The account gates
Three gates apply. The TikTok account must hold 1,000 followers to unlock LIVE at all. The account holder must be 18 or over for LIVE shopping features. The shop itself must be verified with UK business details, a registered address and a bank account for payouts.
Link the shop to the exact account that will broadcast. Agencies get caught out here, because a shop linked to the brand handle will not let an affiliate host pin products from their own account without an affiliate arrangement in place.
Violation points and category rules
TikTok Shop runs a points based enforcement system. Points accrue for misleading claims, restricted product listings and prohibited on screen behaviour. Enough points and LIVE access is suspended before the shop is. Check the violation dashboard in Seller Center weekly.
Some categories are restricted or banned outright on LIVE in the UK, including certain supplements, medical devices and alcohol. Read the prohibited products policy against your catalogue before you build a show around a product that cannot be pinned.
Fees, fulfilment and what to check before launch
Model the platform referral fee into margin before your first show. TikTok Shop UK has changed its seller fee more than once, so confirm the current percentage in Seller Center rather than working from a blog post. Affiliate commission sits on top of that.
Check dispatch capacity too. LIVE creates a spike in a two hour window and TikTok measures late dispatch hard. A show that sells 400 units and ships them late will cost you more in seller rating than it made in revenue.