Category: Guides

TikTok Shop lets people buy products directly inside TikTok videos and live streams. For new brands it is one of the fastest ways to reach buyers, because a single video can reach thousands of people who have never heard of you.

Step 1: Set up your shop

Register as a seller, verify your business and connect a bank account. If you already sell on Shopify, you can connect your catalog so products and orders stay in sync.

Step 2: Choose products that suit video

Products that are easy to demonstrate in a few seconds usually sell best: clear before-and-after results, satisfying visuals or a problem solved on camera. Check your margin after TikTok fees, shipping and creator commission.

Step 3: Work with creators

Affiliate creators promote your products in return for a commission on each sale. Sending free samples to well-matched creators is often the quickest way to get your first videos and reviews.

Step 4: Post your own content

Simple, honest videos filmed on a phone often outperform polished ads. Show the product in use, answer common questions and post consistently.

Step 5: Add ads once something works

When a video or product starts getting orders, use TikTok ads to show it to more people. Scaling something that already works is much cheaper than testing with ads from day one.

Common mistakes

• Choosing products that are hard to show on camera.
• Ignoring shipping times, which affect your shop rating.
• Spending on ads before any organic video has proven the product.

Our TikTok Shop team handles setup, listings, creator outreach and ads, so you can focus on your products.

Want a plan for your store?

Book a free store audit. We will recommend a marketplace, a product direction and a clear quote for your budget.

Done-for-you ecommerce can work well, but the industry also attracts companies that sell dreams instead of services. The US Federal Trade Commission has taken action against several “passive income” store programs that promised big profits and delivered very little.

Red flags to watch for

• Guaranteed income: any promise of a fixed monthly profit or return. Nobody can guarantee sales.
• Accounts in their name: if the store, brand or seller account is not registered to you, you do not own it.
• Vague sourcing: no clear answer about where products come from or whether suppliers are authorised.
• Pressure to pay now: countdown timers, “last spot” offers and pressure to borrow money.
• No written contract: or a contract that blocks refunds and bans negative reviews.
• Claims you cannot check: secret AI systems or partnerships with big brands that cannot be verified.

Green flags

• Clear pricing and a written service agreement.
• Guarantees about the service itself, such as launch dates, reporting and response times.
• You own every account, login and file.
• Real references and reviews you can verify.
• Honest talk about risks and realistic timelines.

Questions to ask any provider

• Whose name will the seller account be in?
• Where will products come from, and can I see supplier invoices?
• What exactly is included in the monthly fee?
• What happens to my store if I cancel?
• Can I speak to a current client?

We publish our guarantees and our earnings disclaimer so you know exactly what we promise, and what no one can promise.

Want a plan for your store?

Book a free store audit. We will recommend a marketplace, a product direction and a clear quote for your budget.

Dropshipping means you sell a product without holding stock yourself. 2-step dropshipping adds one step: the supplier ships to a prep center or warehouse first, and the prep center ships to your customer in your own packaging.

Why sellers use 2-step dropshipping

• Your branding: the parcel arrives with your packing slip, not another retailer’s.
• Quality control: the prep center can check items before they ship.
• Policy compliance: it helps you meet marketplace rules about being the seller of record.
• Tracking: you upload one clean tracking number from your own shipment.

What the marketplaces require

eBay, Walmart and Amazon all allow dropshipping only under conditions. In general you must be the seller of record, your name must appear on packing slips and invoices, and you are responsible for returns and customer service. Buying an item from another retailer and having that retailer ship it straight to your customer is not allowed on these marketplaces.

Always read the current dropshipping policy for each marketplace before you start, because the rules are enforced and can change.

What it costs

A prep center usually charges per order for receiving, labelling and repacking. Add your product cost, shipping both legs and marketplace fees, and make sure your price still leaves a healthy margin.

Is it right for you?

2-step dropshipping suits sellers who want to start with low inventory risk while staying inside marketplace rules. It needs reliable suppliers and a good prep partner. Our eBay and Walmart teams set this up and manage it day to day.

Want a plan for your store?

Book a free store audit. We will recommend a marketplace, a product direction and a clear quote for your budget.

Amazon wholesale means buying branded products in bulk from authorised distributors and reselling them on existing Amazon listings. It is one of the most stable Amazon models, but it needs real working capital.

The main costs

• Inventory: the largest part of your budget. Distributors often have minimum order amounts.
• Business setup: an LLC, EIN and reseller certificate, which most distributors ask for.
• Amazon fees: a monthly Professional selling plan, referral fees on each sale and FBA fulfilment and storage fees.
• Prep and shipping: labelling, packing and shipping to Amazon warehouses.
• Tools: product research and repricing software.
• Advertising: a PPC budget to help new offers get seen.
• Cash reserve: money set aside to restock winners without waiting for payouts.

A typical budget split

For many new wholesale stores, around 60% of the budget goes to inventory, with the rest split between fees, prep, ads, tools and a reserve. Our free budget planner shows this split for your exact amount.

How long until payouts?

Amazon pays sellers every two weeks once sales begin. Most new stores take a few weeks to get products approved, sourced and checked in at Amazon warehouses before the first sales arrive. Plan your cash flow for that gap.

How to lower your risk

• Start with a smaller range of proven products and reorder what sells.
• Only buy from authorised distributors, so you can prove where your stock came from.
• Keep a cash reserve instead of spending everything on the first order.

Try the store budget planner to see a typical split for your budget.

Want a plan for your store?

Book a free store audit. We will recommend a marketplace, a product direction and a clear quote for your budget.

Amazon and Walmart are the two biggest online marketplaces in the US, and both let you hand storage and shipping to the marketplace itself: Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS). Choosing between them comes down to your budget, your products and how quickly you want to scale.

How Amazon FBA works

You send inventory to Amazon warehouses. Amazon stores it, ships each order, handles returns and provides customer service. FBA listings qualify for Prime, which usually improves conversion. You pay a monthly selling plan, a referral fee on each sale and fulfilment fees per unit.

How Walmart WFS works

WFS works in a similar way. You ship stock to Walmart fulfilment centers and Walmart delivers to customers, often with two-day shipping badges. Walmart has no monthly subscription for most sellers, but you must be approved as a Marketplace seller before you can list.

Key differences

• Traffic: Amazon has far more shoppers, so popular products can sell faster.
• Competition: Walmart has fewer sellers per listing, which can make it easier to win the Buy Box.
• Approval: Amazon accounts open quickly for most people. Walmart reviews each application and looks for marketplace experience.
• Fees: both charge referral fees by category. Check each marketplace’s current fee pages before you price a product.
• Ads: Amazon PPC is more mature and more competitive. Walmart ads are newer and often cheaper per click.

Which should you start with?

If you have a wholesale budget and want the largest audience, Amazon FBA is usually the first step. If you already sell elsewhere, or want less crowded listings, Walmart is a strong second channel. A common path is to start on Amazon and add Walmart later, often using the same suppliers.

There is no single right answer. The best choice depends on your capital, the categories you can get approved in and your time frame. That is exactly what we review in a free store audit.

Want a plan for your store?

Book a free store audit. We will recommend a marketplace, a product direction and a clear quote for your budget.