WooCommerce online store help?

Hey everyone,

I'm a SaaS founder and just launched my first small app, which is super exciting! Now, I'm trying to set up a small e-commerce section on our existing WordPress site to sell some merchandise like t-shirts and stickers related to the app. I've decided to go with WooCommerce because we already use WordPress for our blog, and it seemed like the most natural fit. However, I'm a complete noob when it comes to e-commerce, and honestly, setting up an online store with WooCommerce feels incredibly overwhelming.

I’ve installed the basic plugin, but I'm already hitting several roadblocks. Product setup seems really complicated with all the variations and attributes, and I'm not sure how to handle things like different sizes and colors efficiently. Integrating payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal is also confusing – which one is better for a small operation, and how do I configure them correctly without messing things up? Shipping zones and taxes are an absolute nightmare to understand, and I feel like I'm drowning in options and settings.

I've tried watching a few YouTube tutorials, but they often seem to gloss over the specific details I'm stuck on, assuming a level of prior knowledge I just don't have. I've also read some blog posts, but again, they usually jump right into advanced features when I'm still trying to grasp the basics. My current WordPress theme isn't fully WooCommerce-ready either, which is causing some layout issues, and I'm not sure if I should just switch themes or try to adapt my existing one.

So, I'm really hoping some experienced folks here can help a beginner out. What's the absolute best, most beginner-friendly resource or guide for setting up a simple WooCommerce online store from scratch? Any practical tips for choosing and integrating payment gateways for a small operation like mine? How do you seasoned pros handle shipping and taxes without pulling your hair out? Should I consider a dedicated WooCommerce theme, or is it feasible to adapt an existing one easily? Also, are there any common pitfalls a total noob like me should definitely avoid?

Thanks in advance for any guidance!