Why Founders Are Using Personal TikTok and Reels Account To Drive Business Growth

In recent years, short-form video platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have become essential tools for brand growth, customer engagement, and lead generation. Many business owners initially opted for business accounts to access analytics, ads, and professional features. 

In 2025, a noticeable shift is happening, with many founders now switching back to personal accounts.

In this article we’ll tell you everything we know about why this shift is occurring, the advantages of personal accounts over business accounts, and some reflections on whether you should consider making the same move.

Why Founders Are Abandoning Business Accounts on TikTok & Reels

At first glance, business accounts on TikTok and Instagram seem ideal. They offer valuable insights, ad capabilities, and a sense of credibility. However, recent platform changes and algorithmic shifts have made them less appealing. Here’s why:

1. Limited Access to Trending Sounds & Music

One of the biggest disadvantages of business accounts on TikTok and Instagram is the restriction on using copyrighted music and trending sounds.

• Personal accounts have access to the full music library, allowing creators to tap into viral trends and maximize reach.
• Business accounts are restricted to royalty-free sounds, which significantly reduces the chances of content going viral.

Since trends drive engagement on these platforms, being unable to participate in popular challenges, memes, or viral sounds puts business accounts at a disadvantage.

2. Algorithmic Disadvantages for Business Accounts

While neither TikTok nor Instagram explicitly confirm this, many creators and analysts believe that business accounts often experience reduced organic reach.

• TikTok and Instagram prioritize personal and creator content in users’ feeds.
• Business accounts are more likely to be categorized as “advertisers,” meaning their content may be deprioritized in favor of organic, entertaining posts.

This forces brands to spend more on ads to maintain visibility, whereas personal accounts benefit from natural engagement and algorithm-driven discovery.

Trying to go viral in 2025? Here are some creative ideas to get popular on TikTok.

3. Stronger Personal Branding & Authenticity

Founders are realizing that customers connect more with people than with faceless brands.

• Personal accounts allow founders to build an authentic connection with their audience.
• Consumers trust individuals more than corporate messaging, making founder-led content more engaging.

By shifting to a personal account, a founder can show behind-the-scenes moments, share personal experiences, and cultivate a stronger, more relatable brand presence.

Jade Beguelin, co-founder of 4AM Skin, reports that 88% of customers discovered her brand on TikTok—likely through her personal account rather than the brand’s. Her personal TikTok has 150K+ followers and 8.8M likes, while the brand’s account lags at 19.1K followers and 595K likes, highlighting a common trend in engagement disparity.

4. No Pressure to Pay for Reach

Business accounts are often nudged toward paid promotions.

• Platforms prioritize ad revenue, which means organic reach for business accounts tends to decline over time.
• Founders who switch to personal accounts avoid this issue and can build audiences without constant ad spend.

While running paid campaigns remains useful, having a personal account means you’re not entirely reliant on ads for visibility.

5. Better Engagement & Community Building

A major reason founders switch to personal accounts is to foster better engagement with their audience.

• TikTok and Instagram tend to favor personal interactions, including comments, likes, and shares.

Personal accounts are more likely to receive higher engagement, helping videos reach a wider audience organically.

By leveraging a personal account, founders can create a loyal community around their content, rather than struggling with limited interaction as a business page.

Should You Switch to a Personal Account?

If you’re a founder looking to grow your presence on TikTok or Instagram Reels, switching to a personal account might be the right move. Here’s how to decide:

 You Should Switch If:

• You rely on trending sounds and music for engagement.
•  You want to maximize organic reach without paying for ads.
• You want to build a strong personal brand as the face of your business.
•  You aim to engage more with your audience and foster a real community.

You Should Keep a Business Account If:

•  You rely heavily on analytics and ad features to drive sales.
•  Your content strategy doesn’t depend on trending sounds.
• Your business needs direct integration with e-commerce tools like Instagram Shopping.

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to manage multiple TikTok accounts effortlessly, in case you decide to keep both running at the same time.

How to Switch & Optimize Your Personal Account

If you decide to switch, follow these steps to make the transition smooth:1 Go to Your Account Settings → Select “Switch Account Type” → Choose “Personal Account.”
2 Revamp Your Bio → Make it more personal, while still reflecting your brand.
3 Engage More → Comment, reply to DMs, and interact with followers to build a loyal audience.
4 Use Trends Strategically → Now that you have access to trending sounds, incorporate them into your content.
5 Test What Works → Track engagement manually since you’ll lose access to some analytics.

 Why Personal Accounts Are Winning

 Better Access to Viral Sounds & Trends

• Personal accounts can use the full TikTok & Instagram music library.

 Higher Engagement & Algorithm Boost

• Personal accounts receive 40% more engagement compared to business accounts (Source: Influencer Marketing Hub, 2023).

 Authentic Personal Branding

• 79% of Gen Z say it’s more important than ever to trust the brands they buy, more than any other generation surveyed, and personal branding plays a pivotal role in building trust.

The Future of Founder-Led Content

The shift from business accounts to personal accounts isn’t just a trend. Iit’s a response to platform limitations and changing audience behaviors. TikTok and Instagram Reels thrive on authentic, engaging content, and personal accounts offer a distinct advantage in this environment.

2025 is the year of authenticity, and that’s the type of content that continues to appeal to most TikTok & Instagram users. Being aware of the setbacks of a business account might help you take the next step towards transforming your content strategy and going viral.