Sell EFL resources as an English teacher in Europe
English teachers in European schools, language schools and private practice write a lot of their own material. TeachLessons lets you sell those EFL resources to buyers worldwide and keep 70% of net revenue.
Short answer: You can sell EFL resources from any European country on TeachLessons if you can receive PayPal payments in US dollars. Label materials by CEFR level, write exam-style practice yourself instead of copying Cambridge or Trinity papers, and send your files by email. You keep 70% of net revenue, paid monthly.
Who buys EFL resources made in Europe?
EFL teachers in Europe write for learners who share a first language, follow a coursebook, and often prepare for an external exam. That's a specific and useful skill set. Buyers on TeachLessons include international schools, language teachers elsewhere and, through our ESL and ELL buyers in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, teachers of newcomers to English-speaking schools.
Not every EFL resource travels equally well. Materials that sell to a wide audience are usually:
- Levelled clearly by CEFR, with the level in the title.
- Usable without a specific coursebook, so they don't depend on unit numbers from a book the buyer doesn't own.
- Built around a skill or function (making polite requests, narrative tenses, opinion essays) rather than a single exam.
- Free of translation into one language, unless the resource is explicitly for speakers of that language.
For resources aimed at English learners inside English-speaking schools, see selling ESL and ELL resources. This page is about teaching English as a foreign language.
How should I label EFL resources by CEFR level?
CEFR levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) are the common language of EFL buyers across Europe and beyond. Put the level in the title and use it consistently. Many teachers use "B1+" or "A2/B1" for materials that bridge levels, which is fine if you explain it in the description.
A practical check: does the language in your instructions match the level? A1 learners shouldn't need B2 English to understand what to do. Short instructions with an example item solve most of this.
Adding an age group and context helps too: "B1 teens", "A2 adults, business English", "C1 university preparation". European EFL buyers often teach adults and teenagers in the same week, and they choose quickly by context.
Can I sell Cambridge English or Trinity exam practice?
You can sell original practice in the style of an exam. You can't sell copies of real or sample papers, official handbooks, or tasks rewritten from them. Cambridge English Qualifications, Trinity, IELTS and other exams publish practice material that belongs to them, and their names are protected.
| Fine | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Original B2 First-style reading practice with answer key | Retyped questions from a sample paper |
| Speaking prompts for Trinity ISE II preparation, written by you | Official logos on your cover |
| Writing tasks in the format of IELTS Task 2, with your model answers | "Official Cambridge practice test" |
Check exam formats against the current official handbooks before you label a resource, since task types change. Then describe the resource as preparation or practice, not as the real thing. TeachLessons does not check resources for third-party rights; if a claim arises because of your resource, you are responsible for it.
Can I build resources on coursebooks, songs or films?
Supplementary material for a popular coursebook is a classic EFL product, and it's where many teachers run into rights problems. Don't reproduce pages, texts, audio scripts or artwork from a coursebook. Exercises you write that practise the same grammar point are yours. Naming the coursebook to say what your material accompanies is a grey area, so keep it factual and never suggest a link with the publisher.
Song lyrics, film stills and newspaper articles raise the same issue. Activities that work alongside a song or video (which teachers access themselves) are safer than resources that include the lyrics, transcripts or screenshots. Images and fonts need licences that allow commercial use in resources that are sold; our page on clip art and fonts for commercial use covers what to check.
Which spelling and format should EFL resources use?
Most European EFL teaching uses British English, so British spelling (colour, travelled, organise) is a natural default. If a resource is about American English, or aimed at buyers in the Americas, use US spelling and say so. For vocabulary resources, a note on British and American variants (flat/apartment, holiday/vacation) adds real value.
Europe prints on A4. If you want US buyers, include a US Letter PDF as well. Slides and interactive versions (PPTX or a Google link) suit online lessons, which many European EFL teachers run alongside classroom teaching. Send audio as a separate file in the same ZIP, and keep each resource under 100 MB.
What should EU-based sellers know about payouts and tax?
Prices on TeachLessons are set in US dollars and payouts are made in US dollars via PayPal, once a month by the 15th, with a statement listing every sale. You keep 70% of net revenue, which is 67.9% of the price after a 3% processing cost: a $4.99 worksheet pays $3.39, a $10.00 unit pays $6.79. If your PayPal account converts to euro, PayPal's terms apply.
You are responsible for taxes on your own income. Rules for small online income differ between EU countries, and we don't give country-specific advice, so ask a tax advisor in your country. TeachLessons is operated from Germany. If the law requires us to withhold tax from a payout, for example German withholding tax on payments to sellers outside Germany, we deduct it and send a confirmation.
If you are employed by a state school or a language school, check your contract and local rules on outside work and on who owns materials you made for the job.
How do I start selling EFL resources?
Apply with the short application form, which takes about five minutes. We email you the seller documents, including the Resource Submission List, an Excel sheet with one row per resource. Put the CEFR level in the grades column and the skill in the title.
Sign the agreement, then send everything in one email from your own address to support@stifo.de: documents, final files and PNG or JPEG previews and thumbnails. We confirm receipt within 2 business days, write your product pages and set up your author page. You can keep selling the same resources anywhere else, because there's no exclusivity.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell EFL resources from Germany, Spain or Italy?
Yes. Sellers can be based in any country if they can receive PayPal payments in US dollars. EFL resources for English-language learners fit the store well.
Do I need a teaching qualification to sell EFL resources?
No qualification is required to join. You need to have created the resources or hold all rights to them, and they must be suitable for schools.
Can I sell B2 First practice tests?
You can sell original practice written in that exam's style, described as preparation material. Don't copy real or sample papers and don't use official logos.
Can I include song lyrics in a listening worksheet?
Lyrics are usually protected by copyright. Activities that work alongside a song the teacher plays are safer than resources that print the lyrics.
How is EFL income taxed in my EU country?
You are responsible for taxes on your own income. Rules differ by country, so ask a tax advisor in your country.
Should I write in British or American English?
British English suits most European EFL buyers. Use one consistently, state it in the description, and offer a US version if you target American buyers.
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.
Keep reading
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.