Registering a TikTok Shop UK account, the documents you need, the 9% commission, the 2 working day dispatch rule, and the 31 day wait on your first payouts.
Updated 6 October 2026
Before you start
Registering a TikTok Shop UK account, the documents you need, the 9% commission, the 2 working day dispatch rule, and the 31 day wait on your first payouts.
TikTok Shop UK lets you sell through short videos, LIVE streams and a shop tab on your profile. Expect retailer rules: strict dispatch deadlines and slow payouts at the start.
The rules below come from TikTok Shop's UK Seller University, checked 6 October 2026. TikTok changes fees and policies often, so read the linked page before you commit stock.
Kit for this
The products this guide uses, with typical UK prices.
18 in ring light with stand
Daylight in a spare room shifts through the day. Set the ring light once and your items look the same in the evening show as in your photos.
Typical price£35 to £60
See on Amazon
150 cm phone tripod with remote
Clothing and trainer shows need a full-body or full-shoe shot from in front. A tripod gets the phone to eye height and the remote starts recording from across the room.
Typical price£18 to £30
See on AmazonMUNBYN thermal label printer
It takes the standard 100 x 150 mm labels that eBay, Vinted and Whatnot all generate, and generic labels work, so the running cost stays low.
Typical price£55 to £85
See on Amazon30 kg digital postal scale
Covers the parcels most home sellers ship, up to 30 kg. Choose it when the 40 kg scale is out of stock.
Typical price£12 to £20
See on AmazonThe guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Who can open a shop
Individuals, sole traders and companies can register. As an individual you must be 18 or over and have a UK passport or driving licence, a selfie holding it, proof of a UK address from the last 3 months, a phone number and a UK bank account in the same name.
A company also needs its certificate of incorporation, its company number and a business bank account in the company's name.
Pick what to sell
New goods are the default. Second-hand items, including pre-owned fashion, can only be sold by sellers TikTok invites through a limited onboarding route, and refurbished phones and laptops are invite only too.
Beauty, phone accessories and small homeware suit the format: cheap enough to buy on impulse and easy to show in a 20 second clip. Check the category rules before you order stock, since some need documents before listing.
Fees
TikTok charges a 9% commission including VAT on each order, worked out on the item price plus the postage the customer paid and any platform discount, less refunds. Some categories carry a different rate, so check the commission table for yours.
If you pay creators to promote your products, their affiliate commission comes on top. You set it per product, and on low-priced goods it cuts into your margin fast.
Dispatch within 2 working days
You have 2 working days, Monday to Friday, to pack an order and hand it to the carrier. Late dispatch counts against your shop's performance score.
You can post yourself, use TikTok's own shipping labels, or send stock to Fulfilled by TikTok, where TikTok stores, packs and delivers it. Start by posting yourself: it keeps stock at home while you learn what sells.
First payouts take 31 days
New sellers start on an introductory payout period: money for an order is released 31 days after delivery. Once probation ends, the standard wait drops to 8 days, and good performance can shorten it further.
Plan cash for that first month. If you buy £300 of stock and sell it all in week one, you will not see the money until about five weeks later.
Selling with video and LIVE
Your shop's own account can go LIVE with no minimum follower count. Pin a product, show it in your hands and say the price; viewers buy without leaving the stream.
Creators who sell other shops' products as affiliates need at least 500 followers. Your own shop account has no follower minimum.
Keep the account healthy
TikTok scores each shop on a Shop Performance Score and adds violation points for breaking policy. Late dispatch, cancellations and misleading listings all count.
Under the platform reporting rules, TikTok Shop reports sellers to HMRC past 30 sales or about £1,700 a year. If you buy stock to resell, you are trading: read our HMRC guide.
Checklist
Run through it before each one goes out.
- 1Gather ID, proof of address and bank details
- 2Check your category's rules and commission
- 3Set up packing for 2 working day dispatch
- 4Budget for 31 days before the first payout
- 5Film three short product videos before launch
- 6Price with the 9% commission included
Setups
Complete kits for one kind of seller, costed and laid out.
Questions
Can I sell on TikTok Shop UK as an individual?
Yes, if you are 18 or over with UK ID, proof of a UK address and a UK bank account in your name.
How much does TikTok Shop UK take?
A 9% commission including VAT on most orders, worked out on the item price plus customer-paid postage. Some categories differ.
Do I need 1,000 followers to sell on TikTok Shop?
No. A seller's own shop account can sell and go LIVE with no follower minimum. Affiliate creators need 500.
When do I get paid?
New sellers wait 31 days after delivery. After probation the standard wait is 8 days.
Can I sell second-hand clothes on TikTok Shop UK?
Only if TikTok invites you onto its second-hand programme. For one-off wardrobe clear-outs, Vinted or eBay fit better.
How fast must I post orders?
Within 2 working days of the order. Sellers who meet the criteria can set a longer handling time on specific products.