How to Start a Teachers Pay Teachers Store in 2025

Have you been thinking of starting your own Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store in 2025? Whether you're a seasoned teacher with a wealth of resources or a newbie bursting with creativity, there's no better time to jump in. Starting a TPT store might feel overwhelming, but with the right steps, you'll be well on your way to making an impact (and some extra income) while helping teachers and students around the world. Let's break it down into simple, actionable steps to get you started! 

1. Decide on a TPT Store Name

Your store name is like your brand's first impression, so choose wisely! Spend some time brainstorming a name that reflects you and the type of resources you'll create. Before you commit, do a little research on TPT, Instagram, and Google to ensure your name isn't already taken or too similar to someone else's. You don't want potential buyers confusing your amazing resources with another store's! 

Pro Tip: Keep it simple, memorable, and relevant to your niche (if you have one).

 2. Create a Gmail Account for Your TPT Store

Once you've settled on a name, head over to Gmail and create a free email account that matches your store name (i.e., [email protected]). Having a dedicated Gmail account is incredibly beneficial. It allows buyers to contact you with questions, provide feedback on your resources, or even a thank-you note for your resources. Plus, it helps you keep all TPT related purchases and subscriptions organized in one place. And let's not forget the free storage on Google Drive -- perfect for keeping your clipart, templates, and products accessible from anywhere! 

3. Choose How You're Going to Make Resources

You'll need a solid design tool to create your resources. Popular options include PowerPoint (my top recommendation - this is what I use!), Google Slides, and Canva. Each platform has its strengths, so find what works best for you. For a deeper dive into the pros & cons and pricing for each, check out my blog post here.

4. Upgrade to Premium Seller Account ASAP

In 2025, TPT offers two types of seller accounts: Basic and Premium. The Basic seller account is no longer free, unfortunately, and has a $29 one time fee to open your store. The Premium account is a game-changer, though! For just $59.95 per year. With the Premium account you'll earn 80% of each sale compared to 55% with the Basic account. Premium sellers also get access to UTM codes to help you track traffic coming into your store, outside of TPT. 

If you're serious about building your store to 3-4 figure months, upgrading to Premium is a smart investment and one that you will quickly recoup and more. 

5. Design a Logo for Your Store

Your logo is another key piece of your brand identity. Don't worry if you're not a graphic designer - you can create a polished professional logo in PowerPoint! Check out my step-by-step guide here to get you started. 

6. Create Templates & Product Add-Ons

Before you dive into posting your resources, take some time to create templates and add-ons, like thank you page & terms of use page, to save yourself work down the road. Having product templates ensures consistency and makes creating new resources much faster. You'll also need eye-catching covers, thumbnails, a Thank You page to build customer loyalty, Terms of Use page to protect your work, and previews to showcase everything about your product.

Not sure where to start with templates? My TPT Seller Templates Toolkit has everything you need to hit the ground running! Grab it here and thank yourself later! 

7. Start Posting Your Products! 

There's no need to wait until you have a full store to get started. Once a product is ready, post it! Early uploads will help you get comfortable with the TPT platform and start building a reputation. Remember, every store starts with just one product... You can't sell what isn't there! 

Starting your TPT store in 2025 can be an exciting and rewarding journey. If you're feeling a little unsure or need extra support, my course, The New Teacher Seller, is here to guide you every step of the way. From setting up your store, transforming your classroom resources into products, listing them on TPT, and marketing strategies, this course is designed to help you start and grow your profitable TPT store. 

Ready to make 2025 the year you launch your TPT store? Let's do this!