To choose a teacher marketplace, get written answers to eight questions before you join: what it costs, what you keep per sale, whether it demands exclusivity, how and when it pays, who owns your work, how removal works, who can join, and who you contact. Find each answer in the platform's own terms, not in a blog post.
TeachLessons runs this comparison and is one of the options listed. Below, each question comes with what to look for, a real example from a published platform term, and our own answer. Fees checked on October 28, 2026; platforms change their terms, so check the linked pages before you decide.
Teacher-author? Keep 70% of net revenue, with no fees and no exclusivity. Apply in about five minutes, then send your final files by email.
What does it cost to join, and what do I keep from each sale?
Ask both halves together, because a low commission can hide a joining fee and the other way round. Turn every answer into one number: what a single $5 sale pays you.
- Is there a sign-up, yearly or listing fee? Teachers Pay Teachers charges Basic sellers $29 once; its Exclusive Seller membership costs $59.95 a year (fee page). Etsy charges $0.20 per listing and every four-month renewal (Etsy fees).
- What percentage do I keep, and of what? "Of the sale price", "of the VAT-exclusive price" and "of net revenue" are three different bases. Tes, for example, pays 60% to 80% of the VAT-exclusive price depending on your 12-month sales (Tes FAQ).
- Are there per-transaction or processing fees on top? Small fixed fees matter most on cheap resources.
TeachLessons answer: no membership, sign-up, annual, listing or per-resource fee. You keep 70% of net revenue, where net is the price paid minus a 3% payment cost. A $5 sale pays $3.40.
Run your own prices through the payout calculator to see the TeachLessons figure for any price.
Can I still sell the same resources somewhere else?
This is the question with the longest consequences. Read the exact wording: what counts as "the same resource", whether free versions count, and what happens if you break it.
A current example: Teachers Pay Teachers' Exclusive Seller membership, announced on October 1, 2026, requires that paid digital educational resources are sold only on TPT. You may still market elsewhere, but the purchase must be completed in the TPT store. TPT Basic has no exclusivity.
TeachLessons answer: no exclusivity. You may sell the same resources on your own website and other marketplaces, unless you signed an exclusive deal elsewhere for that resource.
Our article on exclusivity clauses lists the wording to look for.
How and when will I be paid?
Ask about the method, the currency, the schedule, any minimum balance and fees taken at payout. A platform that pays well on paper but only above a high threshold can hold your money for months when you are starting out.
| Ask about | Why it matters | Published example |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Not every method works in every country | TPT pays via Hyperwallet; options depend on your country |
| Minimum | Small sellers may wait | TinyTap: $100 minimum (sellers page) |
| Schedule | Plan your cash flow | Boom Learning: payouts completed by the 15th (help center) |
| Currency | Conversion costs you money | Tes: royalty paid in the currency the resource is priced in, per its FAQ |
TeachLessons answer: once a month, by the 15th, for the previous month's sales, via PayPal in US dollars, with a statement listing every sale.
Who owns my resources and my customer relationship?
Look for three things in the agreement: whether you keep copyright, how wide the license you grant is, and what the platform may do with your name and previews. Also ask what buyers keep if you leave, and whether you ever see who bought from you. If the terms don't say, ask in writing.
- Copyright. You should keep it. A license to sell is normal; a transfer of ownership is not.
- License scope. Non-exclusive, limited to the length of the agreement, tied to selling and promoting your work.
- Changes to your work. Can the platform edit or adapt your files, and on what terms?
- Rights checks. Who is responsible if a font or image in your file causes a claim?
TeachLessons answer: you keep your copyright and all other rights. You give us a non-exclusive, worldwide license for as long as the agreement runs. We don't check resources for third-party rights; that stays your responsibility.
Our seller terms don't cover sharing buyer details with sellers. If that matters to you, email us at support@stifo.de before you join.
What happens if I want to remove a resource or leave?
Ask how long removal takes, what notice either side must give, whether sales before removal are still paid, and whether there is a waiting period before you can rejoin. TPT, for example, says that after January 1, 2027, sellers who leave Exclusive for Basic wait one year before rejoining.
TeachLessons answer: remove any resource by email at any time; it takes effect within 60 days. Either side can end the agreement with 60 days' notice. Sales before removal are still paid, and buyers keep access to what they bought.
Who can join, and who do I contact with a problem?
Check country rules first, then how support works. Some platforms depend on a payment provider being available where you live. Find out whether there is a real address for questions and how quickly you get a reply.
TeachLessons answer: teacher-authors from any country can join if they can receive PayPal payments in US dollars and write in English (or make language-teaching resources for English-speaking classrooms). Every question goes to support@stifo.de, and we confirm receipt of your documents within 2 business days.
Once you have answers you're happy with, the TeachLessons application form takes about five minutes. For a full side-by-side of fees, see the TeachLessons Seller Program compared with other marketplaces.
Key takeaway: Get the answers in writing from the platform's own terms, convert the money questions into what one $5 sale pays, and treat exclusivity as the question that decides the rest.
Ready to sell your teaching resources?
Apply with the short form. We email you the seller documents, you send your final files with previews and thumbnails, and we set up your product pages, your author page and landing pages. You keep 70% of net revenue, with no fees and no exclusivity.
Questions sellers ask
What is the most important question to ask a teacher marketplace?
Whether it requires exclusivity. An exclusive deal limits every other channel you might use, so read its exact wording before comparing fees.
How do I compare fees between teacher marketplaces?
Work out what a single sale at one price pays you on each platform, including joining, listing and transaction fees. A $5 sale is a useful benchmark.
Should a teacher marketplace own my resources?
No. A normal arrangement is that you keep copyright and give the platform a license to sell and promote your work. TeachLessons works this way.
Do buyers lose access if I leave a marketplace?
It depends on the platform, so ask. On TeachLessons, buyers keep their license permanently, even after you remove a resource.
Can sellers outside the US join TeachLessons?
Yes, from any country, as long as you can receive PayPal payments in US dollars and your resources are in English or teach a language to English-speaking classrooms.
Where can I read the TeachLessons terms before applying?
The key terms are on our seller program terms page. The signed Seller Agreement, which we email after you apply, is the binding version.
More for teacher-sellers
General information about the TeachLessons Seller Program, not legal, tax or financial advice. The signed Seller Agreement sets out the binding terms. Questions: support@stifo.de.
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