127: Do You Need an LLC for Your TPT Business? LLCs, Taxes & Business Basics Made Simple

Teachers Pay Teachers has made some major announcements recently, and I know many sellers are feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or unsure about what to do next. In this special episode, I'm sharing the latest updates following TPT's town hall on October 8th, including clarification about the new Exclusive Seller Membership, what happens if you don't opt in, and what I'm personally planning to do with my TPT store. I'm also discussing TPT's newly announced plans regarding AI-generated content, what we know so far, and why I think it's important for educators to continue creating their own high-quality resources. Most importantly, I want to help you make a plan that works for your business without getting caught up in all the negativity. Key Discussion Points: [00:01:00] TPT Exclusive Seller Membership Updates A recap of the new membership structure, the 77.5% payout rate, and what exclusivity means for digital resources. [00:02:42] What Can You Still Sell Outside of TPT? Clarification about Amazon KDP, Boom Cards, courses, and other products that may still be allowed under the exclusive membership. [00:04:03] Renewals, Refunds & the January 1 Deadline What happens if your Premium Membership renews before January 1 and what to expect if you don't opt into exclusivity. [00:05:53] My Recommendation for TPT Sellers Why staying exclusive may make sense for some sellers and how to prepare for eventually selling on additional platforms. [00:08:42] What I'm Personally Doing With My TPT Store Why I've decided to switch to Basic and focus on growing sales through my own website and other marketing strategies. [00:09:52] Important Things to Consider Before Switching Why timing, income, and your capacity to manage another platform should factor into your decision. [00:10:44] TPT's New AI Announcement What was shared during the town hall about generative AI and why sellers should wait for official written guidance. [00:11:22] Should You Use AI to Create TPT Resources? My thoughts on AI-generated resources, covers, thumbnails, previews, and product descriptions. [00:14:38] Moving Forward With Your TPT Business Why I still believe TPT is a great opportunity for educators and how to make a plan for your business moving forward. Connect further: Join the 1k TPT Challenge: https://lindsaybowden.com/challenge Learn Facebook and Instagram Ads: https://lindsaybowden.com/ads Sell Education Workbooks with Amazon KDP: https://lindsaybowden.com/KDP Earn 3-4 figures per month on TPT | https://lindsaybowden.com/start Start or grow your TPT email list | https://lindsaybowden.com/email And make sure to follow me! https://www.tiktok.com/@lindsay.bowden and http://instagram.com/lindsaybowden Watch full episodes on Youtube + Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@Lindsay.Bowden?sub_confirmation=1

Can Facebook and Instagram ads really help you grow your TPT sales and email list - even with a small budget? In this episode, Lindsay is celebrating the launch of her brand new Ads for Educators program! Before releasing it, she had 14 team members test the strategies, many of whom had never run ads before. She's sharing their results, including hundreds of new email subscribers, growing social media accounts, and exciting TPT sales milestones. Lindsay also walks through what's included in the program, who should consider running ads, and how educators can use Facebook and Instagram advertising to grow their businesses beyond organic traffic. Key Discussion Points: [00:00:58] Ads for Educators Is Officially Here! Lindsay introduces her new Facebook and Instagram ads program, including special launch pricing and two bonus live coaching calls. [00:01:58] Testing the Program With Real-Life Teacher Business Owners Why Lindsay had her team test the program before launching and how they started running campaigns with budgets as low as $5 per day. [00:02:45] Real Results From Facebook & Instagram Ads Lindsay shares results from her team, including hundreds of new email subscribers, social media growth, and increased TPT sales. [00:05:53] What's Included in Ads for Educators? A look inside the step-by-step training, including setting up Meta ads, finding your audience, creating ads that convert, and understanding your results. [00:07:30] Growing Beyond Your TPT Store How educators can use ads to promote their resources on TPT, their own websites, Etsy, and other platforms while building multiple income streams. [00:08:07] Who Should Start Running Ads? Lindsay explains why brand new sellers should focus on establishing their stores first and shares when it might make sense to start investing in advertising. [00:09:00] Can Exclusive TPT Sellers Still Run Ads? How TPT sellers can use Facebook and Instagram ads to promote their TPT resources and grow their email lists, including those considering the new Exclusive Seller Membership.

Think Facebook and Instagram ads are too expensive, too complicated, or only for businesses with huge social media followings? In this episode, Lindsay is busting some of the biggest myths educators believe about running ads for their teacher businesses. After running Facebook and Instagram ads since 2019 and spending close to $2 million in ad spend, Lindsay shares what she's learned about using ads to grow an email list, generate TPT sales, and grow a teacher business faster. She also explains who should - and shouldn't - be running ads yet. Key Discussion Points: [00:01:15] A New Facebook & Instagram Ads Program for Educators Lindsay shares what she's been working on and how her new program will teach educators to use Meta ads to sell teacher resources and grow their email lists. [00:02:35] What I've Learned From Nearly $2 Million in Ad Spend After running ads since 2019 and investing heavily in learning how they work, Lindsay explains why ads can add speed to a business that's already making sales organically. [00:04:03] Myth #1: You Need a Huge Ad Budget You don't have to start with hundreds of dollars per day. Lindsay shares why teacher businesses may be able to see results starting with budgets as small as $3–$5 per day. [00:05:20] Myth #2: You Have to Show Your Face One of Lindsay's best-performing TPT ads doesn't show her face at all. She explains how simple resource-focused videos filmed on your phone can work for ads. [00:06:08] Myth #3: You Need a Big Social Media Following You can run ads with zero followers! Lindsay explains how Meta ads can put your business in front of new people while potentially helping you grow your social media following at the same time. [00:11:30] Myth #4: Ads Are Too Technical Meta's setup isn't always intuitive, but that doesn't mean you need to be tech-savvy. Lindsay explains why following the process step-by-step can make learning ads much more manageable. [00:07:15] Who Should Actually Run Ads? If you just opened your TPT store and aren't getting organic sales yet, ads probably shouldn't be your first step. Lindsay explains what she recommends having in place before you start paying for traffic. [00:08:35] How Much Should You Be Making Before Running Ads? There isn't one magic income number, but Lindsay shares a general starting point and why you should be generating consistent organic sales before reinvesting money into ads. [00:10:15] What's Coming Next Lindsay shares details about the upcoming ads program and how to join the VIP waitlist and grab the free guide covering 10 myths educators believe about ads. Grab the free guide and join the VIP waitlist: lindsaybowden.com/VIPads Connect further: Join the 1k TPT Challenge: https://lindsaybowden.com/challenge Earn 3-4 figures per month on TPT | https://lindsaybowden.com/start Start or grow your TPT email list | https://lindsaybowden.com/email And make sure to follow me! https://www.tiktok.com/@lindsay.bowden and http://instagram.com/lindsaybowden Watch full episodes on Youtube + Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@Lindsay.Bowden?sub_confirmation=1

TPT just made a major announcement about its seller program, and there are a lot of questions about what this means for TPT sellers moving forward. In this special episode, Lindsay breaks down the new Exclusive Seller Membership, how it differs from the previous Premium Seller account, what the exclusivity requirement actually means, and what sellers should be thinking about before making any decisions. Key Discussion Points: [00:01:15] TPT’s Major Seller Program Announcement A breakdown of the announcement and the difference between TPT’s Basic, former Premium, and new Exclusive Seller options. [00:04:00] What Does “Exclusive” Actually Mean? Lindsay explains the biggest change: sellers who choose the Exclusive Seller Membership generally cannot sell TPT-eligible digital educational resources on other platforms or their own websites. [00:07:00] What Can You Still Sell Outside of TPT? A look at the exceptions mentioned in TPT’s information, including fonts, clip art, physical products, courses, professional development, Boom Cards, and Kindle books. [00:09:00] TPT’s Upcoming Town Hall TPT is holding a town hall on October 8, and Lindsay shares why she’s waiting to hear more information before making any major moves. [00:11:30] Should TPT Sellers Leave the Platform? Lindsay discusses why simply moving everything to another platform may not be realistic for every seller, particularly sellers who currently depend on TPT’s organic traffic. [00:15:30] What Should You Do Right Now? Don’t rush into a decision. Lindsay explains why she recommends keeping things the same for now, continuing to create and upload, and waiting for additional information before opting into anything. [00:18:00] Does TPT Own Your Resources? Lindsay addresses confusion surrounding intellectual property and explains the distinction she draws between owning your resources and restricting where resources can be sold under an exclusive membership. [00:21:00] Start Preparing Your TPT Business Now Why now is a good time to organize your resource files, covers, thumbnails, and previews so you’re prepared if you decide to sell elsewhere in the future. [00:23:30] Why Diversifying Your Teacher Business Matters Lindsay talks about developing skills outside of TPT—including growing an email list, selling on other platforms, and learning to run ads—so your business isn’t completely dependent on one marketplace. This situation is still developing, and Lindsay will continue following TPT’s updates and sharing new information as it becomes available. Read the TPT Announcement here: https://sellerblog.teacherspayteachers.com/tpt-exclusive-seller/?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-10-01_0600_Core_Sellers_Adhoc_ExclusiveSellerAnnouncement_TopSellers&utm_content=link Sign Up for the October 8 Town Hall: https://click.em.teacherspayteachers.com/?qs=ABB7InYiOjEsImQiOjUwMTZ9AAcAAAAAB0kBbQHx1KSG4G6WBCmexhhuBvHKSyNWLr3mSfsGdnJ4uAKXwkmj2yEELTJ_QNsUz7SUy_5lM1ndxCd54G4zS5u6k7GpLIQgYFv5X8E Free 10-minute KDP Webinar: lindsaybowden.com/fire

Should you have a Facebook business page for your Teachers Pay Teachers store? In this episode, Lindsay breaks down why Facebook can be a valuable free marketing tool for TPT sellers and shares a real-life example from Extraordinary Enrichment. You’ll get a peek at the types of posts that are getting engagement, simple ways to promote your products and freebies, how to use your page to grow your email list, and why setting up a Facebook page now can also help if you decide to run Meta ads in the future. Key Discussion Points: [00:01:15] Should TPT Sellers Have a Facebook Business Page? What a Facebook business page is, how it differs from your personal profile, and why it can be a simple, free marketing tool for your TPT store. [00:03:00] Using Your Facebook Page to Grow Your Email List How your cover image can promote a lead magnet and help turn Facebook followers into email subscribers. [00:04:30] What Should You Post on Facebook? Lindsay shares examples of video, static-image, and text posts and takes a look at what's working for Extraordinary Enrichment. [00:06:30] Using Automated Comments & Messages How automated tools can deliver links when someone comments on a post—and Lindsay's tip for making sure followers actually receive the link. [00:08:00] Simple Posts That Are Getting Engagement From product mockups and giveaways to simple text posts, Lindsay shares examples of content that's generating hundreds of comments. [00:10:30] Growing Your Facebook Page Why consistent posting can help build your audience and how connecting Instagram and Facebook can make posting across both platforms easier. [00:12:00] Set This Up BEFORE You Run Facebook Ads Why Lindsay recommends establishing your Facebook business page before experimenting with Meta ads, including the ability to retarget people who have interacted with your page. [00:14:30] Using Freebies to Get More Eyes on Your TPT Store How freebies can bring potential customers into your store and how tracking links can help you understand where your traffic and sales are coming from. You don't need a complicated posting strategy. Start your page, create a clear banner and profile image, and post when you can. The goal is simply to get more eyes on your resources and create another path for potential customers to find your TPT store. Extraordinary Enrichment TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/extraordinary-enrichment Extraordinary Enrichment Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/p/Extraordinary-Enrichment-61577039464781/ Connect further: Join the 1k TPT Challenge: https://lindsaybowden.com/challenge Sell Education Workbooks with Amazon KDP: https://lindsaybowden.com/KDP Earn 3-4 figures per month on TPT | https://lindsaybowden.com/start Start or grow your TPT email list | https://lindsaybowden.com/email And make sure to follow me! https://www.tiktok.com/@lindsay.bowden and http://instagram.com/lindsaybowden Watch full episodes on Youtube + Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@Lindsay.Bowden?sub_confirmation=1