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âSome products aren’t meant for public browsing. Maybe you offer wholesale pricing, custom quotes, or exclusive members-only items. Leaving everything visible can attract the wrong buyers while the best customers canât get the product.
The thing is, WooCommerce doesnât have an in-built feature for private sales. But there are always WordPress plugins to help you out. That too for free.
In this blog, weâll cover how you can set up a private order form for free in WooCommerce. Plus, weâll explore the best plugins used by WordPress development services providers to create an order form. With that said, letâs start with the benefits of having a private order form.
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A WooCommerce private order form is just like a regular order formâbut itâs not meant for everyone. Itâs hidden from the public and only visible to specific users, like logged-in customers, wholesale buyers, or special clients. You can think of it like a VIP checkout page.
Instead of browsing your whole store, users can go to a single, custom form where they select exactly what they need. You decide who sees it. You control what goes on it.
This is super helpful if you sell custom products, take bulk orders, or just want to keep things simple for returning clients.
And hereâs the best part: you can set it up for freeâno premium plugins required. You just need the right combo of free tools and a little know-how (donât worry, Iâll walk you through it later in this guide).
If you’ve ever wished WooCommerce had a simpler, more private way to take orders, this is it.
Running an online store? Sometimes, you donât want everyone seeingâor buyingâyour products. A private order form gives you control. Hereâs why itâs worth setting up.
Not everything should be public. Maybe you sell wholesale, members-only items, or custom services. A private order form ensures only the right people see it. No random visitors, no unnecessary inquiriesâjust your target buyers.
If you negotiate prices or give bulk discounts, displaying them publicly can backfire. With a private form, only approved customers (like wholesalers) see the real pricing. No more retail buyers asking for unfair deals.
Public listings attract window shoppers. A private form filters out casual browsers. Only serious buyersâthose who log in or request accessâcan see your products. Less noise, better conversions.
Business buyers expect a different experience. A private order form feels professional, secure, and tailored to their needs. It builds trust and streamlines bulk orders without confusing retail shoppers.
A private order form isnât just about hiding productsâitâs about creating a smoother, more controlled buying experience. Whether for exclusivity, pricing, or B2B sales, itâs a simple way to work smarter.
Before you jump into setting up your private order form, it helps to get a few basics in place. Nothing too technicalâjust the core tools that make the setup smoother and give you the control you need. Think of this like your small checklist before getting started.
Having these ready saves time and avoids those mid-setup âwait, I need that too?â moments. Once you’ve checked these off, youâre all set to start building your private order flow.
Setting up a private order form in WooCommerce can streamline your ordering process, especially for wholesale clients or special customer groups. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create one using free tools and plugins.
If you haven’t already, you’ll need to install WooCommerce to manage products and orders.
Once activated, follow the setup wizard to configure basic settings like currency, payment methods, and shipping options.
To create a private order form, you’ll need a form builder plugin that integrates well with WooCommerce. Some popular free options include:
Select the one that best fits your needs and comfort level.
After choosing your plugin:
The plugin will now be available in your dashboard menu.
Before creating your form, adjust the plugin settings to suit your requirements.
Proper configuration ensures a smooth experience for both you and your customers.
To restrict form access, you’ll need to define specific user roles.
This setup ensures only designated users can view and submit the form.
Now, build the actual order form tailored to your products.
This form will serve as the primary interface for private orders.
Enhance the form to match your branding and user needs.
A well-designed form improves user experience and reduces errors.
Enable payment options to process orders directly through the form.
Offering secure payment options streamlines the ordering process.
Before going live, thoroughly test the entire workflow.
Testing ensures that your customers will have a seamless experience.
By following these steps, you can set up a private WooCommerce order form without incurring additional costs. This setup allows you to cater to specific customer groups efficiently, enhancing their purchasing experience while maintaining control over your store’s operations.
Best Free Plugins for Setting Up a Private Order Form
Need a simple way to create a private order form? These free plugins get the job done without breaking the bank.
WPForms is hands-down one of the easiest form builders out there. Itâs super intuitive, even if youâre not tech-savvy. The drag-and-drop builder makes it simple to create custom order forms in minutes. Plus, it integrates well with WooCommerce, so collecting private orders feels seamless.
Key Features of WPForms:
Best for: Beginners who want a quick and easy setup without touching code.
JetFormBuilder offers a ton of flexibility if you’re working with dynamic content. Itâs more advanced than some other plugins, but totally worth it if you need a customized private order form that goes beyond the basics. It works well with Elementor and supports WooCommerce fields natively.
Key Features of JetFormBuilder:
Best for: Users who want more control and flexibility with form fields and layout.
Formidable Forms is a powerful form builder that lets you create highly advanced forms with logic, calculations, and more. Even on the free version, you get enough features to build a solid private order form. Itâs especially great if you need to collect detailed customer input or customize the flow.
Key Features of Formidable Forms:
Best for: Those needing complex forms without paying for a premium plugin.
Forminator is one of the most feature-rich free plugins youâll find. It supports payment fields, quizzes, and calculationsâright out of the box. You can create clean and functional order forms with full WooCommerce compatibility. Plus, it looks good without much tweaking.
Key Features of Forminator:
Best for: Users who want built-in payment options without upgrading to Pro.
Contact Form 7 is old school but still widely used. Itâs a bit basic and requires some manual tweaking, but it gets the job done. If youâre comfortable pasting shortcodes and handling simple HTML tweaks, this plugin can still serve as a private order form solution.
Key Features of Contact Form 7:
Best for: Developers or users comfortable with manual configuration.
Each of these free plugins brings something unique to the table, depending on how simple or advanced you want your order form to be. Choose the one that fits your workflow best and makes private ordering smooth for your customers.
Yes, WooCommerce has basic built-in options. You can restrict products to logged-in users under product visibility settings. But for more control (like hiding prices), free plugins work better. It takes just a few clicks to set up.
Go to WooCommerce settings or use a free plugin like “WooCommerce Private Store”. Enable the “Private Store” option, it automatically redirects guests to login. No coding needed.
WPForms, Forminator, and JetFormBuilder are solid free options. They let you create forms easily with drag-and-drop builders. Each one has its own features, so pick the one that fits your needs. All work well with WooCommerce.
Log out and visit your shop page, you should see nothing (or a login prompt). Then log in as a test customer. Try adding products to cart. If it works, youâre all set!
Yes, many form plugins integrate with WooCommerce payment gateways. You can add product selections, total prices, and direct checkout links. Just make sure to test everything before going live.
Creating a private order form in WooCommerce doesnât have to be complicatedâor costly. With the right plugin and a few simple steps, itâs totally possible to give select customers a smooth, personalized ordering experience.
You can set up the order form using free tools like WPForms or Forminator. Once you choose a plugin, all you need to do is pick a template that matches your needs and customize it as needed. You donât need to be a tech expert to pull it off. Just follow the steps, test it out, and youâre good to go. If you are looking to build a custom WooCommerce store that is robust and scalable, connect with us today!