Online stores
How to start an online store in Egypt: a step-by-step guide
From choosing what to sell to the first order: the papers, platform or custom store, payments, shipping, product pages, tracking and the first campaign, for online stores in Egypt.
Opening an online store in Egypt takes less money than opening a shop, and more planning than most people expect. The store itself is one step out of eight. Here is the full path, in the order we follow with clients, from the first decision to the first order.
1. Decide what you sell and to whom
Start with a product you can describe in one sentence and a buyer you can picture. Check the margin before anything else: the selling price minus the product cost, delivery, returns, payment fees and the ad cost of each order. If the number is thin, the store will be busy and still lose money.
2. Get the papers ready
To accept card payments through a gateway, you will usually be asked for a commercial register and a tax card for the business. Start early, because payment gateways and shipping contracts both depend on them. Cash on delivery can start sooner while the papers are in progress.
3. Choose the platform
| Option | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Testing whether a product sells, with a fast launch | A monthly fee, paid apps and limits on how checkout works |
| WooCommerce | Owners who already know WordPress | Plugins to update and secure, and speed on cheap hosting |
| Custom store | A business that sells and plans to grow | A build cost up front, then no platform fees and full control |
We compare them in detail in Shopify, WooCommerce or a custom store.
4. Set up payments the way Egypt pays
A large share of orders in Egypt is still paid in cash on delivery, so offer it from day one. Add cards and wallets through a local gateway such as Paymob, and Fawry for buyers without a card. Show every payment option on the product page, not only at checkout.
5. Arrange shipping
Sign with a shipping company that covers your governorates, such as Bosta, Mylerz or Aramex, and agree on cash collection, return fees and pickup times. Put the delivery price and time on the product page. A delivery fee that only appears at the last step is one of the main reasons people leave a cart.
6. Build product pages that answer questions
- Real photos from several angles, and a short video if the product moves or is worn.
- Sizes, materials and measurements in a table, in Arabic and English.
- Delivery time, return policy and payment options next to the buy button.
- Reviews from real customers as soon as you have them.
7. Install tracking before the first ad
Set up the Meta pixel and Conversions API, the TikTok pixel and the GA4 purchase event, and test them with a real order. Without them, the ad platforms can’t learn who buys, and you can’t tell which ad paid for itself.
8. Launch with a small, focused campaign
Start with your best product, one clear offer and a few video ads on the platform where your buyers spend their time. Send people to the product page, not the home page. Read the numbers every week: cost per order, conversion rate and average order value. We explain the stages in how to build a sales funnel.
What it costs
A custom online store starts from $799 with us and is built in 2 to 4 weeks, with local payments, cash on delivery, WhatsApp ordering and tracking included. A Shopify store costs less to start and more every month. Either way, keep a budget for photos and for the first two months of ads.
Questions about starting an online store
Can I start without a commercial register?
You can start with cash on delivery and WhatsApp orders while the papers are in progress, but card payments through a gateway usually need them.
Do I need an app as well?
Not at the start. A fast mobile site sells well. An app makes sense later, when customers order from you again and again.
How long until the first sale?
With the products, photos and papers ready, a store can be live in two to four weeks, and the first orders come with the first campaign.
See our online store service for what we build and how.