TpT Store Setup Checklist

May 12

You decided to start a TPT store — or maybe just opened your account, poked around a little, and thought, “Okay...now what?”

Yes, I’ve been there. All of us TPT sellers have been here more than once!

When I was starting out, I Googled and pinned everything from “how to upload a TPT product” to “is $1 too cheap?” I pieced things together late at night between grading and lesson planning, and honestly? I really just wanted someone to tell me what to do.

This post is meant to be a clear, step-by-step TPT store setup checklist made for full-time teachers who want to start strong, without spending hours figuring it all out alone.

Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Create Your Seller Account

Go to TeachersPayTeachers.com and create a seller account:

Basic Seller (free) – TpT takes 45% of each sale + a $0.30 transaction fee
Premium Seller ($59.95/year) – TpT takes 20% of each sale + the same $0.30 fee

📝 Pro tip: If you’re serious about selling, Premium is worth the investment. Just start your store like you mean it!

Step 2: Choose a Store Name

This doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should reflect your teaching style or niche. Choose something that:

Is easy to spell and not too long/wordy
Makes sense with your grade level or subject
Has room to grow as your store expands

Can’t decide? You can always start with your name — that’s what I did (and it worked out surprisingly well). I decided that simple and not too specific or cutesy is best. This allowed me to branch out from the box of high school science resources I initially limited myself to.

Not sure what to name your store or how to make it look polished?
👉🏼 The TpT Store Kits include Canva templates, naming tips, and editable banners to get you set up fast.

Step 3: Upload a Profile Picture + Write a Short Bio

A friendly face and a clear bio help potential buyers connect with you.

Profile image: Use a photo or an avatar that feels approachable; not too small or detailed!
Bio: Keep it short and teacher-to-teacher — who you are, what you teach, and how your resources help

Step 4: Design Your Basic Branding

Branding doesn’t need to be fancy, but it should feel cohesive. Start simple:

Logo: A clean square image (300 x 300px works great)
Banner: A horizontal image (1200 x 320px) for your store header
Color palette: Choose 3–5 colors that match your style
- light shade
- darker shade
- highlight shade
Fonts: Pick 2–3 fonts to use across your thumbnails and products
- heading, bold for titles and spotlight features
- serif or sans serif for readability of body content
- script or handwritten for embellishment

👉🏼 Need help? The TpT Store Kits have Canva templates for all of this!

Step 5: Create Your First Product

Start small and think useful over flashy. You’re not trying to go viral — you’re helping teachers. Always keep your target audience in mind when creating content/resources.

Some first product ideas:

A worksheet or graphic organizer with a reading passage (always be thinking of how to beef up your work)
A simple quiz with an answer key (and maybe a one-pager activity for a mini-project)
A classroom routine you’ve refined or an academic game
An activity that finally got your students to “get it”

Your product should:

Include directions for teachers
Be clearly formatted and easy to use
Deliver on its promise
And be part of a larger bundle as you grow!

Step 6: Prep Your Product Listing

Once your product is ready, here’s what your listing needs:

Title: Include keywords teachers would search for (e.g. “CER Science Writing Activity”)
Short snippet: In TPT product search results, the snippet text (also called the short description or blurb) is typically limited to about 200 characters, but only the first 120–160 characters tend to show up on mobile and search previews.
- Best Practice for Snippet Text:
  - Keep it under 150 characters for visibility
  - Focus on who it’s for and what it solves
  - Include keywords naturally (e.g., grade level, subject, resource type)
Description: What’s included, who it’s for, how it helps
Preview file: Show part of the product (protect your content)
Thumbnails: Square, branded, and clear
Price: Aim for $3 or more to account for TpT fees and your time

👉🏼 Struggling to write a great product title or description? I’ve included swipe files and sample copy inside the TpT Store Kit to make it 10x easier.

Step 7: Upload a Freebie

TpT requires every seller to upload one free product before listing paid items. Keep it simple, but make it helpful. Think of it as your “sample” to show what you offer. One of my best freebies is my sample lesson! This freebie is downloaded nonstop and great for buyers who email asking for a sample of my work. I can just send this link right on over and promote my larger bundles.

Other freebie ideas you can find in the Premium TPT Store Kit:

Lesson plan
Teacher email swipe file
Substitute folder (just add your own emergency plans/worksheets)
Student engagement toolkit

Step 8: Publish Your Product

Once your product and preview are uploaded and your listing is ready, hit Submit! It doesn’t have to be perfect — just clear, helpful, and ready to serve another teacher.

Step 9: Start Sharing

You don’t need a giant following. Just start sharing:

A link in your teacher Facebook groups (if allowed)
A few Pinterest pins (maybe start with 2 a week)
A post on your IG stories (start with 2 a week, a reel and a carousel)
Your store link in your email signature
Weekly TPT newsletters…yea…those are in the Starter TPT Store Kit too.

The more you share, the more visibility your store gains.

Step 10: Keep Going

Once your store is live, your next steps are simple:

Upload new products consistently
Update your previews and thumbnails as needed
Create bundles
Listen to buyer feedback and improve as you go

This isn’t about perfection — it’s about momentum.

Want to Make Store Setup Even Easier?

If you're a full-time teacher who wants to launch your store without spending hours figuring it all out, the TpT Store Kits were made for you. Skip the guesswork altogether!

Starter Kit: For launching your first product with a plan
Premium Kit: For growing with SEO, branding, and marketing tools
Upgrade Kit: For sellers who started simple and now want the full package

🛒 Click here to grab the kit that’s right for you »