How to start a TikTok Shop
Turn your ideas into income by selling directly where people scroll, watch, and buy.
TikTok Shop lets you sell products through content – and with Printful, you can source and create merchandise without any inventory.
This guide walks you through how to start a TikTok Shop, meet the setup requirements, and sell online in 2025.
Why start a TikTok Shop?
TikTok isn’t just for viral trends – it’s one of the fastest-growing eCommerce platforms in the world. With over 1.5 billion monthly active users, TikTok Shop gives you the traffic and tools to turn short videos into sales by selling directly through the app, right in TikTok users’ feeds.
Here’s why it works:
High visibility. TikTok’s algorithm is built for discovery. You don’t need followers to get seen – just good content. That makes it a powerful tool for reaching new customers.
Built-in shopping features. Shoppable videos, the shop tab, live shopping ads, and product tags all create seamless buying experiences inside the app.
It rewards authenticity. TikTok Shop is ideal for creators who want to build trust and community rather than just post polished ads, giving more room to establish a brand.
It’s already delivering results. TikTok Shop saw a massive sales spike from $1 billion to $33 billion between 2021 and 2024, and it’s continuing to expand in new markets.
And here’s your opportunity – pair TikTok Shop with a print-on-demand (POD) service like Printful to skip inventory and upfront investment. Pick from quality products, create and apply your own designs, sync the merchandise to your storefront, and start selling through your TikTok videos.
You make the content. Printful handles the rest – printing, packing, and shipping – so you can focus on growing your audience and building your brand through engaging videos.
TikTok Shop requirements
Before you can start selling, TikTok Shop has a few specific requirements you’ll need to meet. These cover eligibility, account and sales channel setup, and seller types.
Eligibility
To open a shop, you must:
Be 18 years or older
Live in an eligible country (availability varies – check the TikTok Seller Center for the latest list)
Have a valid TikTok account
Provide either:
A registered business license for companies
A government-issued ID for individuals
Add a bank account in your name (or your company’s name) to receive payouts
Enter a valid street address and return address for deliveries and returns
When applying, you will need to verify your information by uploading these documents. You’ll also need to choose an account name that matches your legal business or personal identity.
Types of sellers
TikTok Shop supports several seller categories, each with its own specific requirements:
Individual sellers. Upload a valid ID, proof of address, and link a bank account.
Business account holders. Provide a registered business license, tax documents, and company bank name details.
Creators and affiliates. Join the affiliate program to promote products and earn commissions without managing inventory.
Brands. Larger companies that submit official documentation to protect intellectual property.
No matter your business type, manage everything in the TikTok Seller Center, the platform’s central dashboard. That’s where you’ll upload products, track orders, and monitor your sales.
Sales channel integration
TikTok Shop isn’t a standalone storefront. To sell, you’ll need to connect it to a sales channel that keeps your catalog, orders, and payments in sync.
The easiest way to begin is with Printful’s TikTok Shop integration. Create products, list them in your eCommerce shop, sell through TikTok, and let us handle fulfillment automatically – no inventory or extra setup needed.
Fees and commissions
TikTok Shop charges a referral fee on each purchase. In 2025, the fee is 6% per order for most products. Rates vary by business type and region. Extra costs may apply if you run shop ads or live shopping ads to promote products.
How to start a TikTok Shop (step by step)
Opening your shop takes just a few steps. Once your documents are approved, you can upload products and begin selling right away.
Step 1: Register for a TikTok Shop Seller Account
Head to the TikTok Seller Center and sign up. Choose between registering as an individual or a company.
To complete the process, you’ll need to:
Enter your account name
Upload your ID or business license
Add your bank account and bank name for payouts
Verify your identity by uploading supporting documents
Once approved, you’ll have full access to your seller dashboard.
Step 2: Set up your shop profile
Next, customize the look of your storefront. This is where buyers see your account name, logo, and contact details.
You’ll also need to:
Add a return address and street address for shipping
Fill in your company or personal details, depending on your business type
Complete the setup checklist inside the app
A clear profile builds trust with shoppers from the start.
Step 3: Add products
Once your shop profile is approved, it’s time to list items. Upload product images, descriptions, and pricing into your product catalog.
Pro tip: Use TikTok’s built-in product fields to highlight size, color, or other variations so customers can easily purchase the right item. Keep descriptions short, clear, and keyword-friendly.
Managing inventory is crucial here. If you’re selling with Printful, you can sync your custom products for a hassle-free experience. When someone places an order, we’ll handle production and fulfillment automatically.
Step 4: Connect your sales channel
Go to Sales channel integration in the TikTok Seller Center. From here, choose the setup that fits your business:
Already have a store? Select your platform (like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce) and follow the prompts to sync your product catalog and inventory.
Want an easy fulfillment solution? Choose Printful. Our direct TikTok Shop integration means you don’t need to manage products manually. Here’s all you need to do:
Create products in Printful’s Design Maker
Publish them through our TikTok Shop integration
Let Printful fulfill every purchase
For new sellers, Printful is the simplest and most effective option for exploring how to start selling on TikTok Shop. No need to supply products or hold inventory.
Step 5: Integrate TikTok Shop with your content
Your TikTok Shop is only as strong as the content that drives people to it. TikTok rewards authenticity, so your goal is to weave products into videos in a way that feels natural.
Here’s how:
Tag products in your videos so viewers can tap and buy instantly.
Tell stories, not ads – show how your product solves a problem, fits into daily life, or connects to a trend.
Use built-in shopping features like shoppable videos, the shop tab on your profile, and live shopping events.
Leverage trends by pairing your product with popular sounds, effects, or hashtags – adapt formats to fit your brand voice.
Collaborate with creators and affiliates to expand reach through TikTok’s affiliate program.
Post consistently to test what resonates and keep your shop visible in feeds.
Pro tip: With Printful, you can test ideas fast, since items are made on demand. Launch new products to see what works and what’s lacking in the current TikTok ecosystem. Trends move fast, and so should your designs.
Step 6: Launch a TikTok Shop campaign
It’s time to scale your reach. TikTok Shop campaigns let you promote strategically to turn organic engagement into consistent sales.
Here’s how to get started:
Run shop ads to boost your products directly in the For You feed, reaching TikTok users beyond your followers.
Experiment with live shopping ads to push your live streams to more viewers while you demo products in real time.
Promote content that already works – take your best-performing videos and boost them with an ad budget. TikTok ads feel most authentic when they’re based on organic posts.
Use the affiliate program to partner with creators who can showcase your products to their audiences. Even micro-influencers can drive significant conversions.
Target potential customers with TikTok’s audience tools, testing different segments to see what brings the highest ROI.
Pro tip: Maximize your sales by identifying the best times to post on TikTok and learning how to promote products on TikTok.
