TikTok dropshipping: Complete 2025 guide | Printful

What is TikTok dropshipping?

TikTok dropshipping is a business model where you sell products through TikTok without holding any inventory. When a customer places an order, your dropshipping supplier or Printful handles production and ships the product directly to the buyer.

Instead of managing stock or worrying about inventory management, you focus on marketing – creating engaging videos, spotting trending products, and connecting with your target market on the TikTok app.

You can run your TikTok dropshipping store either through TikTok Shop (with in-app checkout) or by linking your online store – like a Shopify store – to your TikTok profile.

How TikTok dropshipping works

Let’s look at the order fulfillment process step by step, from setting up your TikTok business account to promoting your first product.

1. Choose your audience

Your success depends on knowing who you’re selling to. Start by identifying your potential customers – their age, location, and interests. Use TikTok’s Creative Center to study viral trends and discover what content resonates most with your niche.

2. Source products

Once you know your audience, the next step is product sourcing. You have two main options:

a. Traditional dropshipping

This involves selling pre-made dropshipping products from a reliable dropshipping supplier. The supplier ships each order to your customer once it’s placed. While this can help you start dropshipping with minimal upfront cost, the product quality, delivery times, and branding options can vary widely.

b. Print on Demand

With Printful, you can turn your creative ideas into custom products – t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, tote bags, and more. Unlike typical dropshipping stores, you design unique items that reflect your brand identity.

POD offers benefits that traditional dropshipping business models can’t match:

• No need to buy stock in advance

• Built-in automation tools for smoother order fulfillment

• Custom branding for stronger recognition

• Access to reliable suppliers in local markets for faster shipping

Printful integrates directly with TikTok Shop, meaning your dropshipping products on TikTok are made to order with consistent quality and automatic tracking updates.

3. Create a TikTok Shop or link your online store

To sell on TikTok, you need a TikTok business account and a TikTok Shop. Registering is straightforward – you’ll need basic business details, an Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you’re in the US, and product information that complies with TikTok’s prohibited items policy.

Once approved, upload your product catalog or connect your Printful store using the Printful integration. TikTok will automatically sync your products so customers can buy them with just a few clicks.

If you’re not ready to open a TikTok Shop yet, you can still link your own store by adding a store link to your TikTok profile and driving traffic to it.

Explore: Check our blog for a detailed guide on how to start a TikTok Shop.

4. Market your products

TikTok thrives on authenticity and creativity. Whether you use organic traffic or paid ads, your goal is to reach your audience through short, impactful videos.

Use the TikTok Ads Manager to run ad campaigns or promote your posts directly in the app. Combine this with content that showcases your dropshipping products on TikTok in real life – unboxing clips, styling ideas, or behind-the-scenes looks.

Keep these best practices in mind:

• Use TikTok’s commercial music library for royalty-free audio

• Create videos that catch attention within the first three seconds

• Focus on winning products that inspire impulse purchases

• Monitor analytics in your business account to see which videos generate sales

Tip: Check our blog for more strategies to increase your sales with TikTok ads.

5. Fulfill orders

When you make a sale through TikTok Shop dropshipping, your dropshipping supplier or Printful automatically handles the order fulfillment process. This includes printing, packaging, and shipping.

POD merchants using Printful benefit from:

• Consistent product quality

• Streamlined manual fulfillment options

• Real-time status updates and automatic tracking updates

• Shorter delivery times thanks to global fulfillment centers

If you prefer to handle some parts yourself, TikTok Shop also supports manual fulfillment, but automation saves time and ensures customer satisfaction.