You got the ask. Be the U.S. Primary Business Representative for a friend’s TikTok Shop, who is a non-resident who recently formed a U.S. LLC. It sounds simple. It is not. You are putting your SSN and home address on a commerce account you do not control. One quick favor (or even if you are paid $5K) can turn into recurring identity checks, policy appeals, and late-night emergencies.
This post gives you a clear lens. When to say no. The narrow case when a yes can work. What to insist on before you even consider it. Then, where can we get the full checklist without turning this into a free playbook?
What is a U.S. PBR in plain English
The PBR is the named U.S. representative on a TikTok Shop. Your legal identity and U.S. residential address anchor the account. TikTok can ask you to return later for re-verification. This can include uploading a proof of address or conducting a quick video check.
Why you should not volunteer
Capacity and economics
TikTok limits the number of shops that can be tied to a single identity. That ceiling kills any real PBR for hire market. There is no scale, and the risk sits on the U.S. person.
Identity and address exposure
Your SSN and home address live in the seller workflow. If the operator cuts corners with files or screen recordings, your data can leak. You do not control their hygiene.
Ongoing asks you cannot predict
Policy flags, payout checks, and risk reviews often pull the PBR back in. You become the default firefighter.
No clean exit
If you resign, the shop may need to close and rebuild. You are the hinge the account swings on.
The exception that proves the rule
A high-end commerce agency that already manages Amazon, Walmart, and TikTok for seven and eight-figure brands may do this under real contracts and insurance. They vet hard. They protect their clients. They do not guarantee acceptance. This is not a shortcut you can buy on gig sites.
If you still want to consider it. Insist on guardrails
You are not saying yes. You are setting terms. Keep this high level. Do not move without documents.
- Written PBR agreement. Your role is verification only. No banking. No listings. No customer promises.
- Indemnity and risk transfer. You are added as an additional insured on the seller’s liability policy. Certificate in hand before you touch the account.
- Access control. Least privilege user. You type your own data on your own device inside Seller Center. No SSN or ID over email or chat.
- Two-step PBR process. Step 1 at setup is input only. Step 2 happens later only if TikTok requests proof of address or ID.
- Security hygiene. Consistent U.S. login for you. No VPN. Password manager and two-step verification for every user.
- Exit plan. Right to resign on short notice. Clear offboarding steps. Everyone understands the shop may need to rebuild.
This is the minimum. The exact language, sequences, and document list are not in this post on purpose.
How to say no without burning the relationship
I appreciate the trust. Being your U.S. Primary Business Representative means placing my SSN and home address on your account and responding to future verification asks. I do not do that without a formal structure, insurance, and limited permissions. If you want to set it up the right way, I can share what to put in place so your U.S. contact feels safe. Without that, my answer is no.
Red flags that end the conversation
- We will send your SSN by email
- Our agency will handle it with no contracts or insurance
- Can you just upload a bill, and we are done
- You can be full admin, we will change it later
- We tried someone else, and it blew up with no fixes
Bottom line
Most friends and family say no because they should. The narrow yes requires real protections, tight access, and a clean two-step plan. Even if someone offers ten thousand dollars or more, your identity is worth more.
If you need support to feel comfortable and to know what you should insist upon before you say yes, even if you already tried once and it went sideways, grab our private list of items you need in place to be protected:
