Q: I sold $1,000 on TikTok Shop but got way less. Where did the money go?

Q: I sold $1,000 on TikTok Shop but got way less. Where did the money go?

A: Three layers eat into gross sales, and most sellers only budget for one. First, the platform commission/transaction fee TikTok Shop charges per order. Second, the affiliate commission you set for creators — that's paid on top, on every order their content drives. Third, returns, refunds, and any promo discount you ran, which all claw back from your payout.

So a product 'sold' for $1,000 might pay out closer to $650–$750 after a platform fee, a 15% creator cut, and a couple of refunds. Build all three into your price before launch, not after.

Also worth knowing: affiliate commission only applies to attributed orders, but during a viral push that can be most of them. Model your worst case at 'every order is attributed,' and you'll never be surprised by a payout.

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