Straight answers for teacher-sellers.

Exclusive or Basic, sales tax, traffic, Etsy, and what a store of your own really costs. Written by people who sell on TPT too.

TPT Exclusive vs Basic: the math, in plain numbers

Exclusive pays 77.5%. Basic pays 55% minus 30 cents a resource, but lets you sell anywhere. Here is the arithmetic at three store sizes.
The December 31 TPT deadline: a checklist for Premium sellers

Premium ends December 31, 2026. Here is a week-by-week plan to get your numbers, make the choice between Exclusive and Basic, and be ready for January 1.
What can an Exclusive seller still sell off TPT?

Exclusive sellers can still have a website, give away free resources and sell several kinds of products elsewhere. Paid digital educational resources are the line.
If I go Exclusive, can I change my mind?

Yes. You can move from Exclusive to Basic at any time. You will not get the annual fee back, and you must wait a year before rejoining Exclusive.
I sell a membership. What does the TPT change mean for me?

If your membership gives access to digital teaching resources, you cannot keep it and be an Exclusive seller. The choice comes down to which income is larger.
I make a few hundred dollars a month on TPT. Is my own store worth it?

Often not yet. At a few hundred dollars a month, Exclusive usually pays more than Basic plus a new store. Here is the arithmetic and what to do instead.
What does it really cost to run your own teacher store?

A store of your own has a fixed monthly cost, a card fee on every sale and a real cost in your time. Here is how that compares with a marketplace cut.
My own store has no traffic. How do teachers actually find it?

Teachers find your own store because you send them there: by email, from Pinterest, from blog posts and from the followers you already have. It is slow at first.
Who handles sales tax if I sell on my own website?

On your own store, you are responsible for sales tax. The software can calculate and collect it, but registering and filing are your job.
Should I sell teaching resources on Etsy?

Etsy can work for teacher-sellers, but only if you are a Basic seller on TPT. Here is what Etsy costs, what it does for you, and who it suits.
TPT alternatives compared: Etsy, Classful, Made By Teachers, Payhip, Shopify and your own store

There are two kinds of alternative: marketplaces with their own traffic, and storefronts where you bring the buyers. Here is how six options compare.
How to save everything from your TPT store

TPT has no button that hands you your whole store. Here is how to save every piece of it yourself in an afternoon, and what you cannot take with you.
What happens to my business if TPT closes my store?

If TPT closed your store, the listings, reviews and buyer relationships would go with it. Your files and your email list are what you can keep.