Lani On Life Thanks! It’s definitely a slow process... I wasn’t reading nearly that much a few years ago- i get a little better every year. And TPT has been a whole journey in and of itself!
It's wonderful that you exceeded your reading goal and extending it is certainly ambitious, but if it was me... I'd keep reading as it is or decrease it a bit so I could spend more time making art for my Etsy shop making money... But that's me! You do you! ❤🌅🌵
That's a good perspective! I try to replace phone time and TV time with reading, and not let it encroach onto my working time. I am trying to get more art done though! I've been slacking in that department lately.
@@BeccaDavis , but isn't creating art for yourself, considered "me" time. And selling it a bonus? But if you are creating art for others or because it will sell, then I can see how you would consider it work. 💜🌞🌵
JoEllyn Sumner Great questions! Every shop eventually has like a “thing”. Mine has (unintentionally) become centers resources and print and go sub plans. Out of my top 6, 4 are my kaboom games and 2 are sub plans. The next highest is 12 Days of Christmas PowerPoint which was surprisingly popular. As far as advice, I would say be consistent. Pick a few hours a week (even if it’s only a little bit!) and work on your shop. The first 50 products are really important, so get them up! Don’t stress about what you think will do well- just make what you would love for your classroom and your “thing” will kind of appear.
So initially- nothing. I waited until I hit 60 in sales to upgrade to premium seller and used only freeing fonts and clip art at first. I did already have a website (it was about a year old). That costs me about $160 a year. After I started selling, I have reinvested about 20% of my income into clip art, office supplies, some courses, etc.
Thank you for all the amazing info! You had mentioned that you purchased some Pinterest ads in 2019. How much did you invest in that, and how was the return? Trying to get an idea of what the return on investment us for Pinterest or Instagram ads. You’ve inspired me to start with TPT. Thank you for doing what you do!
You’re welcome! Honestly, I don’t put as much effort into tracking my ads as I should. I typically spend somewhere between 30-100 on ads each month and it brings in a few hundred depending on the month.
If you want to get started, I have a free checklist/guide/email sequence that can help you get started: mailchi.mp/882d03223673/getting-started-checklist
Could you *in a very general way* address how complicated the sales tax collection and remittance is and/or any advice in that are? I have so many products but the sales tax is so daunting now that the sales tax laws have changed, I’m too nervous to start. 🙈
Megsother28 Soooo I am not the expert, but I did y’all to my tax preparer about it. From what I understand, in my state (GA) I only have to pay sales tax on things sold in GA. You just go to your states’ tax website (you can google it) and create an account and pay each month for the sales the month before. In my county it’s 7% of sales in Ga. I pay that every month. TPT collects sales tax for some states. I don’t do anything with that except for keep track of how much I paid in sales tax, because that is deductible from your income tax. I hope that helps a little bit! When in doubt, I would seriously go talk to an accountant or tax preparer. They will probably charge, but it’s better than getting yourself in a bind from not paying the government!
Becca Davis Thank you so much! The info on TPT talks about determining the Nexus states and a bunch of other jargon that is too technical for me. I think I’m going to find a good tax preparer and go for it. Thank you so much for your time! 💜
Leah Cole So that may need to be a whole video of itself, buuuut in a nutshell I’d say I owe most of it to the time I’ve spent creating products (I have around 200!) and growing an audience through my blog, email list, and Instagram. It’s showing up and working a little bit every day. And I also love it. That helps too!
Congrats on achieving your goals 🎉 Get it gurl 💅 I cannot believe you are from Georgia! I live in Georgia too!
diamondflame45 Awesome! I don’t feel like many Georgians are represented... other than Atlanta
you inspire me!! congratulations on hitting your goals!
nisa farouk Awesome! Good luck hitting yours!
Girl, you are my reading and TpT goals!!! WOW
Lani On Life Thanks! It’s definitely a slow process... I wasn’t reading nearly that much a few years ago- i get a little better every year. And TPT has been a whole journey in and of itself!
I love books
Same!
It's wonderful that you exceeded your reading goal and extending it is certainly ambitious, but if it was me... I'd keep reading as it is or decrease it a bit so I could spend more time making art for my Etsy shop making money... But that's me! You do you! ❤🌅🌵
That's a good perspective! I try to replace phone time and TV time with reading, and not let it encroach onto my working time. I am trying to get more art done though! I've been slacking in that department lately.
@@BeccaDavis , but isn't creating art for yourself, considered "me" time. And selling it a bonus? But if you are creating art for others or because it will sell, then I can see how you would consider it work. 💜🌞🌵
What are your top selling items and what advice would you give someone wanting to start this side hustle?
JoEllyn Sumner Great questions! Every shop eventually has like a “thing”. Mine has (unintentionally) become centers resources and print and go sub plans. Out of my top 6, 4 are my kaboom games and 2 are sub plans. The next highest is 12 Days of Christmas PowerPoint which was surprisingly popular. As far as advice, I would say be consistent. Pick a few hours a week (even if it’s only a little bit!) and work on your shop. The first 50 products are really important, so get them up! Don’t stress about what you think will do well- just make what you would love for your classroom and your “thing” will kind of appear.
Thanks for your reply! How much did you invest of your own money into your TPT store
So initially- nothing. I waited until I hit 60 in sales to upgrade to premium seller and used only freeing fonts and clip art at first. I did already have a website (it was about a year old). That costs me about $160 a year. After I started selling, I have reinvested about 20% of my income into clip art, office supplies, some courses, etc.
Thank you for all the amazing info! You had mentioned that you purchased some Pinterest ads in 2019. How much did you invest in that, and how was the return? Trying to get an idea of what the return on investment us for Pinterest or Instagram ads. You’ve inspired me to start with TPT. Thank you for doing what you do!
You’re welcome! Honestly, I don’t put as much effort into tracking my ads as I should. I typically spend somewhere between 30-100 on ads each month and it brings in a few hundred depending on the month.
If you want to get started, I have a free checklist/guide/email sequence that can help you get started: mailchi.mp/882d03223673/getting-started-checklist
Thank you once again!!!
Could you *in a very general way* address how complicated the sales tax collection and remittance is and/or any advice in that are?
I have so many products but the sales tax is so daunting now that the sales tax laws have changed, I’m too nervous to start. 🙈
Megsother28 Soooo I am not the expert, but I did y’all to my tax preparer about it. From what I understand, in my state (GA) I only have to pay sales tax on things sold in GA. You just go to your states’ tax website (you can google it) and create an account and pay each month for the sales the month before. In my county it’s 7% of sales in Ga. I pay that every month. TPT collects sales tax for some states. I don’t do anything with that except for keep track of how much I paid in sales tax, because that is deductible from your income tax. I hope that helps a little bit! When in doubt, I would seriously go talk to an accountant or tax preparer. They will probably charge, but it’s better than getting yourself in a bind from not paying the government!
Becca Davis Thank you so much! The info on TPT talks about determining the Nexus states and a bunch of other jargon that is too technical for me. I think I’m going to find a good tax preparer and go for it. Thank you so much for your time! 💜
No problem! I wish I knew all the answers but I am also somewhat confused by it! Let me know if you have any other questions!
How in the world are you making so much with TPT?!
Leah Cole So that may need to be a whole video of itself, buuuut in a nutshell I’d say I owe most of it to the time I’ve spent creating products (I have around 200!) and growing an audience through my blog, email list, and Instagram. It’s showing up and working a little bit every day. And I also love it. That helps too!