Hello, my over-worked and underpaid colleagues. Do you feel it? Are you going through all the motions of being an adult, but still living paycheck-to-paycheck like a college student?

I was, too! What a disaster.

I was newly divorced with my two-year-old son, and I kept thinking how badly I wanted some extra money to take my little man on vacations.

I wasn’t looking to replace my teaching career, but somehow, find a way to earn a little extra on the side.

At this point, I’d been a buyer on Teachers Pay Teachers for a few years. And then it dawned on me—I could do this!

But how do I do this?!

I started researching and creating in a manic frenzy without direction or guidance. I made so many mistakes. Mistakes that I’m still correcting.

But this doesn’t have to be how you start your journey on TPT!

In this article, I’ll map out my 5 most important steps to simplify the process and start earning extra income while still working as a busy full-time teacher.

Let me show you how to create a TPT business that generates passive income for years to come.

Step 1: Choose Between Premium vs. Basic Seller Membership

There are two ways to sign up as a TPT seller. You can start with a basic seller account or a premium seller account. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of each.

But which is right for you?

Starting as a basic seller on TPT is fine if you're testing the waters and unsure of your time commitment.

Upgrading to premium boosts visibility, lowers transaction fees, and provides access to exclusive promotions, priority support, store customization, and detailed analytics.

Your TPT store will grow fast, and the premium membership will quickly pay for itself.

My advice would be to plan for growth and start your first steps as a seller with that mindset.

We’re breaking a cycle here!

Need some direction on what lane you’ll be in? What’s your niche? Who’s your target audience?

Grab your copy of the TPT Playbook for worksheets to guide you through these important steps.

Step 2: Create Your Branding Kit

Branding is important for TPT sellers because it makes your store memorable, builds customer trust, and helps you stand out in a competitive marketplace.

Branding helps reflect your unique style and attract repeat buyers.

What parts are necessary to build your branding kit?

Your store logo: Keep this simple. TPT logos are not huge; some text can be challenging to read. To create your logo, go into Canva and search ‘logo templates’. These templates are typically 500px. x 500px. Start playing around with colors and layouts, but think simple and eye-catching.
My store went through many iterations. Here are just a few of my logo designs over the years.
You’re free to experiment and play as you grow. This is your business.

Your store banner: Again, clean and simple but aesthetically pleasing. Your TPT store banner sets the tone for your shop. Make a strong, professional first impression by showcasing what your store offers and tailoring your message to attract your target audience. Don’t overcomplicate it or crowd the banner with images. Remember, this banner has to look good on the desktop and the phone displays. Head over to Canva! Design a custom graphic using the dimensions 1200 × 320 pixels.
Here’s my store banner for reference.

For this next piece, be sure to download the TPT Playbook. You’ll need it to help document your store colors and fonts for reference later.

Your store colors: I could go on for days…months, even about colors. I’ve revisited this particular branding kit piece countless times. Let me map it out from what I’ve learned through all my trial and error.
For your store colors, you’ll start with black and white. I like to use a black that’s not straight-up black. I use hex code #0a0a0a.
Side note: download the ColorSlurp app to help pull hex codes!
Pinterest is the best place to start searching for color schemes and palettes. Start slurping up the hex codes!
Let’s always keep growth in mind. Your TPT store will grow and evolve as you learn new tricks and your focus shifts. With this thought, plan and find the following for a full-color scheme:
- black
- dark accent
- highlight
- light accent
- white
You may find that these colors are not enough as you grow. Here’s my pro-tip. If you don’t want to search for other complementary colors, use your brand color's darker or lighter shades for additional website options!
Your brand fonts: This is a loaded piece, too. First and foremost, you cannot sell fonts you do not have a commercial license to use. This means that if the font came with your Microsoft suite, you cannot sell documents that use that font. The same goes for Canva fonts.
Here’s what you can do; you have options.
- Search free commercial fonts on 1001 Fonts
- Buy commercially licensed fonts from Creative Market
- Here’s the best option…buy commercially licensed fonts (and clipart) from other TPT sellers! So many sellers focus on providing the resources to help others succeed on the platform. They only ask that you give credit to their store on your Terms of Use page.
Here are the types of fonts to look for and add to your kit:
- Serif or sans serif
- script or handwritten
- bold header
- decorative or fun

Step 3: Start with a Freebie

Before you can start selling resources in your newly branded TPT store, you need to post a Freebie for buyers. The freebie should be a valuable resource for your target audience, fit within your niche, and provide a preview of the quality of your work.

A high-quality freebie will attract buyers and build trust. Also, it may entice them to linger in your store and search for other resources they may want.

Here are some ideas for a freebie.

clipart and/or font sample set
mini-lessons
templates
worksheets or puzzles
station or task card activities
science lab
reading passage or book report
mini-research project
sub plan lesson/assignment
classroom decor
checklists or trackers
bellringer and/or exit ticket set
seasonal or holiday resources

As your store grows, post one freebie for every 10 paid resources. Pro-tip: create freebies that are lead magnets for higher-priced resources or bundles.

Whatever you create as your freebie, be sure it represents your teaching style and expertise. Buyers can always tell if a seller is reaching outside their skillset.

Step 4: Focus on Product Lines and Bundles

There are so many benefits to creating product lines and bundles.

Helps to avoid the transaction fee for carts totaling less than $3.00 by providing a more robust resource.
Leads to higher sales because the resources are built up to warrant a higher price tag.
Product lines can be bundled and sold together. Boosting your sales with each bundle sold.

What exactly is a product line? A product line is a series of related products. Creating product lines helps you maintain your focus as a seller. They also help give you direction instead of creating in a frenzy that goes in every direction—that was me.

Product lines typically sell better than standalone items because they provide more depth and value and allow the customer to use the product more frequently in the classroom (not just as a one-day or one-moment item).

Bundling products boost sales by offering more value to buyers and increasing your average sale. Consistently selling bundles can turn into a significant monthly side income.

Start with a small product line of 3-5 resources, then expand as you grow and bundle!

Step 5: Plan for Growth

We all start with the first step but go further as we learn and continue our walk. So, plan to grow on TPT and within the scope or vision of your business.

Before we get way to ahead of ourselves, let’s grow our TPT store.

Regularly uploading new products.
Market your resources through social media, email lists, or the TPT newsletter.
- Start with a weekly or biweekly schedule for this. Don’t overload yourself or your buyers.
Network with other sellers for collaboration and tips.
- Join Facebook groups for TPT sellers and get active in the seller forum on TPT.

Focus on consistency and quality over quantity as you create resources and grow your store. I was so focused on quantity initially that I made many mistakes. Some of which I’m still finding and correcting.

Consumers will buy from those sellers they know, like, and trust.

My pro-tip is to map out a monthly calendar and goal. Your goal can be monetary or product-focused. No matter the goal, set up specific tasks to complete each week of the month and decide on which dates you’ll post to social media (if you do that) or send out emails and newsletters.

Conclusion

Starting a side hustle on Teachers Pay Teachers can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

Following these five simple steps and joining my mailing list, you can set yourself up for success while maintaining your full-time teaching career.

Join the TPT Email Academy list to receive expert tips, advice, templates, and strategies directly in your inbox to help you grow your TPT store.

Remember, it’s not about doing everything perfectly from the start—it’s about making progress and learning along the way.

Whether you go for the basic membership or invest in premium, the key is to take action and keep moving forward.

With dedication, patience, and the right strategies, you’ll soon be earning the extra income you deserve to improve your financial situation and have more freedom to enjoy life outside the classroom. Keep going—you’ve got this!

How to Start Your TPT Store in 5 Simple Steps