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Learning how to sell on TikTok Shop could be your smartest money move this year. The platform hit $33 billion in sales last year. The US market alone reached $9 billion. That's real money flowing through the app you already use daily.
This guide breaks down how to sell on TikTok Shop, even if you've never sold online before. You'll also learn the difference between selling on TikTok Shop and building a lasting brand.
We'll cover everything from setup to your first sale. Whether it’s phone cases, custom merch, or digital products, you'll learn how to sell on TikTok Shop.
What Is TikTok Shop and How Does It Work?
TikTok Shop lets you sell products directly inside TikTok and make money from your phone. There is no need to send people to other websites. They watch your video, tap your product, and buy without leaving the app.
But what is TikTok Shop? Beyond the basics, it’s more than just a checkout tool.
It's a complete selling ecosystem. You control pricing, inventory, and promotions. Also, analytics show which videos drive sales. And everything runs through one dashboard.
Key features that make selling on TikTok easy include:
- In-app Checkout: Buyers stay on TikTok the entire time
- Shoppable Videos: Tag products directly in your content
- Shop Tab: All your items are displayed in one place
- Live Shopping: Sell in real-time during streams
If you’re learning how to sell on TikTok Shop, these features help buyers check out fast.
How Does TikTok Shop Work?
The process is straightforward:
- Upload products to Seller Center
- Link them to your videos
- Viewers click and buy instantly
- TikTok handles payments
- You ship orders
- Money hits your account weekly
The Growth You Can't Ignore
TikTok Shopping exploded in 2024, and the platform saw 650% growth in the US alone. According to Momentum Works, over 398,000 stores now operate on TikTok Shop.
What makes TikTok Shop different? The algorithm. Your products can go viral overnight. Small brands compete with big names. One good video changes everything when you know how to sell on TikTok Shop using the algorithm.
The platform takes a small commission per sale. But you reach millions of potential buyers.
So if you’re still wondering how to sell on TikTok Shop, start by using the algorithm to your advantage.
Also Read:
TikTok Shop Requirements for Sellers
Can anyone sell on TikTok Shop? Almost, but you need to meet a few rules first. Let’s look at a few of them.
Age and Location Requirements
You must be at least 18 years old. TikTok will check your age when you sign up.
Your location matters too. TikTok Shop is available in places like:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Indonesia
- Vietnam
- Japan
- Thailand
- Spain
More regions launch occasionally, so check if your country qualifies before starting.
Business Verification
TikTok wants sellers to be real and trustworthy. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A business license or tax ID
- A valid government ID
- A bank account for payments
- A phone number
If you’re a sole owner, you can use your SSN instead of business papers. Make sure your info is clear and matches across all documents.
Anyone learning how to sell things on TikTok Shop must have these essentials in place.
Common Rejection Reasons
Here’s why TikTok may say no:
- Missing documents
- Trying to sell banned products
- Past rule violations
- Blurry or unclear files
These steps help protect both sellers and buyers. Once you pass, you're good to go.
How to Set Up TikTok Shop Account
Want to start selling on TikTok Shop? The setup is easier than you think.
Step 1: Open the Seller Center
Go to the TikTok Shop Seller Center online. Pick your country, then click Enter to get started.
You’ll need to log in with your TikTok account, so have your username and password ready.
Next, choose your seller type:
- Individual — if you're working solo
- Business — if you’ve registered a company
You can switch later if your setup changes.
Step 2: Fill Out Your Application
Now, enter your business info. Make sure your name, address, and tax details match your documents exactly. Any mismatch can delay approval.
Then, upload your documents. This includes:
- A government ID
- A business license or tax info
- A bank statement
Use clear photos. Blurry images get rejected, and that means more waiting.
Step 3: Finish Your Shop Setup
TikTok usually reviews your application in 24 to 48 hours.
Sometimes it's faster, especially if you apply early in the week. Weekend applications often wait until Monday.
Once you're approved, customize your shop:
- Add a clear logo and banner
- Write a short, friendly bio
- Set up your shipping and return policies
Make your shop feel real and trustworthy. A clean, complete profile helps buyers feel more confident.
How to Add Products to TikTok Shop
Adding products is one of the first big steps in mastering how to sell on TikTok Shop. You can upload them by hand or connect your store.
Manual Upload
If you have only a few products, start by uploading them manually.
Log in to the Seller Center and click Add new product.
Your photo is the first thing buyers see. Use a clean background and show the product clearly. Add more photos that show size, angles, and packaging.
Next, write a short product description. Start with the what makes your product useful or fun?
Then, list key features in the next paragraph and finish with simple specs like size and materials. Keep it short. People scroll fast, so make your content easy to skim.
Store Integration
If you have more products, you can use Shopify or WooCommerce. These platforms link with TikTok Shop and sync your updates.
That way, your stock stays up to date and you avoid selling what’s out of stock. This saves time and helps you grow faster.
What Can You Sell on TikTok Shop?
Here popular items you can sell on your TikTok Shop:
- Fashion and custom designs
- Beauty products (over $2.4 billion in sales last year)
- Tech accessories like phone cases
Avoid banned items like weapons, adult items, or fake products. They can get you permanently banned.
Help People Find Your Products
Use the right categories. “iPhone 15 Case” works better than just “Accessories.” Likewise, add natural keywords to titles, like “Podbase Custom iPhone 15 Case – Shockproof Design.”
Also, price wisely. Stay competitive, but keep your profit margins.
Also Read:
How to Sell on TikTok Shop Without Inventory
You don’t need to keep stock to sell on TikTok Shop. With print-on-demand and digital products, you can sell without touching a single item.
Use Print-on-Demand with Podbase
Podbase makes it easy to sell tech accessories without inventory.
Here’s how it works:
- A customer places an order in your TikTok Shop
- Podbase gets the order
- They print your design on the product
- They ship it straight to the customer
You don’t pay upfront or store anything at home. Just upload your designs and start selling.
This lets you test lots of ideas. If one product sells well, keep it. If one flops, remove it — no money lost.
Other Ways to Sell Without Stock
You can also sell digital items like:
- Design templates
- Guides
- Online courses
They deliver right after purchase, no shipping needed.
Another option is dropshipping. Your supplier ships the product for you. Just make sure they’re reliable. Late shipping can hurt your reviews.
Start Simple
Pick one item to begin. Phone cases are a great choice because everyone needs one, and they sell well on TikTok.
Best part? You don’t need a lot of money to start. You can make a design today, list it tonight, and get your first order tomorrow.
How to Promote Your TikTok Shop Items
If you want to sell on TikTok Shop, you’ll need to promote your products the right way. Here’s how to get more views, clicks, and sales when learning how to sell on TikTok Shop.
Make Content That Sells
Start by making short videos that grab attention and show your product in action.
Don’t just list features, tell a quick story. For example, a phone case that survives a big drop shows real value. This is a much better approach than just listing specs.
Tag your products in the video. This adds a yellow shopping bag icon, so viewers can buy without leaving TikTok. That makes buying super easy and fast.
Post about 3 to 7 videos a week. Focus on making each one fun and helpful. One good video can do more than five weak ones.
Use Live Shopping
Go live on TikTok. It lets you talk to people, answer questions, and show your product in real time.
Plan your streams when your followers are online. This is usually in the evening. And run flash sales during live events to push quick buys.
Build Trust with Social Proof
Work with small influencers (10K–50K followers). Their fans often trust them more than big names.
Also, ask happy customers to share review videos or unboxing clips. This is called user-generated content or UGC. Repost these with credit. They act as free ads and build trust fast.
Test and Repeat
Try different content types, see what works best, and do more of it. The more you test, the more you learn, and the faster you grow.
Also Read:
- How To Make Printables To Sell Online: And Make Money
- How To Start a Profitable Print-on-Demand Business
TikTok Shop Ads and Paid Promotion
Paid promotion on TikTok Shop accelerates growth when done well. Start small, test everything, and scale only winners. Here are the ads and promotions you’ll need to know as you learn how to sell on TikTok Shop.
Types of TikTok Shop Ads
- In-Feed Ads: These appear in between videos as users scroll, like regular TikTok content
- TopView Ads: These come as the first video users see when they open the app. These ads are great for visibility
- Branded Hashtag Challenges: These encourage users to join a trend using your hashtag
- Spark Ads: These boost existing organic content, including posts from creators
Budget and Targeting Strategy
Minimum daily spend starts at $50 at the campaign level and $20 per ad group. Test with $100 weekly budgets first before scaling. This approach minimizes risk while gathering data.
Measuring Success
One of the important facets of learning how to sell on TikTok Shop is monitoring profitability metrics.
Cost per purchase tells the real story, not impressions or clicks. Anything under $20 fee per purchase usually generates profit. Adjust targeting weekly based on performance data.
Learning how to sell on TikTok Shop with ads requires patience. Start with organic content to understand your audience. Then add paid promotion gradually as you identify winning products.
How to Grow Followers and Build Trust
Getting more followers is great, but trust is what drives sales on TikTok Shop. Here’s how to grow your TikTok audience when learning how to sell on TikTok Shop.
Talk to Your Viewers
Start by replying to every comment. Even a short “thanks” shows people you care.
Ask questions in your videos, too. This gets viewers to join the conversation, which helps your video reach more people.
Build a Real Community
Don’t just sell. Show how your product helps solve real problems.
Share stories from happy customers or videos of them using your product (UGC). This makes your shop feel more real and more relatable.
Also, post behind-the-scenes clips. Show how you design your items or pack orders. People love seeing the work that goes into your brand.
Use Reviews to Build Trust
Happy customers are your best ads. Ask them to post reviews or tag you in videos. Share those clips (with permission) to build even more trust.
Also, post often and regularly. When followers know when to expect your content, they’re more likely to come back.
How to Make Money on TikTok Shop Long-Term
Learning how to sell on TikTok Shop and make money requires thinking beyond quick wins. A strong shop takes planning, smart choices, and consistency.
Pick the Right Products
Start with items that already sell well.
As mentioned earlier, phone cases are a top pick; everyone needs them, and TikTok users love cool, custom designs.
Use Podbase to create unique products without spending so much money upfront.
When setting prices, plan for:
- TikTok’s 5% seller fee
- Payment processing fees
- Shipping and production costs
Aim for 40–50% profit so you can grow, handle returns, and run sales later.
Run Your Shop Smoothly
Shipping speed matters. Deliver on time or early, so customers stay happy and leave good reviews.
Also, always test new products before adding them to your full TikTok store. Start small, see how they perform, then scale up what works. Drop anything that doesn’t sell.
A Quick Success Story
Take Sarah, for example. She started with one simple phone case on Podbase.
Six months later? She’s making $5,000 a month.
What worked for her:
- Posting videos every day
- Replying to every customer comment
- Making content based on customer questions
With the right habits, you can build a lasting business too.
Also Read:
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many new sellers mess up after learning how to sell on TikTok Shop. Here’s how to avoid the most common mistakes and stay on track.
Stock and Shipping Problems
Running out of stock leads to canceled orders and unhappy customers.
One fix? Use print-on-demand services like Podbase. They handle the printing and shipping for you. That way, you don’t risk selling something you don’t have.
Bad Product Videos
Plain product photos with music won’t cut it anymore. Instead, make short, fun videos. Show your product solving a real problem. For example, don’t just show a phone case, show it protecting a phone from a drop. Take this video from KimChi Chic Beauty, for example:
Pricing Errors
Setting prices too low can backfire. It may attract some clicks, but buyers might think the product is low quality. Instead, value price. If your product is well-made, don’t be afraid to charge what it’s worth.
Breaking the Rules
TikTok has strict selling rules. Breaking them can get your shop shut down for good. Read the rules before you list anything. It’s better to be safe than banned.
Start Selling on TikTok Shop Today
You now know exactly how to sell on TikTok Shop successfully. The platform offers incredible opportunities for sellers ready to take action. Low barriers to entry mean you can start today without a major investment.
Success on TikTok Shop comes from consistency and authenticity. Post regularly, engage genuinely, and solve real problems for buyers. Your first sale might happen tomorrow if you start now.
Remember, Podbase makes it easy to create, manage, and scale products on your TikTok Shop. Get started with Podbase today!
Saulius Meilutis is the CEO of Podbase, helping creators and entrepreneurs monetize their ideas with print-on-demand. He shares insights on eCommerce, growth, and building lean online businesses.
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