If you are comparing TikTok Shop agencies, pricing is usually the first question and the hardest one to get a straight answer on. Costs vary widely because the work varies widely: launching a shop from scratch is a different job to running daily live selling with a creator affiliate programme behind it.
This guide breaks down the pricing models UK agencies use, what each level of investment typically buys, and the questions to ask before you sign.
The three pricing models agencies use
Almost every TikTok Shop agency prices in one of three ways: a monthly retainer, a commission on GMV, or a hybrid of the two.
- Monthly retainer: a fixed fee for a defined scope, common for shop management and content programmes. Typical UK range is £2,000 to £10,000+ per month depending on scope.
- GMV commission: the agency takes a percentage of the sales it generates, usually 10% to 25%. This aligns incentives but agencies will only offer it to brands with proven product-market fit.
- Hybrid: a lower base retainer plus a smaller commission. This is the most common structure for full growth management because it funds the day-to-day work while keeping the agency hungry for revenue.
What different budgets actually buy
At the entry level, expect a shop launch package: registration, compliance, product listings, pricing setup and fulfilment integration. This is usually a one-off project fee.
Mid-tier budgets add ongoing management: listing optimisation, creator affiliate outreach, campaign planning and weekly reporting.
Full growth management adds the levers that actually scale GMV: a managed creator affiliate programme, regular or daily live selling, paid media amplification, and cross-market expansion. This is where agencies with in-house studios and large creator networks separate from generalists.
Questions to ask before you sign
Pricing only makes sense in the context of what you are getting. Ask these before comparing numbers:
- Do you report GMV, ROAS and profit, or reach and impressions?
- Is live selling done in-house or subcontracted?
- How many creators will actually post about my product each month?
- Who owns the shop, the content and the creator relationships if we part ways?
- What happened with the last brand in my category you worked with?
So what should you budget?
As a rule of thumb: if your product retails between £15 and £60, has healthy margins and some social proof, a serious TikTok Shop programme starts around £3,000 to £5,000 per month blended, and pays for itself when GMV scales.
At BeaSocial we build proposals around your margins and targets rather than a rate card, because a pricing model that works for a snack brand doing daily lives will not fit a homeware brand running seasonal campaigns. We have generated over £7M in TikTok Shop GMV for 50+ brands, and every engagement is priced to be profitable for the brand first.
Want a number for your brand rather than a range? Book a free shop audit and we will map your fastest path to revenue.
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