What to Sell on Teachers Pay Teachers—Even if You’re Not a Designer
One of the first things I asked myself when I opened my TpT store was: “What should I even sell?”
And the second was: “Wait… do I have to know graphic design for this?”
If that’s where you’re at, I get it — but let me put your mind at ease: You do not need to be a designer. You just need to know what works in your classroom.
In fact, some of the most helpful resources I’ve sold weren’t flashy at all. They were just useful.
Case in point, my number one bestseller is my CER Activity Claim, Evidence, Reasoning Lesson for Science. It's literally nothing flashy—simple graphic organizers designed in PowerPoint with research prompts. This is followed by a close second, my Electromagnetic Waves: Sharks and the Human Frequency. I created this one while watching Shark Week with my kiddo. I was so inspired lol.
Start with What You’ve Already Created
If you’ve been teaching for more than five minutes, you’ve already made something worth sharing.
The activity that finally helped something “click” for your students…monetize that!
The lab you simplified (so it didn’t take your whole prep period to set up)…for sure, make it user-friendly and sell that!
A quiz that was easy to grade and actually measured what you taught…make a lesson/unit bundle and sell this like crazy!
That one routine that keeps your class calm and focused…get that out for other teachers!
Those are your first products. You can find a cool Venn Diagram to help you discover what you’re good at and what you can monetize in the Free TPT Playbook!
Easy Product Ideas (No Design Degree Needed)
You do not need a bunch of clipart, fancy fonts, or branding to start selling.
Here are some super beginner-friendly ideas that work great on TpT:
Printable worksheets/ Guided Graphic Organizers
Google Slides lessons or reviews/ PowerPoints with Guided notes
Exit tickets and bellringers (sell as lesson, unit, semester, and full year bundles!)
Editable forms or checklists, added to a larger workbook or applied to a relevant resource
Task cards or cut-and-paste activities/ Card sorts
Study guides or lesson/unit reviews with accompanying assessment
Short quizzes, including a reading passage or review worksheet (especially ones that target specific skills)
📝 Pro tip: Start with something small and helpful. You can always turn it into a bundle later. You want and need to make bundles!
Why You Should Price Your Products at $3 or More — And Make Them Worth It
Let’s talk pricing — I know it’s tempting to list your first resource for $1 or even free just to “get something up.”
But here’s the deal:
If you’re taking the time to create something valuable, it deserves a price that reflects that. And other teachers want to pay for resources that save them time and actually work.
Here’s what TpT takes from each sale:
✻ Basic Sellers (free account):
TpT keeps 45% of your sale
Plus a 30¢ transaction fee on every purchase
✻ Premium Sellers ($59.95/year):
TpT keeps 20% of your sale
Still includes the 30¢ transaction fee
If you sell a product for $2 as a Basic Seller, you only keep about 80¢.
Even as a Premium Seller, you’ll clear less than $1.50 at that price point.
Find all this in the TPT Playbook first, and you’ll be well on your way!
So Why Set Your Minimum at $3?
Because anything less, and you’re barely covering fees — let alone being paid for your time, creativity, and classroom-tested ideas.
But pricing higher also means your product needs to deliver real value.
What Makes a Product Worth $3+?
You don’t need a huge bundle to justify a higher price — but you do need a thoughtful, complete resource that solves a problem or saves time.
Here’s what that looks like:
Clear instructions for both teachers and students
Answer keys (when it makes sense)
Clean, polished formatting with consistent fonts and layout
A preview file that shows what they’re getting
A resource that stands on its own — not something that feels thrown together
Even a one-page worksheet can be priced at $3 if it’s high-impact and easy to implement.
💡 Bottom line: Build quality from the start, price it with confidence, and teachers will keep coming back for more.
Not Sure What Your TpT Niche Should Be?
Oh my goodness, download the TPT Playbook first, and you’ll be well on your way!
This is something that trips up a lot of new sellers — especially when you’ve taught multiple grades or subjects. You want to do everything… but you’ll get further, faster with a niche.
If you're feeling stuck here, I’ve got something fun coming your way — a quick TpT Niche Quiz to help you figure out the right direction for your store (based on what you’re good at and what you actually enjoy creating). More on that soon!
Want an Easier Way to Start Your TpT Store?
The TPT Store Starter Kit gives you everything you need to set up your store, plan your first products, and feel confident knowing what to do next — all in one spot. But the TPT Store Premium Kit has it all — set up and growth!
🛒 Click here to find just the right TPT Store Kit for you! »
It’s the shortcut I wish I had when I started — made for full-time teachers who want to start strong without spending hours figuring it all out from scratch.
One Last Thing
You don’t need to be a professional seller or have ten products ready to go. Just start with what you know works.
You’ve already done the hard part — teaching. Now you’re just putting your best stuff in front of teachers who need it, too.
