How to sell on TikTok Shop: setup steps and requirements

How to sell on TikTok Shop, step by step

To sell on TikTok Shop, you register on Seller Center, pass verification, list a product and set up shipping. These steps follow TikTok Shop's own US registration guides.

1. Check that you can sign up

   Individual sellers must be at least 18 years old and live in the USA. You also need a phone number and email address not already used to open another shop. The next section lists the ID and documents TikTok Shop asks for.

2. Create your Seller Center account

   On the TikTok Shop sign-up page, you can sign up with your existing TikTok account. You can also use an email address or phone number that receives a verification code, then set a password.

3. Choose your business type

   Seller Center offers Individual, Sole Proprietorship, Corporation and Partnership. The business type is fixed once the account is registered, so choose carefully. A sole proprietor without an EIN should register as an Individual Seller.

4. Verify your identity, tax and bank details

   Your legal name and date of birth must match the ID you are using to sign up, and your residential address must match what is on the proof of address documentation. Individual sellers also give bank account information, a W9 form and the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number, or an ITIN if you have no SSN. To submit, you need all four fields (legal name, date of birth, residential address and SSN) verified, or the required documents provided.

5. Name your shop and add your addresses

   Create a shop name, and do not use "flagship" or "official" in it. Add a warehouse pickup address and phone number, and a return address if it is different. Your business address is shown to shoppers on the product detail page. If that is your home address, tick Certify and only part of it is shown.

6. List your first product

   Add a product with photos, a title, a description, a price and stock. TikTok Shop's setup guide says products stay hidden until document verification is complete, so finish verification before you expect sales.

7. Set up shipping and start selling

   Choose a handling time and a shipping method, then sell. Regular orders must ship within 2 business days of Awaiting Shipment. TikTok Shop pays out to your bank account automatically once your balance reaches $1 USD.

TikTok Shop seller requirements and documents

Documents you upload must be valid, not expired and matching what you entered, and TikTok Shop does not accept expired documents, paper IDs, cropped documents and photos of a computer or phone screen.

The IRS says Form W-9 is used to provide your correct Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to the person who is required to file an information return with the IRS.

The SBA says local governments determine registration, licensing, and permitting requirements, and that you should check your state's Department of Revenue website to see whether you need a state tax ID. Rules vary by state and city, and this page is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Which business type to choose for TikTok Shop setup

The business type you pick decides the documents you will be required to submit, and it is fixed once the account is registered. Pick the type that matches how your business is set up today.

How to set up TikTok Shop product listings

You add products in Seller Center under Products, then Add Products. You can list 1 product at a time by entering all relevant information yourself, list multiple products at once using Excel templates, use an integration app to sync with other platforms such as Amazon, Shopify and eBay, or import a listing from a product URL on another site such as Amazon or Shopify. A shop can display up to 1,000 products.

A new listing goes to review first and is published to your shop automatically when the review is complete. These are the parts TikTok Shop's listing guide asks for:

• Title: 25-200 characters. Avoid your seller name, URLs or marketing phrases.
• Images: at least 1 image and a maximum of 9 images per product, at 600 × 600 px, up to 10 MB each, in JPG, JPEG or PNG. The main image should show the entire product.
• Product code: a product identifier code such as a GTIN, EAN, UPC or ISBN for each variation, required in most categories.
• Price and stock: a retail price and the available stock for each variation. Package weight and dimensions are used to calculate the shipping fee and shipping method.
• Category: pick the one that matches the product, because a wrong category can keep products out of search results or lead to enforcement actions, including removal of the listing. In Seller Center, some categories are invite-only and require approval before you can list products under them.
• Brand: obtain brand authorization before listing branded products. For an unbranded product, choose 'No brand'.

To get into an invite-only category, you send an email with the required information, and approval may take 8-10 working days and is not guaranteed. All products must comply with the TikTok Shop Prohibited Products Policy and Restricted Products Policy, so check both before you buy stock for a new product.

How to sell on TikTok: Shop Tab, videos, LIVE and creators

Shop Tab is a centralized marketplace within the TikTok app, and you do not need to opt in: products listed on TikTok Shop are included in Shop Tab automatically. For Shop Tab, TikTok Shop suggests a title a buyer can read in 150 characters or less, 5 or more clear images and a description of at least 500 characters.

You can also sell your own products from your own TikTok account, in LIVE streams or short videos. TikTok Shop calls this self-selling, and those sales carry no affiliate commission.

Creators can sell your products too. Through TikTok Shop Affiliate you pay creators a commission for every item sold through the creator's content. You set the rate for each product in the Affiliate Center, in a range of 1%-80%.

Shipping TikTok Shop orders: options and deadlines

If you ship from your own stock, you can use your own carrier or TikTok Shipping. The choice decides who buys labels, uploads tracking and files claims for lost or damaged parcels.

TikTok Shop's fulfillment policy applies to all sellers and any type of order, so these deadlines apply whichever option you use. A regular order must be scanned by the carrier within 2 business days of Awaiting Shipment and delivered within 6 business days of Awaiting Shipment. If no tracking is added within 5 business days of Awaiting Shipment, TikTok Shop cancels the order. At shop level you choose a handling time of 1-2 business days for regular orders, and made-to-order products can be set to 3-14 business days. If more than 10% of orders ship late, TikTok Shop may take enforcement action against the shop.

What it costs to sell on TikTok Shop compared with other places

TikTok Shop has no setup fee. It charges one referral fee of 6% per order in most categories, on completed orders, and that fee covers all TikTok Shop fees except shipping and tax. The chart shows the same $30 sale on TikTok Shop and on other places to sell, using each platform's own published rates.

Where Nation fits

Questions about selling on TikTok Shop