How to Get a TikTok Shop Without 5,000 Followers

You’ve been told you need 5,000 TikTok followers to unlock a TikTok Shop, but that’s not the whole story. While that rule does apply to many creators, there’s a direct, official pathway to open your shop with zero followers. This guide will give you the exact step-by-step instructions to get your TikTok Shop set up and start selling, regardless of your follower count.

The 5,000 Follower Myth: Understanding TikTok's Rules

First, let's clear up the confusion. TikTok has two main ways you can sell on its platform, and they come with very different requirements.

• For Creators: If you're a standard creator who wants to link products from other brands or sell your own through TikTok, you typically need to meet certain criteria. In the U.S. and other regions, this often includes having at least 5,000 followers, being 18 or older, and having posted a video within the last 28 days. This is the path most people hear about, and it's why the "5k follower" rule is so well-known.
• For Businesses: This is the workaround. If you have a registered business - even as a sole proprietor - you can sign up directly through the TikTok Seller Center. When you do this, you are registering as a merchant, not just a creator. For registered businesses, TikTok waives the follower requirement entirely.

Simply put: TikTok doesn't expect a brand new business to already have 5,000 followers. By registering as an official business, you signal to TikTok that you are a serious seller, and they give you a direct route to setting up your shop. This is the method we’ll focus on.

The Official Way In: Using the TikTok Seller Center as a Business

This is your key to getting a shop with fewer than 5,000 followers. The process involves creating a seller account and providing documentation to prove you're a legitimate business. It might sound intimidating, but it's a straightforward process if you have your information ready.

Who is this Method For?

This method is for individuals or companies who have a legally registered business. This doesn't mean you need a massive corporation. It can include:

• Sole Proprietorships: In most places, this is the simplest business structure to set up. It’s often just you, doing business under your own name or a registered trade name.
• LLCs (Limited Liability Companies): A common structure for small businesses that provides a layer of legal protection.
• Partnerships & Corporations: Larger business structures also qualify.

The key piece of information you'll need is your business registration number, like an Employer Identification Number (EIN) in the United States, or an equivalent document in your country. If you don't have one yet, don't worry. Setting up a sole proprietorship is often a quick and affordable process through your local government's business portal.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your TikTok Shop Seller Account

Ready to set up your shop? Grab your business documents and follow these steps.

Step 1: Go to the TikTok Seller Center Website

Your first move is to navigate to the official TikTok Seller Center. The URL can vary by region, so a quick search for "TikTok Seller Center" will direct you to the correct portal for your country. The homepage will provide options to sign up or log in.

Step 2: Sign Up with a New Account or Link Your Existing TikTok Account

You can register with an existing TikTok account or create a completely new profile for your business. If you already have a TikTok account you plan to use for business, linking it makes sense. If not, starting fresh is perfectly fine. Enter your phone number or email and create a secure password.

Step 3: Provide Your Business Information

This is the most important step. During the registration process, you’ll be asked to provide your shop information. Be prepared to select your business type (e.g., "Individual" for sole proprietor or "Corporate" for LLCs/Corps) and enter the name of your shop.

Then, you’ll need to upload identifying documents. For a Corporation or LLC, this might be your business registration certificate. For an Individual/Sole Trader, you may need to provide your personal ID (like a driver's license or passport) and your business identifier, like an EIN.

Step 4: Verify Your Identity

TikTok needs to confirm you are who you say you are. You will be prompted to provide the personal information of the business owner or legal representative. This step helps prevent fraud and creates a trusted marketplace. Make sure the name and information you enter exactly match the details on your identification documents.

Step 5: Link Your Bank Account

Of course, you’ll need a place for your earnings to go. You will be asked to securely link a bank account. This is where TikTok will deposit your payouts from sales after their processing period. Have your bank routing and account numbers handy.

Step 6: Wait for Approval

Once you’ve submitted all your information and documents, your application will go into review. The approval process can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. TikTok is verifying that your business is legitimate and all your documents are in order. You'll receive a notification once your shop has been approved.

And that’s it! Once approved, your TikTok Shop will be active, and you can start adding products - all without needing a single follower.

Your Shop is Live! Now... How Do You Get Sales?

Getting your shop approved is the first hurdle. The next is actually driving traffic and making sales when you're starting from scratch. Having a shop doesn’t automatically mean sales will roll in. You still have to create content that gets your products in front of the right audience. Here are some strategies that work for new accounts.

Master Your Product Showcase Videos

TikTok is a video-first platform. Static images of your products won’t cut it. Your content needs to be engaging, value-driven, and native to the platform.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Instead of just showing your product, demonstrate it in action. If you sell a kitchen gadget, make a recipe with it. If you sell skincare, show a mini-routine. Effective videos solve a problem or inspire a desire.
• Use Strong Hooks: The first three seconds are everything. Start your video with a bold a-ha moment, a common problem, or a surprising question. Examples: "Three ways you've been using this wrong…" or "Here's the product that completely saved my skin."
• Create a Clear Call-to-Action: End your video by telling people exactly what to do next. Say it out loud and use on-screen text like "Tap the orange shopping cart to get yours!" or "Product linked below!"

Focus on TikTok SEO

The "For You" Page isn't the only way to get discovered. TikTok's search function is becoming incredibly powerful. Treat your video captions and on-screen text like you would a blog post.

Think about what your ideal customer would search for. If you sell eco-friendly cleaning supplies, your keywords might be "non-toxic cleaning routine," "refillable home products," or "sustainable swaps." Include these phrases naturally in your description, mention them in your voiceover, and add them as text overlays. This helps TikTok categorize your content and recommend it to users who are actively looking for solutions you provide.

Tap into the TikTok Shop Affiliate Program

This is arguably the most powerful tool for a new shop owner with zero followers. You don't have to build an audience from scratch if you can borrow someone else's. Through the affiliate program, you can offer a commission to other TikTok creators who make videos featuring your products.

You set the commission rate (e.g., 10% of the sale price), and creators can request a free sample to use in their content. When a sale is made through their unique affiliate link, they get paid automatically. It’s a low-risk, high-reward way to get social proof and drive sales from trusted sources.

Boost Your Best Content with Spark Ads

As you post videos, one or two will inevitably perform better than the rest. These are your golden tickets. Instead of letting that organic momentum die out, use TikTok's Spark Ads to put some budget behind your winners.

Spark Ads allow you to promote your own organic videos, keeping all the original likes and comments. You can target specific demographics and interests, pushing your most effective content in front of thousands of potential customers. It’s a great way to turn proven content into a consistent sales engine and grow your brand beyond organic reach.

Final Thoughts

Getting a TikTok Shop is not limited by your follower count, it’s about choosing the right path. By registering as a formal business through the TikTok Seller Center, you can open your shop and start building your e-commerce dream from day one.

Once your shop is running, the real work of content creation, marketing, and scheduling begins. Juggling promotional videos, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content across TikTok and other platforms can feel like a full-time job. That's why we designed a tool to simplify the process. At Postbase, we built a modern, visual content planner that was made for today's video-first world, so you can easily schedule your TikToks, Reels, and Shorts without the headache and focus on what really matters - making sales and building your brand.