To sell on TikTok Shop in the US, you register as a seller, verify your identity and business, set up your shop, list your products, and choose how you’ll ship orders. It’s free to open a shop and there’s no follower minimum. TikTok takes a referral fee on each sale, 6% for most categories.
Here’s each step, what you need to qualify, and what it costs.
How to sell on TikTok Shop, step by step
1Check you’re eligible. You need to be 18 or older and a US resident with a US business address. The full list is in the next section.
2Register at seller.tiktok.com. Sign up with your TikTok account, or with an email address or phone number. Use contact details that aren’t already tied to another TikTok Shop. Choose whether you’re selling as an individual or a business. TikTok’s registration guide walks through each screen.
3Verify your identity and business. Upload your ID and enter your tax number. Everything you type has to match your documents exactly. If TikTok can’t verify something, it will ask for extra proof, which slows approval. TikTok’s document checklist shows exactly what’s accepted.
4Set up your shop. Add your shop name, warehouse or pickup address, return address, and the bank account for payouts. Then link your TikTok account to the shop so your videos and LIVEs can feature your products.
5List products and choose fulfillment. Add your products, then decide whether you’ll ship orders yourself or use a fulfillment service. Some categories need extra approval before you can list in them.
TikTok Shop requirements for US sellers
Have these ready before you start. Most delays come from details that don’t match between the form and your documents. The list below follows TikTok’s own requirements for US sellers.
✓Age 18 or older
✓US residency and a US business address
✓A valid US passport or passport card, driver’s license, state ID, or permanent resident card
✓A Social Security number or ITIN if you’re registering as an individual, or an EIN if you’re a business
✓A phone number and email address not already used for another TikTok Shop
✓A bank account for payouts
✓A tax form, which is optional at signup but required once you earn $2,000
Do you need followers to sell on TikTok Shop?
No. There’s no follower minimum to open a TikTok Shop or to link your own account and sell your products through your videos and LIVEs.
Follower minimums apply to creators, not sellers. A creator needs at least 5,000 followers to promote other sellers’ products through TikTok’s affiliate marketplace, according to TikTok Shop Academy. That matters to you in a different way: many shops grow by recruiting those affiliate creators, who post about your products and earn a commission you set.
How much does it cost to sell on TikTok Shop?
Opening a shop is free. There’s no monthly subscription and no listing fee. The main cost is a referral fee on each completed order.
The referral fee is calculated on what the customer paid plus any discount TikTok funded, minus tax. On a $40 order, that’s $2.40. You can check the rate for your category in TikTok’s referral fee table, and the refund rules on its referral fee policy page. Affiliate commissions, ads, and shipping usually add more than the referral fee itself, so price your products with all of them in mind.
Shipping and fulfillment options
TikTok is strict about speed. Orders need to be dispatched within two business days and delivered within six business days of entering Awaiting Shipment, per the service levels Amazon cites for TikTok Shop orders. Pick a fulfillment method you know can hit that.
If you already sell on Amazon, MCF is worth a look right now. Amazon is taking 35% off standard and expedited fees for US TikTok Shop orders sent through a supported integration partner. Our Amazon MCF guide covers the fees and how to qualify.
Is selling on TikTok Shop worth it?
For the right products, yes. TikTok Shop works best for items that are easy to show in a short video and priced for an impulse buy. Beauty, home, fashion accessories, and gadgets tend to do well.
It’s harder for products that need a lot of research before purchase, or where margins can’t absorb creator commissions and ad spend. The fastest way to find out is to launch a few best sellers, work with a handful of affiliate creators, and check your margin after every fee.
Running TikTok Shop alongside your other channels
Most sellers add TikTok Shop to an existing Amazon or Shopify business. The main risk is inventory. When a video takes off, TikTok orders can use up stock your other channels still show as available.
Base connects TikTok Shop with Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, and 400+ other marketplaces, and keeps stock in sync across all of them in real time. Orders from every channel land in one place and can be routed automatically to your warehouse, a 3PL, or Amazon MCF.
TikTok ShopAmazonWalmartShopifyeBay400+ more
Your warehouse3PLsAmazon MCFWalmart MCSUPS, FedEx, USPS
See how Base runs TikTok Shop next to your other channels.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to sell on TikTok Shop?
It’s free to open a TikTok Shop. There’s no setup fee, monthly subscription, or listing fee. TikTok charges a referral fee on each completed order, which is 6% for most US product categories.
Do you need 1,000 followers to sell on TikTok Shop?
No. There’s no follower minimum to open a TikTok Shop or to link your own TikTok account to your shop and sell your products. Follower minimums apply to creators who want to promote other sellers’ products through TikTok’s affiliate marketplace, which requires at least 5,000 followers.
How do you qualify to sell on TikTok Shop?
In the US, you need to be at least 18, a US resident with a US business address, and have a valid US passport, driver’s license, state ID, or permanent resident card. You also need a Social Security number or ITIN as an individual, or an EIN as a business, plus a bank account for payouts and a phone number and email not already used for another shop.
How much does TikTok Shop take per sale?
TikTok Shop charges a referral fee of 6% on most US categories, calculated on what the customer paid plus any TikTok-funded discount, minus tax. Some jewelry categories are 5%. If an order is refunded, TikTok returns the referral fee but keeps a refund administration fee of 20% of it, capped at $5 per SKU.
What documents do I need to sell on TikTok Shop?
Individuals need a valid US government ID and proof of address. Businesses also need business registration details and an EIN. TikTok may ask for more documents if it can’t verify your information. A tax form is optional when you register but required once you earn $2,000.
Is selling on TikTok Shop worth it?
It can be, especially for products that show well in short videos and sell at impulse-friendly prices. Plan for costs beyond the referral fee, including affiliate commissions, content, ads, and shipping, and make sure you can meet TikTok’s shipping deadlines before you scale.
