Account setup, follower growth, US bank account, and TikTok Shop approval — with exact steps.
Set up a US bank account to receive payments
Here's the reality: TikTok Shop only pays out to US bank accounts. You can do everything else perfectly — US account, 5K followers, approved affiliate status — but without a US bank account, you literally cannot receive your earnings. It's not optional.
You have two paths: open a personal US bank account (if you're a US resident or have an ITIN), or form a US LLC with a business bank account. For non-US residents, the LLC route is actually easier and comes with added benefits like liability protection and potential tax advantages.
If you're already in the US or have an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), you can open a personal account relatively easily. Mercury is popular among creators — it's an online-only bank with no minimum balance requirements and a clean, modern interface. Relay is another solid option, offering free business checking that integrates nicely with accounting software if you want to track your affiliate income properly.
For non-US residents, forming a US LLC is the most reliable path — and it's more straightforward than it sounds. Several services handle the entire process for you.
Stripe Atlas is the top recommendation at $500. It's a complete package: LLC formation, business bank account, and EIN (tax ID) all bundled together. The process takes about a week, and you get a legitimate US business entity that TikTok Shop accepts without question.
On a tighter budget? Doola offers LLC formation plus a registered agent and basic bookkeeping for $297/year. Northwest Registered Agent is even cheaper at $225 for LLC formation with one year of registered agent service included.
If you're not physically in the US, Wyoming and Delaware are your best options — and there's a reason almost every international entrepreneur picks one of these two states.
Wyoming has no state income tax, strong privacy protections, and minimal ongoing fees (about $100/year to maintain your LLC). Delaware is famous for its business-friendly laws and fast processing times, plus there's no sales tax. Either choice works perfectly for TikTok Shop purposes — pick whichever service you're using recommends, as they'll handle all the paperwork.