Most people put off a hosting migration for months because they assume it means downtime, lost orders, and a weekend spent troubleshooting DNS. I run Ecommerce Paradise, where I teach high-ticket dropshipping, and a clean migration is a lot less painful than it sounds once you follow the right order of operations.
Here is exactly how to migrate your WordPress site to SiteGround without breaking your checkout or losing order history.
| Step | What You’re Doing | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sign up for a SiteGround plan and set up your site | 10 minutes |
| 2 | Install the SG Migrator plugin on your old site | 5 minutes |
| 3 | Run the migration and let it transfer your files and database | 15-45 minutes |
| 4 | Test the migrated site on its temporary SiteGround URL | 15 minutes |
| 5 | Point your domain’s DNS to SiteGround | 10 minutes |
| 6 | Verify the live site and cancel your old hosting | 10 minutes |
Haven’t picked a plan yet? See the full SiteGround pricing breakdown first →
Step 1: Sign Up and Set Up Your New Site
Choose GrowBig if you are running WooCommerce, since it includes the staging environment you will want for testing before going live. During signup, SiteGround will ask if you want to install WordPress automatically, which saves you a step if you are starting a fresh install rather than a full site copy.
Step 2: Install the SG Migrator Plugin
Log into your old site’s WordPress admin and install the free SG Migrator plugin from the plugin directory. This is SiteGround’s official migration tool and handles the file and database transfer without requiring FTP or manual database exports.
Step 3: Run the Migration
Connect SG Migrator to your new SiteGround account using the token it generates, then start the transfer. Migration time depends on your site size, a typical WooCommerce store with a moderate product catalog takes 15 to 45 minutes. Your old site stays live and untouched during this entire process, so there is no downtime risk at this stage.
For a store built around a specific niche with a large product catalog and order history, budget on the longer end of that window.
Step 4: Test the Migrated Site Before Going Live
SiteGround gives your migrated site a temporary URL you can use to verify everything transferred correctly before touching DNS. Check that products display correctly, test a sample checkout in a payment gateway’s test mode if available, and confirm your theme and plugins are all functioning. This is the step most people rush, and it is the one that actually prevents live-site problems.
Step 5: Point Your Domain’s DNS to SiteGround
Once you have verified the migrated site works, update your domain’s nameservers or A record to point to SiteGround, depending on where your domain is registered. According to WPBeginner’s WordPress migration guides, DNS propagation typically takes anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours depending on your registrar and TTL settings, so expect a short window where some visitors may still hit your old host.
Step 6: Verify the Live Site and Cancel Your Old Host
After DNS has propagated, visit your domain directly (not the temporary SiteGround URL) and confirm the live site loads correctly, SSL is active, and checkout works end to end. Only cancel your old hosting account after you have confirmed the new site is stable for at least 24 to 48 hours. According to TechRadar’s WordPress hosting guides, this stability window is the single step most rushed migrations skip.
Common Migration Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake is canceling the old host immediately after migration instead of waiting out the DNS propagation window, which can leave some visitors seeing a broken or outdated site. The second most common mistake is skipping the staging test in Step 4 and discovering a broken plugin only after the domain has already switched over. According to Forbes Advisor’s hosting migration coverage, testing on a staging URL before any DNS change is consistently the step that prevents the most post-migration issues.
Migrating a Store With Active Orders
If your WooCommerce store is actively taking orders during the migration window, schedule the DNS switch for your lowest-traffic hours and avoid running major sales or ad campaigns during the propagation period. Orders placed on the old server during a brief overlap window can occasionally need to be manually reconciled, so this is worth planning around rather than migrating mid-launch. This matters just as much for coordinating with your supplier relationships, since a checkout hiccup during migration can delay order fulfillment on their end too.
Budgeting the Migration Into Your Business Setup
If you are still working through business formation and financial planning, a hosting migration is a one-time time investment rather than a recurring cost, especially since SiteGround’s migration tooling is free. It is worth doing right the first time rather than repeating it because of a rushed DNS switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my site go down during migration to SiteGround?
No, not during the transfer itself. Your old site stays live while SG Migrator copies your files and database. The only brief risk window is during DNS propagation after you switch nameservers.
How long does a SiteGround migration take?
The file and database transfer itself typically takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on site size. DNS propagation after that can take anywhere from a few minutes up to 24 hours.
Do I need a developer to migrate to SiteGround?
No. The free SG Migrator plugin is built for non-technical users and handles the file and database transfer without requiring FTP or manual database work.
What happens to my WooCommerce order history during migration?
It transfers along with your full database, since SG Migrator copies the entire site, not just files. Verify order history displays correctly during Step 4’s testing phase before switching DNS.
Should I cancel my old host immediately after migrating?
No. Wait 24 to 48 hours after DNS has fully propagated and you have confirmed the live site is stable before canceling your previous hosting account.
Building a WooCommerce store and want your hosting and setup handled for you? See how my done-for-you store build service works →
Or grab my free beginner’s guide to see how hosting fits into a complete high-ticket dropshipping system.
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
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