How do you start an online store in Egypt?

Short answer: To start an online store in Egypt, define your products and pricing, choose a platform (Shopify or a custom-built store), accept online payments alongside cash on delivery, sign with a shipping company, and launch with good product photos and a marketing plan. A small store can go live within a few weeks once products, photos and prices are ready; the real work starts after launch, with orders, delivery and advertising.

What are the steps to launch an online store in Egypt?

Launching a store is a sequence of business decisions before it is a technical project. Work through these steps in order:

• Products and pricing: list your products with their variants (sizes, colours), costs and stock, then set prices that cover the product, packaging, shipping, payment fees, returns and advertising.
• Platform: choose between Shopify and a custom-built store (compared below).
• Payments: decide which payment methods you will accept and open an account with a payment gateway.
• Shipping: agree terms with a shipping company for delivery and cash collection.
• Arabic and English store: most Egyptian shoppers browse in Arabic, so an Arabic store with a proper right-to-left layout is the default, with English added if you sell to foreigners, expats or the Gulf.
• Legal basics: sort out your business registration, tax obligations and clear store policies before you take orders.
• Product photography: prepare clean, consistent photos and accurate descriptions for every product.
• Launch marketing: plan social media content and paid ads for the opening weeks.
• Order management: decide how orders are confirmed, packed, shipped and followed up, and who on your team does each step.

Should you use Shopify or a custom store?

Shopify is usually the faster and cheaper way to start, while a custom store makes sense when you need full control, special features or integration with your own systems. Compare them on these points:

Many stores start on Shopify to test demand and move to a custom store once order volume and requirements grow. Either way, plan the Arabic experience and the payment and shipping setup before you choose.

How do payments and cash on delivery work?

Most Egyptian online stores offer cash on delivery (COD) alongside online payment, because many shoppers still prefer to pay when the order arrives. A practical setup includes:

• A payment gateway that accepts local bank cards and, where available, mobile wallets and instalment options; compare setup fees, transaction fees and how quickly money reaches your bank account.
• Cash on delivery collected by your shipping company, which transfers the amounts to you on an agreed schedule after deducting its fees.
• Order confirmation by phone or WhatsApp before you ship COD orders, which reduces failed deliveries and returns.

Card payments improve cash flow and reduce refused deliveries, so many stores encourage them with small incentives while keeping COD available for shoppers who want it.

How do you handle shipping and orders?

Choose a shipping company that covers the governorates you sell to, collects cash reliably and gives you tracking, then build a simple daily routine for orders. Before you sign, check:

• Delivery coverage and timelines for Cairo, Alexandria and the other governorates.
• Shipping prices, cash collection fees and how often collected cash is transferred to you.
• How returns and refused orders are handled and charged.
• Whether the courier can integrate with your store so shipments and tracking numbers are created automatically.

On the store side, every order should move through clear statuses: new, confirmed, packed, shipped, delivered or returned. Keep stock levels updated so you never sell products you do not have, and reply quickly to customers who ask about their order.

What mistakes do new online stores make, and what comes after launch?

The most common mistakes come from launching before the basics are ready, not from the technology. Watch out for:

• Pricing that ignores shipping, payment fees, returns and advertising, so every sale quietly loses money.
• Poor or inconsistent product photos and thin descriptions that leave shoppers with unanswered questions.
• A store that is hard to use on mobile, where most shoppers browse and buy.
• Shipping COD orders without confirming them first.
• No clear return, exchange and delivery policies on the store.
• Spending on ads before the store, the stock and order handling are ready.

After launch, expect the first weeks to be about learning: which products sell, which ads bring buyers, and where orders get stuck. Track sales, returns and advertising costs from day one, and improve the store and your campaigns based on what the numbers show rather than on guesses.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to start an online store in Egypt?

It depends on the platform, the number of products, the features and your marketing budget. Shopify has a lower up-front cost plus a monthly subscription, while a custom store costs more to build; with either, budget for photography, shipping, payment fees and ads.

Do I need a commercial register to sell online in Egypt?

Selling as a business generally means registering it and meeting your tax obligations, and payment gateways usually ask for business documents before they activate card payments. Requirements can change, so confirm the current rules with an accountant or lawyer before launch.

Is cash on delivery necessary?

For most stores selling to consumers in Egypt, yes, at least at the start, because many shoppers prefer it. Offer online payment alongside it and confirm COD orders before shipping to limit returns.

How do I get my first customers?

Combine social media content with paid ads on Meta and Google aimed at the people who buy your products, and make sure products, photos and order handling are ready before the ads start. A clear offer for the launch period helps people try a new store.

MazShop builds Arabic/English online stores on Shopify or custom code, with the catalogue, checkout, payments and shipping set up for the Egyptian market, and MazMarketing runs the social media content and ads that bring in your first orders. Share your products and plans with us through the contact page to get a launch plan and a quote.