Does Egyptian Commercial Law Apply to My Craft Business?

If you operate a genuinely small craft business in Egypt, you may be exempt from the full application of the Commercial Code. Article 19 states that the provisions of commercial law do not apply to small craftsmen, defined as persons who engage in a craft requiring only minimal expenses to earn income sufficient to secure their livelihood, without employing more than a limited number of workers.

This exemption is significant because it means small craftsmen are not subject to the full range of merchant obligations — such as mandatory commercial bookkeeping and registration in the Commercial Registry — that apply to larger traders. However, the threshold is deliberately set low: "minimal expenses" and a "limited number of workers" suggest this covers only truly small-scale, subsistence-level craft operations.

For most expats running even a modestly sized artisan business — for example, a workshop with employees, a studio selling products online, or a craft operation with significant overheads — it is likely that commercial law will apply. If you are close to the borderline, it is worth getting a legal opinion, as being treated as a merchant without complying with merchant obligations can create legal risk, including liability issues and complications in any future disputes.