TeachersPayTeachers Wants Us to Be Exclusive; We’re Redefining the Relationship
If you sell digital educational resources on TeachersPayTeachers (which includes printable downloads, by the way), we need to have a real conversation about what’s happening on the platform right now.
On October 1st, TeachersPayTeachers (also known as TpT, or TPT) announced a major switch up:
The Premium Seller Membership is going away.
Exclusivity is here to stay.
As of when I’m writing this, I’ve been selling on the platform for SEVEN YEARS.
A major portion of my adult life (I’m 38 right now).
But I actually wasn’t as upset for me, as I was (and still am) for my friends.
The ones who have taken the time to build top podcasts that lead to deals with districts.
Create memberships that cultivate real community and connections between members.
If they go exclusive?
They won’t be able to do any of those initiatives anymore.
But if they go Basic?
They stand to lose thousands, to even tens of thousands, of dollars a year in revenue.
Announcing on October 1st is terrible timing, too.
Ninety days may sound like a long time to anyone new in the business world.
But it’s really nothing at all.
Especially when you consider that many take a good portion of December off for the holidays and that, if you’re still teaching in a classroom, December is extremely busy with everything that’s required of educators (and parents, if you have your own kids!).
Thankfully, I was on a trip when I was the most angriest about all of this… so I could really sit with it and think about what it is I wanted to do.
Honestly?
After several things that happened this year, I was thinking about giving up on the platform and the business model entirely.
There are so many other ways to make money.
And many of those ways are faster and easier!
But something pulled me back: the mission I have for teachers.
My “why” – the whole reason I started creating and selling in the first place.
If this is you, too, then you’re in the right place – and you’re going to absolutely LOVE my podcast: Beyond the Marketplace.
This whole fiasco with TPT is exactly what inspired the first episode.
But we can’t just stay in the stress and indecision, right?
We need to move forward.
That’s what this website and podcast is all about; helping you move beyond the marketplace to build a brand and business that turns your mission into a movement.
This Is Why Every TPT Seller Is So Upset Right Now
I’m sure you’ve seen their comparison blog post by now.
But just in case you haven’t, let’s cover what the different membership tiers.
Basic Seller Membership
This was originally the “free” tier of being a seller, but that’s since changed.
To be a Basic Seller on TPT, you now need to pay a $29 one-time fee.
I do actually think this was a good change.
There should be a little bit of friction to get started, if for no other reason than to prevent AI agents from creating AI slop shops overnight.
You earn only 55% (!!) of all sales, and there’s a transaction fee of 30 cents for every single sale.
You don’t get access to the “premium marketing tools” they have, but you do have the ability to sell on other platforms and via other avenues.
Many sellers feel like their hands are tied, and that they have to go with this.
Especially if they have resource memberships, contracts with schools, deals with districts, or successful shops on other marketplaces like Etsy.
Premium Seller Membership
This is the one that’s going away.
Previously, we’d pay $59.95 a year, in exchange for getting to keep 80% of every sale.
On sales of resources $3 or more, there were no transaction fees.
But if a resource is under $3, there’s a transaction fee of 15 cents.
ExclusiveSeller Membership
This is the membership tier that’s replacing the Premium Seller Membership.
Previously, we’d pay $59.95 a year, in exchange for getting to keep 80% of every sale.
On sales of resources $3 or more, there were no transaction fees.
But if a resource is under $3, there’s a transaction fee of 15 cents.
TPT does a pretty good job of breaking down what all of this looks like over on their blog.
What The New Seller Membership Tiers Mean For Our Income
It’s bad news, for sure.
Let’s say I sell a $10 resource on TPT (I know, that’s pretty high, but let’s just go with it for easy math).
On the TPT Basic Plan, after the 30 cent transaction fee and commission, I make $5.20 from that sale.
On the TPT Exclusive plan, I make $7.75 from that same sale.
Once we add in some more value, it becomes really apparent why so many sellers are upset!
If you’re make $50,000 in revenue on TeachersPayTeachers next year?
You’d take home only $27,500 (!!!) on the Basic plan, or $38,750 on the Exclusive plan.
Now, if you’re only making $25, $50, maybe $100 a month?
You’re not going to feel the squeeze as much.
How to Figure Out Your Next Steps
If you’re making $100 or less, or maybe even a few hundred a month – and you’re happy with that?
It would make the most financial sense to just go Exclusive with TPT, if you plan on having a mostly “passive” shop, anyway.
But if you’re looking to really change the world of education?
If you have a true mission that you’re on and your resources are a part of that?
You’re taking so much from yourself and the world if you don’t break out on your own.
So while I absolutely HATE what this has done and is doing to my friends in this space, I do ultimately think this will be a blessing.
This is going to force all of us to get creative and scrappy.
It’s making us dig deeper to really ask ourselves why we’re doing all of this in the first place.
And THAT is the work I’m excited about.
I cannot wait to share everything I do with my own stores here on this platform, and to work alongside ya’ll to help you figure out your next steps.
Resources to Help You Move Beyond the Marketplace
If you haven’t already?
You’ll definitely want to grab the Independent Seller Starter Kit.
It contains everything I know about marketplace SEO, social media strategy, and everything you need for your first (or next) 3-6 months of business… all in one place, for free.
We also have a super supportive community in our free Facebook Group.
We’d love to see you join us!
How We Can Work Together
I’m not currently charging any teacher or teacher seller for products or services related to Beyond the Marketplace – at least not for the first year.
(I’m writing this in October of 2026, for future records.)
My business goals here are very simple: to use the visibility I create to keep myself accountable for my own stores, and to leverage that audience growth and reach for brand partnerships – as well as ad revenue.
Then? Once I’ve found a few brands to partner with me?
I aim to continue hosting events, masterminds, and retreats that will be fully paid for by the partnerships built between these companies and Overtime Media LLC (my company) – where prospective participants will apply to be a part of them.
I truly believe that the people who most need coaching and support, the ones who have the talent and the grit and the commitment, are in a price misalignment with the people offering those services.
Simply put? The people you need to work with are often too expensive.
Not because their work isn’t worth it, but because the people who need that help most, just can’t afford those rates when they’re at a certain place in their business.
This arrangement allows me to charge premium prices that I feel are fair for my skillset and experiences, while you get to keep your hard-earned money.
I can’t wait to share more about this over time.
For now?
You can keep up with me by following along with the Beyond the Marketplace podcast.