Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Accounts & Privacy and follow the settings in Step 1 above.

Error: "You need to set up a project title"

If you've selected "Create new project" and chosen a template, you must also provide a project title. This can be a static title or include dynamic placeholders like {first_name}.

Customers are getting duplicate portals on repeat purchases

Enable the "Skip Project Creation" checkbox in the Linked Client Portal settings. This prevents creating new portals if the customer already has an active project from a previous purchase.

Customer says they can't access their portal after purchase

Check the following:

• Verify the order status is "Completed" or "Processing" (not "Pending" or "On Hold")

• Confirm the customer has a WordPress account—they should have received login credentials via email

• If it's a subscription, ensure the subscription status is "Active"

• Check that the correct portal or template was selected in the product settings