How to Register a Business on TikTok

Setting up a TikTok Business Account is one of the fastest ways to turn your brand's presence on the platform from a hobby into a serious growth engine. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to register your business, optimize your profile, and unlock the powerful tools needed to attract customers and measure your success.

So, Why Bother with a TikTok Business Account?

You might be seeing some traction with a personal account, and that's great. But switching to a Business Account isn't just about changing a label, it's about gaining access to a suite of professional tools designed for growth. Think of it as moving from a home kitchen to a professional one - you get better equipment, more precise measurements, and the ability to scale your operations.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you unlock:

• Dedicated Analytics: Go beyond likes and comments. See who your audience is (demographics, location), when they’re most active, and which videos are genuinely driving traffic to your profile.
• Ads Manager Access: Ready to put some budget behind your best content? A Business Account is your ticket to the TikTok Ads Manager, allowing you to run targeted campaigns to reach specific audiences.
• Promotional Features: You'll get access to tools like the Promote feature, which lets you easily turn high-performing organic videos into ads directly from the app.
• Link in Bio: Depending on your follower count and region, Business Accounts often get the ability to add a clickable website link to their bio sooner, which is a game-changer for driving traffic off the platform.
• Business Creative Hub: Get inspired with a curated feed of trending videos and tips specifically for businesses, helping you create content that resonates.
• Commercial Music Library: This gives you access to a massive library of over 1 million royalty-free sounds and songs you can legally use in your commercial content without worrying about copyright strikes.

How to Convert to a TikTok Business Account: A Step-by-Step Guide

The good news is that making the switch is fast, free, and incredibly simple. You can do it in under two minutes directly from the TikTok app. If you already have a personal account with some content, congratulations - you’re halfway there. If not, create a new account first, then follow these steps.

Step 1: Go to Your Settings

Open the TikTok app and navigate to your Profile page by tapping the icon in the bottom-right corner. From there, tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner to open up your Settings and privacy menu.

Step 2: Navigate to 'Account'

In the "Settings and privacy" menu, the very first option at the top will be Account. Tap on it.

Step 3: Switch to Business Account

Inside the Account section, you'll see an option that says Switch to Business Account. Tap it. TikTok will then show you a few screens highlighting the benefits we just discussed - analytics, ad tools, etc. Tap through them to continue.

Step 4: Choose Your Business Category

This is an important step. TikTok asks you to choose a category that best describes your business. Options range from "Clothing & Accessories" and "Beauty & Personal Care" to "Marketing & Advertising" and "Financial Services."

Be honest and accurate here. This helps TikTok’s algorithm understand your niche, show your content to more relevant users, and provide you with better content recommendations in the Business Creative Hub. After selecting your category, tap Next.

Step 5: Add a Business Email (Optional but Recommended)

Next, TikTok will prompt you to add a business email to your profile. This gives potential clients, partners, or customers a direct way to contact you. We highly recommend doing this to appear more professional and open for business. Once you've added it, you’re all set!

And that’s it! You've officially switched to a TikTok Business Account. You'll see a notification welcoming you, and you can now start exploring all the new features.

First Impressions Matter: Optimizing Your New Business Profile

Switching your account is just the start. Now you need to make sure your profile looks professional and clearly communicates what your brand is all about. An optimized profile builds trust and encourages valuable follows.

1. Your Profile Picture

Use a clean, high-resolution version of your company's logo. It should be easily recognizable even in a small circle. Avoid busy images or photos where the text is too small to read. A simple, bold logo is almost always the right call.

2. Your Username and Display Name

• Username (@yourbrand): This is your unique identifier. Make it your business name. If it's taken, try adding a simple, relevant modifier like "@yourbrandco" or "@getyourbrand" rather than a string of random numbers.
• Display Name: This appears more prominently on your profile. You can use your full business name here and even add a short descriptor. For example, your username might be "@petalplanners," but your display name could be "Petal | Wedding Planners."

3. Your Bio

You have 80 characters to capture attention. Be clear, concise, and compelling. A great formula is:

• Who you are: "Official account for [Your Brand]."
• What you do/sell: "We make handmade leather journals."
• Who you serve: "Helping you document your adventures."
• Call to Action (CTA): "Shop our new collection below! 👇"

4. Your Link in Bio

Once you have access to this feature, make it count. Don't just link to your homepage. Send traffic to a specific, high-intent destination like a product landing page, a sign-up form for your newsletter, or a promotional offer. Tools like Linktree or Beacons are fantastic for creating a mobile-friendly landing page where you can house multiple important links.

Business Account vs. Creator Account: Which One Is Actually for You?

While moving from a 'Personal' to a 'Business' account is a no-brainer for a brand, TikTok also offers a third option: the 'Creator' account. This is where things can get a little confusing, and the primary difference comes down to one thing: music.

• Business Accounts have access to the Commercial Music Library. This library is filled with over a million royalty-free songs and sounds that have been licensed for commercial use. This means you can use them in your promotional content without legal worries about copyright. However, it means you cannot use that viral, trending sound from your favorite artist in your video.
• Creator Accounts have access to the General Music Library, which includes pretty much every popular and trending sound on the platform. This is great for jumping on trends and creating highly engaging, culturally relevant content. However, these sounds are not licensed for commercial use. Technically, using a trending pop song to explicitly advertise your product could land your business in hot water.

So, which one should you choose?

• Choose Business Account if: You are a registered business, primarily promoting products or services, running paid ads, and want to stay 100% on the right side of music licensing law. Your content is brand-focused, like product demos, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes footage.
• Choose Creator Account if: You are a content creator, influencer, or a public figure whose personal brand is the business. Your strategy relies heavily on entertainment, personality, and participating in trends using popular sounds. You plan to monetize primarily through brand deals and the TikTok Creator Fund rather than direct sales in your videos.

For most brick-and-mortar stores, e-commerce brands, and service-based businesses, the Business Account is the safer and more appropriate choice. The creative constraint of the Commercial Music Library forces you to focus on an original content strategy, which is often more sustainable in the long run anyway.

Final Thoughts

Creating a TikTok Business Account is a straightforward technical task, but it unlocks a level of strategic depth that can transform your marketing efforts. By leveraging the analytics, advertising tools, and professional features available, you're better equipped to create content that not only entertains but also contributes directly to your business goals.

With your business profile all set up, the real work of creating, scheduling, and analyzing content begins. The a-ha moment for most social media managers comes when they realize how much time it takes to post consistently across multiple platforms. We built Postbase to streamline that exact process. It lets us plan our content in a visual calendar, schedule video posts for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts all at once, and manage all our comments and DMs in one simple inbox - because growing on social should be about creating great content, not fighting with workflows.