How Do You Sell Gift Vouchers on a WooCommerce Store?

To sell gift vouchers on a WooCommerce store, install a gift card extension, create a voucher product with set amounts, and make sure your terms follow Australian consumer law. WooCommerce does not include gift cards in its core, so you need a plugin to generate codes and let customers redeem them at checkout.

Vouchers are a lovely addition for many small shops. They bring in cash up front, introduce your business to new people, and give customers an easy answer when they are stuck for a present. Here is how to set them up properly.

Why gift vouchers are worth offering

A voucher is a sale you can make without holding stock or posting anything. Many buyers spend a little more than the voucher value when they redeem it, and the recipient is often a brand new customer. They also help over busy gifting periods like Christmas and Mother’s Day, when shoppers want something that can be sent instantly.

Choose the right gift card extension

There are official and third-party options, both free and paid. Whichever you pick, check that it covers the basics:

• Fixed amounts and, ideally, a custom amount the buyer can type in.
• Delivery by email, with a scheduled send date and a personal message.
• A unique code that is redeemable at checkout and tracks the remaining balance.
• Options for a printable voucher or physical delivery if your shop needs it.
• GST handling that suits how you account for vouchers.

Read recent reviews, check the plugin is updated regularly and confirm it works with your payment gateway. Our guide to choosing plugins safely covers what to look for before you install anything.

Set up the voucher product

Once the extension is active, you create the voucher much like any other product. Give it a clear name, a good image and a short description explaining how it works. Offer a few popular amounts such as $25, $50 and $100, plus a custom option if the plugin supports it.

Then place a test order on a staging copy of your site. Buy a voucher, check the email arrives, redeem it on a second order and confirm the balance drops correctly. Do not skip this step, because a broken voucher is worse than no voucher at all.

Get the Australian rules right

Australian consumer law sets rules for gift cards and vouchers. As a general guide, they must be usable for at least three years from purchase, the expiry date must be clear, and you cannot charge fees that reduce the balance after the sale. Your voucher terms should state the expiry, any items it cannot be used on and what happens to unused balances.

We are web designers, not lawyers, so check the current rules on the ACCC website or with your accountant, especially for GST treatment. It is also worth reading how we approach WooCommerce development for stores with specific requirements like this.

Make vouchers easy to find

A voucher nobody sees will not sell. Add it to your main menu or shop page, mention it in your footer and feature it on the homepage in the weeks before gifting seasons. On each product page, a small note such as “Not sure what to choose? Give a gift voucher” can capture hesitant shoppers.

Keep the purchase flow short. The buyer should be able to choose an amount, add a message, enter the recipient’s email and pay in a couple of steps. If you are unsure whether your checkout is smooth enough, our article on making checkout faster on mobile is a good next read.

Keep track of outstanding balances

Unredeemed vouchers are a liability on your books until they are used, so choose a plugin with a clear report of issued, redeemed and remaining balances. Your accountant will want this at the end of the financial year. If you run a connected tool such as inventory or stock software, Store Auditor can help you keep an eye on how your store is set up.

Ready to add vouchers to your store?

We build and tune WooCommerce stores for Australian businesses, including gift voucher setups that work smoothly from purchase to redemption. Call us on 02 9834 4119 or get in touch through our contact page and we will happily talk it through.