TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms, with 1.6 billion monthly users. These users drive $33.2 billion in annual spending, making it a powerful sales channel for ecommerce businesses.
One way merchants can sell on TikTok is with the dropshipping business model, which lets you start selling online without the need to manage product sourcing or inventory management, or ship products yourself. A dropshipping supplier handles these tasks for you.
Ahead, you’ll learn how you can start your own TikTok dropshipping business—from what types of dropshipping products work well on the platform to setup and marketing strategies that generate sales.
What is TikTok dropshipping?
TikTok dropshipping is an ecommerce model where you sell goods through TikTok Shop, with fulfillment handled by a third-party vendor. By creating compelling video content tailored to TikTok’s short-form, visual style, dropshippers can sell products at a markup from a supplier’s wholesale price, earning a profit.
TikTok Shop statistics and growth
TikTok Shop has become a major player in social commerce and selling dropshipped products online. The following stats show why it’s a platform worth selling on:
- TikTok has almost 1.6 billion monthly active users.
- TikTok ads reached 1.59 billion users at the start of 2025.
- Almost half of Americans have a TikTok account.
- The majority of TikTok users are between 18 and 34 years old.
- 91% of Gen Z TikTok users discovered something on TikTok in the past 30 days.
- TikTok Shop has a gross merchandise value of $33.2 billion.
- In the US, beauty and personal care products account for one-fifth of all TikTok Shop sales.
- The average engagement rate for content posted by a TikTok business account is 3.7%.
“When we started on Instagram it was a lot easier to grow your following, and a lot more important of a channel back then,” says Braden Handley, co-founder of Inkbox, in a Shopify Masters interview. “Now, TikTok is where you can actually acquire consumers, especially if they’re in that demographic of 18 to 24 year olds.”
How to dropship on TikTok Shop
- Research products to sell
- Choose a dropshipping supplier
- Launch an online store
- Set up your TikTok account
- Apply for TikTok Shop
- Integrate TikTok Shop with Shopify
- Market your products
- Fulfill orders
Follow these key steps to start a dropshipping business on TikTok:
1. Research products to sell
Start by researching what types of dropshipping products sell best on TikTok. Some of the most popular categories include cosmetics, accessories, toys, and fashion products. Watch videos and learn from other dropshippers successfully selling products on the platform.
Identify a niche market with less competition; it’s difficult to dropship products that established merchants already offer on TikTok. Search through dropshipping websites and catalogs for products that are visually engaging, easy to demo on camera, or useful for your target audience.
2. Choose a dropshipping supplier
Dropshipping suppliers handle the packaging, storing, and shipping of your products. Look for dropshipping suppliers that offer the products you want to sell and can support fast, reliable shipping. Read product reviews and any feedback you can find from merchants who’ve worked with the suppliers you’re considering.
Some of the most popular dropshipping suppliers include large international vendors like SaleHoo, Worldwide Brands, and Megagoods, though you’ll want to ensure they can integrate with your ecommerce store. For example, the dropshipping supplier Spocket has an app on the Shopify App Store that integrates seamlessly with your Shopify store.
3. Launch an online store
Create a high-quality dropshipping store so customers can find it easily when engaging with your TikTok account and content.
Choose a reliable ecommerce platform like Shopify, which offers merchants useful tools like Shopify Checkout for secure payment processing. TikTok also offers a Shopify app, making it easy to sync your product catalog with your TikTok account and link TikTok ads to your Shopify store.
Use high-quality product images and write compelling product descriptions. Since TikTok is a mobile-first platform, optimize your online store for small screens with features like a fixed navigation bar for easy scrolling and clear call-to-action buttons for purchasing products.
4. Set up your TikTok account
Sign up for a TikTok business account by providing basic information about your dropshipping company.
A TikTok business account (unlike a personal one) gives merchants comprehensive analytics and access to tools, like a commercial music library with more than one million pre-approved songs and sounds you can use with your content.
Connect your TikTok business account with your online store so potential customers can click on your account or content and go directly to your TikTok dropshipping store. Use brand assets like logos to keep your online store and TikTok account aligned with your overall brand identity.
5. Apply for TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop lets ecommerce merchants sell products from their TikTok dropshipping store without redirecting users to another website. Even with a linked store, TikTok Shop can increase conversions by letting users buy products directly within the app.
To sign up for TikTok Shop, visit the TikTok Shop Seller Center and complete an application, including your legal business name, employer identification number (EIN), and registered business address.
Once approved, you can start dropshipping products directly on the TikTok app through in-feed videos, livestreams, and on the Shop tab. This in-app marketplace lets users browse and purchase products from merchants approved for TikTok Shop.
6. Integrate TikTok Shop with Shopify
The TikTok Shop Shopify integration makes it easy to import products and start selling on TikTok in just a few clicks. To be eligible, your store must have a verifiable address in one of the eligible counties, a TikTok Business account, and a returns policy visible on your storefront.
Once you’ve done this:
- Install the TikTok app for Shopify.
- Click Connect in the TikTok Shop section.
- Log into your existing TikTok Business account, or create a new one.
- Review the TikTok Shop Merchant Terms of Service and press Connect.
- Verify your shop information.
- Upload relevant documents.
- Click Finish setup.
7. Market your products
Develop a multi-pronged TikTok marketing strategy, combining advertisements, influencers, and organic content to drive traffic.
Use tools like TikTok Creative Center to discover ad trends and top-performing content formats. Create a TikTok Ads Manager account to monitor how your video advertisements are performing and adjust your campaigns based on which are performing well.
Reach out to relevant influencers and send product samples, if possible. Film compelling videos featuring the products you’re selling. For example, you could create an entertaining dance video featuring footwear products or a makeup tutorial video demonstrating the effect of an eyeshadow product.
8. Fulfill orders
Set up an order fulfillment process for dropshipping sales made on TikTok. Manual fulfillment is possible, but automating the dropshipping fulfillment process saves time and reduces errors. This involves software automatically notifying suppliers of orders placed through your ecommerce store.
The Shopify App Store features apps like AutoDS and Dropified, which are designed to automate order fulfillment for your online store. Dropshipping automation can help you fulfill orders quickly, which is essential, because TikTok requires US sellers to ship products within two business days.
Maintain quality customer service and answer any questions or concerns from customers promptly. Consider integrating an AI chatbot into your ecommerce store to provide customers with 24/7 customer support.
📚Read more:15 Dropshipping Tips for a Successful Business (2025)
TikTok Shop selling fees and costs
TikTok charges fees when sellers list their products for sale in the app. Here are the TikTok dropshipping costs to be aware of when using the platform to sell products, as of May 2025:
| TikTok Shop fees | Cost |
|---|---|
| Commission fee | 6% per order (subject to change by category or promotion) |
| Withdrawal fee to cash out your earnings | 5¢ for bank accounts, or 0.9% of the transaction amount for PayPal withdrawals. |
| Refund administration fee | 20% of the refund amount (capped at $5) |
| Sales tax (if you’re obligated to collect it) | Sales tax rates vary by state |
| TikTok advertising | $10 per 1,000 views, or $1 per click, on average |
What are the best products for dropshipping on TikTok?
The best products to dropship on TikTok are trendy and viral items that are visually engaging for video content. For example, some of the top products on TikTok include casual dresses, sunglasses, bodysuits, jewelry, and other fashion products that are easy to feature on the platform.
Useful tools like cleaning supplies, water bottles, and kitchen accessories also tend to perform well on TikTok, as they’re easy to demonstrate visually. Research shows that 35% of TikTok users make purchases through TikTok Shop. Search for dropshipping products likely to inspire an impulse buy from potential customers.
📖Read more: TikTok Success Stories: 9 Small Businesses That Went Viral
Tips to advertise dropshipping products on TikTok
There are a few ways to market your dropshipping products on TikTok, including:
Influencer marketing
Influencer marketing involves working with influencers on TikTok who can promote your products to their viewers. Although you’ll likely have to negotiate payment for influencers with a large following, you may be able to work with influencers with fewer followers by sending product samples they can feature in their videos.
Before contacting influencers, research those with a legitimate audience base aligned with your brand identity and product lines. Finding and working with the right influencers through a platform like Shopify Collabs can open up a wider audience on TikTok than if you only use paid ads.
For example, ramen retailer immi used Shopify Collabs to grow its affiliate network to more than 400 ambassadors. These creators promote its products on platforms like TikTok, and have driven more than $200,000 in affiliate sales for the brand.
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Paid advertisements
Advertise your products through TikTok Ads Manager, which works similarly to tools like Google Ads or YouTube Ads. Instead of a hard sell, TikTok ads should feel native—use trends, challenges, or storytelling to showcase your products in entertaining ways. For example, you could create ads that feature interviews with happy customers or product demonstrations.
Adjust your ad campaigns based on which videos are making an impact. Use TikTok’s built-in automatic targeting features to aim your advertisements at people searching for products similar to what you’re selling.
📖Read more: 15 TikTok Video Ideas Your Customers Will Love
Original content
The least expensive path for reaching customers on TikTok involves creating original content for your account with the potential to go viral and gain organic traffic. POV reactions, unboxings, mini tutorials, humorous sketches, trending audio clips, and educational videos are all examples of content that can work well on TikTok.
Jacob Winter, founder of Mush Studios, started sharing TikTok videos of the rug-making process. “The form of rug making was so new at the time that everyone was just like, What is this guy doing in this garage on Long Island?” Jacob says on a Shopify Masters episode. “It basically was like making a painting, but with yarn and a huge machine gun tattooing into the fabric.
“Once I saw that people were actually interested, it obviously got me super excited. So I decided to just continually make videos and just within that first year, we generated 23 million views.”
Although it can take some time, building an organic following is one of the best ways to earn customers for your dropshipping business on TikTok. Remember to stay consistent with your brand messaging and engage with your viewers as much as possible through videos, comments, and livestreams.
TikTok SEO optimization
TikTok has evolved to be more than a social media app. Younger demographics rely heavily on its search functionality: a recent study found that 74% of Gen Z use TikTok for search. More than half prefer it to more traditional search engines like Google.
TikTok search engine optimization (SEO) increases the odds of your content—and subsequently, your dropshipped products—appearing in your target audience’s search results.
Here’s how to implement TikTok SEO for dropshipping:
- Conduct keyword research: Use free keyword research tools like Moz or Ahrefs to find which keywords your target market is using. Include these in your TikTok caption, video subtitles, and text overlays.
- Use relevant TikTok hashtags: Use three to five hashtags, like #best[product], #[product]review, and #musthaves, to reach users searching for the products you’re selling. For example, if you’re dropshipping books, you could use #Booktok or #BookLover to reach the reading community.
- Tag your location: Reach local TikTok users by tagging a particular area. If you’re dropshipping backpacks designed for tourists, for instance, create TikTok videos that show you wearing the bag in NYC. Geotag the location to reach other people in the area.
- Encourage engagement: TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes content with high engagement rates because the platform wants people to stick around for longer. Add calls to action at the end of your video that encourage viewers to like, comment, or visit your TikTok Shop.
TikTok dropshipping FAQ
Is TikTok good for dropshipping?
Yes, TikTok is a popular social media platform offering ecommerce merchants an active sales channel for selling dropshipped products directly to customers.
How do I promote my dropshipping store on TikTok?
Promote your dropshipping store on TikTok by creating paid advertisements through TikTok Ads Manager, partnering with influencers who can promote your products, and creating original content designed to earn organic traffic for your online store.
Can I sell on TikTok with Shopify?
Yes, you can sell on TikTok with Shopify by connecting your Shopify store with your TikTok business account and applying for TikTok Shop, an in-app marketplace for products.
Can you dropship on TikTok Shop?
Yes, you can dropship on TikTok Shop. You’ll need a dropshipping supplier, an online store to facilitate those orders, and a TikTok business account. You can also sync your product catalog to TikTok Shop using the TikTok for Shopify app.
Does TikTok allow dropshipping?
TikTok allows entrepreneurs to dropship products through the app, either through a TikTok Shop or by listing products for sale on your own dropshipping website.
Is TikTok dropshipping profitable?
TikTok dropshipping can be a profitable online business model because users already rely on the app to discover and buy products. Maximize profits by selling high-ticket dropshipping products, building a strong relationship with your followers, and creating high-quality content consistently.
