Online store in Egypt: cash on delivery, wallets and shipping

How do I create an online store in Egypt? The short answer

An online store in Egypt succeeds or stalls on three points: does the customer trust you enough to order, can they pay the way they prefer, and does the order arrive when you promised? Design and colors come after those questions, not before.

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The usual steps: choose your products and audience, sort out the paperwork, build the store with products, prices and checkout, agree terms with a courier, then test with a few real orders before advertising. The general guide is in how to open a successful online store; here we focus on what is specific to Egypt.

Currency

Egyptian pound, prices including tax where it applies

Payments

Cash on delivery, cards, Fawry, mobile wallets

Shipping

Faster in Cairo, Giza and Alexandria, longer further out

Contact

WhatsApp and phone to confirm orders

Device

Most visits come from phones

What paperwork does an online store in Egypt need?

Many people start selling from a social media page with no paperwork, then find that the payment gateway and the courier both ask for proof of the business before activating an account. It pays to get your papers in order early.

• A commercial registry and a tax card for your activity in most cases; the relevant authorities decide what fits your size and legal form.
• A bank account in the business name to receive card and wallet payments and the courier's cash settlements.
• VAT registration if it applies to your activity, and clarity on where you stand with the e-invoice and e-receipt systems.
• A clear exchange and returns policy in the store, with real contact details the customer sees before ordering.

How do customers in Egypt pay in an online store?

The checkout is where a store wins or loses the order. A customer who cannot find their preferred method closes the page, so a store in Egypt needs more than one option.

Fanann connects cards, Fawry and e-wallets through a payment gateway you choose, and cash on delivery is an order status the store manages itself. Each method is explained in the local payments guide. Confirm the provider's fees and terms directly with them before launch.

How do I handle cash on delivery without losing money?

Cash on delivery reassures a customer who does not know you yet, but it moves the risk to you: an order refused at the door means shipping both ways with no sale, and stock tied up for days. The answer is not to drop it but to manage it.

1. 1
   Confirm before shipping

   A WhatsApp message or short call confirms the address, timing and amount. An order not confirmed within a set window does not leave the warehouse.

2. 2
   Cap the order value

   Offer cash on delivery up to a certain amount; above it, ask for prepayment or a deposit.

3. 3
   Encourage prepayment

   Give a real benefit to customers who pay in advance, such as faster shipping or a small gift, instead of forcing everyone.

4. 4
   Track problem numbers

   If the same phone number refuses two orders, require prepayment the next time.

5. 5
   Reconcile collections

   Each week, compare what the courier collected with what they paid you, order by order.

How do I organize addresses and shipping across governorates?

An Egyptian address does not fit on one line. The courier needs details that save time, and the customer wants to see the shipping fee before the last step.

• Address fields: governorate, city or district, street, building number, floor, apartment, and a nearby landmark.
• A fee per governorate: shown in the cart before payment, with a free-shipping threshold if you want one.
• Honest delivery times: Cairo, Giza and Alexandria are usually faster than Upper Egypt, Sinai and distant governorates, so state the real time for each area.
• Order statuses: new, confirmed, preparing, with courier, delivered, refused, returned.
• Tracking number: sent to the customer automatically when the order ships.

If you also sell from a physical shop, connect the store's stock to the shop's so you never sell online an item that just sold at the counter. That is what inventory software linked to the store does.

Can I create an online store for free?

Free online store builders are one of the most searched topics. The honest answer: you can start free on most platforms, but a store that actually sells has running costs you cannot avoid: a domain in your name, gateway fees on each transaction, shipping, and advertising.

To estimate the full cost before you start, try the cost calculator, and see what each Fanann plan includes on the pricing page.

How do I build my store in Fanann from a description?

With the Fanann online store builder you write what you sell, how you deliver and how customers pay, and it builds an Arabic right-to-left store with products, a cart, payments and an orders board, which you then change by chat.

As the store grows you will need tools around it: invoice software for wholesale customers, accounting software for your books, and a company website if you want a separate showcase. More guides are in the Egypt market guide.

What should I check before the first real order?

Start with orders from people you know, then a small ad in one area. Watch your conversion rate and the share of orders refused at the door before you raise the ad budget.

An order is not complete when the buy button is pressed; it is complete when the money reaches your account.

Frequently asked questions

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