How to Get the Shop Tab on TikTok

Getting a Shop tab on your TikTok profile can feel like a game-changer because, well, it is. It transforms your account from a content channel into a fully fledged storefront where followers can browse and buy without ever leaving the app. This guide breaks down exactly how to navigate the process, from understanding the core requirements to setting up your shop and making your first sale directly from a video.

What is the TikTok Shop Tab and Why Does It Matter?

The TikTok Shop tab is a dedicated button on your brand’s profile page, symbolized by a shopping bag icon. Tapping it opens up a product gallery where users can see everything you have for sale, click into product detail pages, and add items to their cart. Think of it as a mini-website embedded directly into your profile, creating a seamless path from discovering your content to purchasing your product.

But its real power goes far beyond a simple profile link. Once you have an active TikTok Shop, you unlock the ability to integrate commerce directly into your content:

• Product Tags in Videos: You can link specific products to your in-feed videos. A small yellow shopping cart icon appears, letting viewers tap and purchase the exact item they just saw you showcase.
• LIVE Shopping Features: During a TikTok LIVE, you can feature products, pin them to the screen, and drive a real-time sales rush as you demo items and answer questions live.
• Frictionless Checkout: The biggest advantage is the reduced friction. Customers don’t need to click a link in bio, navigate to a new site, and reorient themselves. They see a product they love in a video and can buy it in a few taps, which massively increases conversion rates.

Essentially, TikTok Shop closes the loop between entertainment and commerce, allowing brands to monetize their audience at the peak of their interest.

Before You Start: Understand Your Options

First, it's important to know there are two primary ways you can sell products through TikTok’s platform, and the path you choose determines a different setup process. This guide focuses on setting up your own brand’s official shop.

Option 1: Selling Your Own Brand's Products (TikTok Shop for Sellers)

This is the full e-commerce experience. You are the merchant. You list your products, manage your inventory, set your prices, handle all the shipping and logistics, and provide customer service. It requires more operational work, but you have complete control over your brand, products, and profit margins. This is the main focus of this guide.

Option 2: Selling Other People's Products (TikTok Shop for Creators / Affiliate)

This path is for creators who want to earn money without managing physical products. As an affiliate, you link to and promote products from other sellers on TikTok Shop. When someone makes a purchase through your link, you get a commission. Your profile will feature a “Showcase” tab that displays the products you’ve chosen to promote. It's a great way to monetize your content without the headache of inventory and logistics, but you have less control and earn a smaller piece of each sale.

The Official TikTok Shop Eligibility Checklist

Before you dive into the setup, you need to make sure you meet the baseline criteria. These requirements can vary slightly depending on your region, so always double-check the latest details in the TikTok Seller Center for your country. However, the core requirements are generally consistent.

Eligibility for Sellers/Businesses

• Location-Based: Your business must be legally registered and operate in a country where TikTok Shop is available. Currently, this includes the United States, United Kingdom, and several countries in Southeast Asia like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
• Business Verification: You must provide official documentation to prove your business is legitimate. This usually means a company registration document, business license, or - for sole proprietors in some regions - a driver's license or passport.
• Product Category Compliance: TikTok has a strict list of prohibited and restricted products. You cannot sell items like alcohol, tobacco, weapons, medical devices, or counterfeit goods. Make sure your inventory falls within their supported categories.
• Bank Account: You need a business bank account that is registered in the same country as your business.

Eligibility for Creators (for the Affiliate Program)

While this guide focuses on sellers, it’s good to know the alternative requirements:

• Follower Count: You generally need a minimum number of followers. In the U.S., the threshold is often around 5,000 followers, but this can change.
• Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old.
• Active Account: Your account needs to have a history of recent posts and be in good standing with no major Community Guideline violations.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Set Up Your TikTok Shop

Feeling confident you meet the criteria? Great. Let’s get your shop launched. Grab your business documents and a cup of coffee, and follow these steps.

Step 1: Create Your TikTok Seller Center Account

The Seller Center is your command hub. It's where you’ll manage everything from products and orders to promotions and customer service. It’s separate from the main TikTok app.

1. Go to seller.tiktok.com in your web browser.
2. Choose your location. Select the country where your business primarily operates.
3. From there, you'll be prompted to Sign up. You can use an existing TikTok account to register or sign up with a phone number and email. Linking it to your business TikTok account from the start is often the easiest path.

After this initial sign-up, you'll be taken to the dashboard to begin the verification process.

Step 2: Submit Your Business Verification Documents

This is the most detail-oriented step. Accuracy here is everything, so take your time and double-check all information before clicking submit.

1. Choose Your Business Type: You'll need to select whether you are a Corporation, Partnership, LLC, or a Sole Proprietor (listed as 'Individual' in some regions).
2. Enter Business Details: Fill in your business name, address, and any required registration numbers (like an EIN in the U.S.). Make certain the name here exactly matches what’s on your official paperwork.
3. Upload Your Documents: Scan and upload clear, readable copies of your verification documents. If you are a corporation, this might be your Articles of Incorporation. For a sole proprietor, it will likely be your government-issued ID.

Once submitted, TikTok’s team will review your application. This can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. You'll receive a notification once you’re approved.

Pro Tip: Have digital copies of all your documents saved and ready before you start this step. It makes the entire process faster and smoother.

Step 3: Add and Link Your Bank Account

While you wait for verification, or right after you’re approved, you can set up where your sales revenue will go. Navigate to the ‘Finance’ or similar-sounding tab and follow the prompts to link your business bank account. The name on the bank account must match the business or owner information you provided during verification.

Step 4: Add Your Products to the Shop

Now for the fun part. Inside the Seller Center, find the 'Products' section and click 'Add New Product'. For each item, you’ll need to provide:

• Product Name: Make it clear, descriptive, and searchable.
• Category: Choose the one that best fits your item from the available options.
• Images &, Videos: High-quality visuals are non-negotiable. Upload at least 3-4 clear photos from different angles. If you have a short video showcasing the product in use, even better.
• Product Description: Write a compelling description that highlights benefits, not just features. Use bullet points to make it easy to scan.
• Variations: If your product comes in different sizes or colors, you can set those up here.
• Price, Quantity, and SKU: Enter the price, how many you have in stock, and a unique SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) for your own internal tracking.

Every product you submit will go through a quick review process to ensure it complies with TikTok's policies. Once approved, it will be live in your shop.

Step 5: Link Your Seller Center to Your TikTok Account

This is the final connection that makes the Shop tab appear on your profile.

1. In the Seller Center dashboard, go to "My Account" and find the "Linked TikTok Accounts" tab.
2. Click ‘Link official account’.
3. Enter the username of your TikTok business profile.
4. A request will be sent to your TikTok app. Now, grab a mobile device.
5. On your phone, open the TikTok app and go to your inbox. You should see a notification under "Monetization".
6. Approve the linking request, and that's it! Your Shop tab should appear on your profile almost instantly.

My Shop Is Live! Now What?

Getting the tab is just the beginning. The next step is to create content that drives people there. Here are a few ways to start strong.

Tag Products in Every Relevant Video

When you upload a new video, use the “Add link” button before posting to tag a product from your shop. Come up with creative ways to showcase the product in action so the tag feels natural, not forced. An effective product video often tells a story or solves a problem.

Run ‘Live Shopping’ Sessions

Go LIVE! Unbox your products, do a Q&,A session, demonstrate how something works, or run a limited-time flash sale. TikTok LIVEs create a sense of urgency and community that translates directly into sales. You can feature specific products from your shop at the bottom of the screen for viewers to purchase instantly.

Create Authentic, Product-Focused Content

Your content calendar should be a mix of entertainment and commerce. Don't be shy about making videos about your products. Some formats that perform well include:

• "Pack an order with me" videos.
• Tutorials showing how to use the product.
• Before-and-after transformations.
• User-generated content from happy customers (with their permission!).

Final Thoughts

Connecting a TikTok Shop to your profile is a huge unlock for any brand on the platform. By following the steps - getting verified in the Seller Center, adding your products, and linking your account - you can turn your creative content into a powerful and direct source of revenue.

Now that you have a powerful new shopping channel, creating high-quality content consistently is more important than ever. To maintain that momentum, our platform, Postbase, was built for today's video-first social landscape. We make it easy to plan and visualize your TikToks on a clear content calendar, schedule videos to post at exactly the right time, and manage all your comments in one unified inbox so you have more time to spend on building your brand.