TikTok Shop 101 for HK Sellers: Set-Up and Payouts
Galih Gumelar
Summary
TikTok Shop is for overseas shoppers. TikTok left Hong Kong in 2020, so Hong Kong sellers target markets where the shop operates.²
There are 2 store routes. A cross-border store ships from Hong Kong or China, and a local store uses an overseas entity and warehouse.
Fees vary by market. Commission, deposits and fulfilment costs are set per market in TikTok's Seller Centre, so check them before you price.
Payouts arrive in the market's currency. Plan how you convert and bring the money back to a Hong Kong business account.
TikTok also drives traffic. Ads and creator content can send overseas shoppers to your own store.
TikTok Shop is TikTok's in-app shopping feature, which lets sellers, brands and creators sell products directly to shoppers inside TikTok.¹ But TikTok stopped operating its app in Hong Kong in July 2020, so a Hong Kong business sells to shoppers in the overseas markets where TikTok Shop runs.²
This 101 explains the 2 store routes a Hong Kong seller can use, how to open a shop, what it costs and how payouts reach your business account. It also covers using TikTok to bring traffic to your own store.
What is TikTok Shop?
TikTok Shop is a feature that lets sellers, brands and creators sell directly on TikTok.¹ Shoppers can buy through videos, live streams and product pages without leaving the app.
For a seller, that means TikTok handles discovery and checkout while you handle products, stock and delivery. Our guides to Amazon Seller Central and setting up an AliExpress store cover the same idea on other platforms.
Can Hong Kong sellers use TikTok Shop?
Yes, as cross-border sellers, but not to sell to shoppers in Hong Kong. TikTok said in July 2020 that it would halt its app in the city, after China's national security law.² It had about 150,000 users there in August 2019.³
So a Hong Kong business picks a market where TikTok Shop operates and sells to shoppers there. Eligibility and availability differ by market and change over time, so confirm them in Seller Centre before you commit.
Which TikTok Shop route suits HK?
A cross-border store suits Hong Kong sellers without an overseas entity, and a local store suits sellers who have one. The table shows the difference.
| Route | Who registers | Where goods ship from | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-border store | A Hong Kong or mainland China business | Hong Kong or China | Longer delivery times and import rules in the target market |
| Local store | A company in the target country | A local warehouse | Overseas incorporation, a local bank account and local tax |
Pick the route before you buy stock, because the route decides your delivery promise and your costs. Our guide to cross-border e-commerce explains the trade-offs of shipping across borders.
How do you open a TikTok Shop?
You open a TikTok Shop by registering in Seller Centre for your chosen market and passing TikTok's review. The steps below show the usual order.
- Choose a market and route. Check that your category is allowed there.
- Prepare your documents. Expect a business registration, an ID for the legal representative and a bank or payout account in the company's name.
- Register in Seller Centre. Create the account for your market and upload the documents.
- Pass the review. TikTok checks the details match across documents.
- List products and set shipping. Add products, prices and delivery options.
- Go live. Start with a small range, then add live selling and creators.
What does TikTok Shop cost?
TikTok Shop costs depend on the market, so check each fee in Seller Centre before you set prices. The table lists the main cost types and what to ask.
| Cost type | What it is | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | A share of each sale kept by the platform | The rate for your category and market, and any launch offer |
| Deposit or set-up fee | An amount some markets ask for at registration | Whether it is refundable and when |
| Affiliate commission | A share paid to creators who sell your product | The rate you set per product |
| Fulfilment and shipping | Delivery, packaging and returns | Who pays for returns |
| Payout and FX costs | Fees to receive and convert the money | The payout provider's rate |
TikTok promotes a 0% commission offer for the first 90 days on its seller page, but the conditions are not shown there.¹ Read the terms for your market before you rely on a launch offer.
How do TikTok Shop payouts work?
TikTok pays sellers into a payout account, usually in the currency of the market where you sell. Timing and supported providers differ by market, so confirm them when you register.
The last step needs the most planning: moving foreign currency to Hong Kong. See our guides to cross-border payments and foreign exchange risk.
What does 1 TikTok Shop order earn?
This illustrative example shows how 1 order leaves a Hong Kong seller with a small margin. All names and figures are invented, and the percentages are assumptions, not TikTok rates.
A Hong Kong seller sells a phone accessory to a shopper in an overseas market for USD 20.
| Line | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Item price | 20.00 |
| Platform commission (assumed 8%) | -1.60 |
| Affiliate commission (assumed 10%) | -2.00 |
| Shipping | -4.00 |
| Product cost | -6.00 |
| Payout and FX cost (assumed 1%) | -0.20 |
| Left for the seller | 6.20 |
A seller that ignores returns, ad spend or a slow payout can lose the whole margin. Our guide to e-commerce cash flow shows how to plan for the gap between spending and getting paid.
Can TikTok bring traffic to your store?
You can also use TikTok as a traffic source without opening a shop. Ads and creator videos can send overseas shoppers to your own website.
This route gives you control of pricing, data and the customer relationship. See our guides on cross-border e-commerce strategies, dropshipping and collecting payments through Shopify.
What rules apply to HK sellers?
A Hong Kong seller still needs a registered business, and the destination market sets the import rules. A Business Registration Certificate is generally needed to open a business bank account in Hong Kong.⁴
Businesses must register within 1 month of starting.⁵ Goods sent abroad may face duty, tax or product rules in the destination market, and our guide to Hong Kong customs duty covers the Hong Kong side.
How do you manage TikTok Shop money?
Keep TikTok Shop income and costs in 1 place, so each order reconciles to a payout. We support TikTok integration, so you can link your Aspire account to your TikTok activity.
Our multi-currency business account lets you hold and convert foreign currency, and our corporate card separates ad and tool spend. We also support Amazon sellers through our Amazon payment service provider programme.
Why Hong Kong Businesses Choose Aspire
TikTok Shop is 1 sales channel, and Aspire supports the payments, cards and spend that sit behind any online business.
💱 FX spreads from 0.18%, up to 3x cheaper than traditional banks. This applies across 130+ countries and 40+ currencies through Aspire's multi-currency account. It's useful for anything from paying overseas suppliers to settling international payments without losing margin to markup.
💰 1.2% unlimited cashback applies on every corporate card transaction, with no monthly cap. It kicks in automatically on eligible spend, with no minimum threshold to hit first. Over time, it quietly turns routine business spend into working capital.
🌐 Local transfer network, not multi-hop SWIFT chains, is how Aspire routes most payments. This means faster settlement and fewer intermediary fees eating into your payment before it reaches the recipient. It also reduces the chance of funds being held up for review at a correspondent bank along the way.
💸 Fixed USD 8 inbound SWIFT fee, tracked end-to-end with SWIFT GPI, applies when SWIFT is the right rail for your payment. There are no surprise deductions from correspondent banks along the way, so the amount you're quoted is the amount that arrives. You can also download payment confirmation instantly from the app, without calling the bank.
⚡ Approved in as little as 1 business day, with no branch visits and no paperwork stacks. Applications are completed entirely online, from document upload to approval. There's no waiting weeks on a relationship manager to call you back.
Open a free multi-currency business account built for Hong Kong SMEs, or explore how Aspire's corporate card fits into your day-to-day spend.
Frequently Asked Questions
TikTok stopped operating its app in Hong Kong in July 2020.² Hong Kong businesses sell through TikTok Shop to shoppers in overseas markets instead.
Yes, generally through a cross-border store registered with a Hong Kong business registration, subject to each market's rules. Check eligibility for your market in Seller Centre.
Not for a cross-border store, but a local store needs a company in the target country. The route you choose decides the paperwork.
TikTok pays into the seller's payout account, usually in the local currency of the market. You then convert and transfer the money to your business account.
Fees vary by market and category, and include commission and fulfilment costs. Check the fee schedule for your market in Seller Centre before pricing.
Yes. Ads and creator videos can send shoppers to your own store, which gives you control of pricing and customer data.
Sources
- TikTok for Business, "TikTok Shop seller" page
- CNBC, "TikTok says it will exit Hong Kong market within days" (7 July 2020)
- Al Jazeera, "TikTok leaves Hong Kong after China security law enactment" (7 July 2020)
- Hong Kong government (HKeNGAGE), "Business registration guide for entrepreneurs"
- Inland Revenue Department, "Business Registration"
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, or professional advice. Aspire’s services are subject to the terms outlined in our 'Terms of Service' and 'Pricing' pages. We make no guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content, and past results do not indicate future performance. Always consult a qualified professional before acting on any information provided.
Galih Gumelar
Writer
Galih is a seasoned writer specialising in macroeconomics, business, finance and politics. With a writing history at CNN Indonesia, The Jakarta Post, and various other reputed organisations, Galih leverages his broad range of experiences to create insightful resources for those wanting to start a business.
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