If you've ever tried to run ads on TikTok and felt lost between the TikTok Ads Manager and the Business Center, you're not alone. With TikTok's rapid evolution in the ad space, knowing where to start—and how to scale—is key to success in 2025. This guide gives you a clear, step-by-step walkthrough for setting up your TikTok advertising infrastructure the right way.

Step 1: Create Your TikTok Ads Manager Account

Start by heading to TikTok Ads—or search “TikTok ads” in Google. TikTok often promotes offers (like $100 ad credits for new accounts), so it’s worth checking the current promotion.

To set up:

• Enter your email and create a password.

• Confirm your email address.

• Fill in your business name, industry, website, and mobile number.

• Select your time zone, currency, and billing region.

• Accept the terms of service and complete the registration.

Once completed, TikTok drops you directly into the Ads Manager interface, but don’t rush into campaign creation yet.

Step 2: Account Setup & Billing

Navigate to the “Account Setup” section. You’ll be prompted to:

• Add your state or province.

• Choose a payment method: automatic payments are recommended for uninterrupted ad delivery.

• (Optional but recommended) Complete business verification to improve account trust and avoid unnecessary flags or bans.

Verification only takes a few minutes and boosts your account’s credibility and safety score.

Step 3: Adjust Brand Safety Settings

Inside the Ads Manager, explore the Brand Safety Hub:

• Choose between Standard, Limited, or Expanded inventory types.

• Use additional filters to opt out of specific verticals or content types (e.g., violent or mature content).

Sticking with “Standard” is fine for most brands, but adjusting these can help align your ads with your brand image.

Step 4: Understand the Difference – Ads Manager vs. Business Center

Here’s where many marketers get confused. The TikTok Ads Manager is where you launch and manage ad campaigns. The TikTok Business Center, however, acts as the control hub—an umbrella to manage your ad account(s), organic TikTok account(s), pixels, catalogs, user permissions, and more.

You’ll likely need both. Especially if:

• You run multiple ad accounts.

• You collaborate with team members or agencies.

• You want to centralize reporting and asset control.

Step 5: Set Up Your TikTok Business Center

Go to Business Center and register as an Advertiser. Fill in the relevant business info. Once inside:

• Invite team members and assign roles (Admin, Finance, Analyst).

• Link your TikTok Ads Manager account by requesting access using the account ID.

• Add your TikTok organic account to manage content and run Spark Ads directly from posts.

• Add your TikTok Shop if you're in e-commerce.

• Link catalogs and install your TikTok Pixel for performance tracking.

💡 Pro Tip: You can schedule organic posts directly from the Business Center’s Post feature.

Step 6: Final Checks & Launch

Before running ads, double-check:

• Business verification is complete.

• Assets (pixel, catalog, accounts) are properly connected.

• User roles are assigned.

• Ad account billing is working.

Now, return to TikTok Ads Manager → Click “Campaign” → Start building ads!

Ready to go deeper? Setting up your TikTok Ads Manager is just the beginning. Building high-performing creative and optimizing campaigns based on real-time performance is where success scales.

Want to analyze what creative trends are working on TikTok? Use tools like Vizzylabs to identify winning ad patterns, optimize visual storytelling, and stay ahead in the fast-moving TikTok landscape.