In this inspiring interview, Lisa shares her journey from middle school teacher to entrepreneurial powerhouse.
When Lisa Fink’s life turned upside down after her husband lost his job of 21 years, she could have crumbled under the pressure.
Instead, she took a leap of faith into a world she knew little about—selling educational printables.
She offers actionable advice for anyone looking to break into the digital product world, along with the lessons she’s learned from years of creating and selling printables.
Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or side-hustler dreaming of passive income, Lisa’s story is packed with practical insights and tips to help you get started.
What began as a desperate attempt to make an extra $100 to cover a car payment quickly blossomed into a thriving, seven-figure business that has helped her family achieve financial security and freedom.
Key Takeaways
Here are the biggest lessons from Lisa’s story:
Start Small but Dream Big: Lisa began with a single resource and a goal to make just $100. Six years later, she’s earned over $2 million in revenue from digital products.
Fill Market Gaps: By focusing on niche products like Easy Escape Rooms and scavenger hunts, Lisa tapped into an unmet demand and created engaging resources that stand out.
Invest Time and Effort Up Front: Success doesn’t happen overnight. Lisa emphasizes the importance of putting in the work to create high-quality products that solve real problems.
Leverage Templates and Tools: Using platforms like Canva and PowerPoint, along with reusable templates, can streamline the creation process and save time.
Experiment and Adapt: Marketing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Lisa found success through email marketing and constant testing, refining her approach to meet customer needs.
Don’t Underprice Yourself: Pricing too low can hurt your sales and undervalue your work. Confidence in the value you provide is key.
Focus on Quality Over Quantity: Instead of churning out quick, generic printables, Lisa focused on creating unique, high-value resources that customers can’t replicate.
Plan for Long-Term Growth: Digital downloads are a sustainable business model as demand continues to rise. The key is solving enduring problems with creative solutions.
Explore Lisa’s Expertise: Visit ThinkTankTeacher.com for inspiration, tools, and step-by-step courses to start your own printable-selling business.
Success Stories: How I Make $650,000 Per Year Selling Educational Printables
1. Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get started selling educational printables?
Selling teacher resources wasn’t something I had planned, it came at a time when I was desperate to cover the next car payment. In late 2016, my husband lost his job of 21 years, and overnight, our family’s financial security was shattered.
The comfort of his steady paycheck was gone, and reality hit hard. We had just moved into a new house one month prior and with his job loss, I knew we had to find a side-hustle or second job if we didn’t want to lose our home. As the sole income earner, I was overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. How could I possibly support my family on a teacher’s salary?
I never even thought I would sell resources online. I was super happy as a classroom teacher of 15 years. I LOVED my job, though that’s something you don’t hear from many middle school teachers. As a teacher, I had purchased resources from Teachers Pay Teachers for my own classroom many, many times over the years.
I never thought of selling and creating my own lesson plans but that was a skill I was familiar with and it seemed like a viable option to help with the finances.
At the time, I was only hoping for an extra hundred bucks or so to cover the car payment. Honestly, I didn’t think it would amount to much, but I had to try. I’ll never forget the moment I heard my first “cha-ching.” I could not believe that someone actually purchased something that I created!
I ran out to my husband jumping up and down with excitement to tell him about my first sale. (I will never forget that day!) Although it was a small amount, that $3.56 sale was the spark of hope that I needed. I realized that with a little effort, this could be something bigger. That tiny sale ignited a fire in me and I was HOOKED.
That moment was a game-changer. I began pouring my heart into creating resources that weren’t just useful – they were engaging, time-saving, and something I would want to use in my own classroom. Slowly but surely, the cha-chings became more frequent, and my side hustle grew into something I never could have imagined.
I dove headfirst into the world of TPT. Late at night before falling asleep, I scoured the internet for seller success stories, looking for inspiration. That’s when I stumbled across an article about a teacher who had made one million dollars on TPT.
My jaw dropped. One million dollars. A teacher. Just like me. It was a wake-up call: If she could do it, why couldn’t I?
Although most of my income comes from educational activities, I decided to branch out and look for alternative income streams and that’s when I decided to open an Etsy store with my brother Ben. I am a FIRM believer of not having all of my eggs in one basket.
2. What exactly are educational printables, and who are they for?
Educational printables aren’t just for teachers to use in their classrooms. They’re incredibly versatile and serve a wide range of needs. Homeschool parents rely on them to create lessons tailored to their children’s learning styles. Students needing extra practice with a skill or topic can also benefit, as printables offer targeted exercises to reinforce concepts and build confidence.
Teachers and parents are searching for those precious gems they just don’t have the time to create themselves. Every teacher dreams of trying an escape room or scavenger hunt in their classroom, but the daunting logistics of puzzles, page layouts, and piecing it all together stops them dead in their tracks. That’s why I decided to focus my business on escape rooms, scavenger hunts and interactive activities. There was a need for these types of activities, a gap in the market.
It IS possible for students to learn and have fun at the same time, without even realizing they’re absorbing valuable knowledge. Every lesson plan I create cloaks the learning with a twist of fun through student-led, game-based activities. We all know the fun of a puzzle, be it a crossword, a cipher, or a jigsaw puzzle – so I do my best to incorporate those feelings into education.
3. How much money can someone realistically earn selling printables?
In my first six months, I made just over$1500. Not life-changing but certainly helped pay the bills and was more than I had before I began. I was determined not to give up. Fourteen months after I opened my TPT store, I had already made over 6-figures in online sales. In less than two years, my Etsy shop was also bringing in 6-figures. Fast forward 6 years later, and I’ve earned over $2 million in revenue from digital product sales alone.
I am not going to sugarcoat the effort that goes into creating printables, as my results are not typical. You will have to put in the work up front. If this is your first time creating lesson plans and printables or selling online, expect to invest some time! It’s not an overnight success.
However, any seasoned business owner can tell you it gets easier with time. You’ll get quicker at creating resources and uploading them online. And you’ll even build loyal customers who come back for more (and make earning income easier).
I love sharing my journey and expertise with like-minded people so they can begin their journey to passive income too! That’s why I decided to create Cloaked In Fun for teachers or TPT sellers and Easy Escape Rooms for Etsy sellers. Each course is filled with templates that expedite the creation process so that you can upload your activity faster than ever.
When you have a go-to set of templates for your escape rooms, scavenger hunts, color by number and digital games, you can fill in any theme or topic and hit publish without having to figure out all of the puzzles, solutions, and complex challenges that come with putting together gamified lessons. (They’re pretty hard to DIY! That’s why I’ve made it easy for you to bring the content and leave the puzzling to me.)
I’ve condensed years of experience, and years of trial and error into easy-to-follow, step-by-step video tutorials to create printable games for kids or educational activities from a template! Just change the theme and voila, you’ve got a new kids game to list in your shop.
4. What are the first steps to get started selling printables?
Starting a business with printables for kids has little to no overhead. There is no need to invest in inventory, manufacturing, storage or shipping. TPT and Etsy are low-cost, low-risk platforms that allow the revenue to come in without creating your own website. Once you create your printables and list them on Etsy or TPT, they can sell again and again, becoming a 24/7 passive income generator.
With your digital product side-hustle, you are in charge! Your earning potential is not tied to the number of hours you work. Regardless of the platform you choose to sell on, you’ll need to register your account and add your profile details to get started and to get paid. You can start both an Etsy shop or TPT shop for less than $60/year!
5. What tools or platforms do you recommend for creating and selling printables?
My best piece of advice is to use the platform you are most comfortable with. I personally use both PowerPoint and Canva to create my printables but you can use the design software of your choice.
You’re not limited to one specific platform or expensive software. Canva is a great tool to create product covers and social media graphics. Although it’s not necessary to find success, down the line you’ll likely want to upgrade to a Canva Pro account.
There are loads of free tutorials for Canva and PowerPoint so if you get stuck, you’ll likely find help with a quick Google search.
Canva Pro
In a visual world, Canva Pro makes it easy for anyone to achieve their goals and create professional designs with premium content and features like Brand Kit, Background Remover, and more.
Get Started Now
6. How do you decide what printables to create?
To stand out in the marketplace you need to think outside of the box and create unique products that can’t be found anywhere else or are too difficult for others to grasp the concept of and recreate on their own.
If it’s that easy for teachers or parents to recreate, it’s not going to sell like hotcakes, plain and simple (nor is it going to motivate students). Teachers can easily make their own version instead of making a purchase. Those “15 minute” creations are not going to be your “top earners” or best-sellers or even get 100% student buy-in. They might add quantity to your shop or lesson plan vault, but they certainly lack the quality that sets you apart or keeps kids eager for more.
Starting from scratch was hands-down the most time-consuming part of my teaching and TPT store journey. Even with the best ideas, I struggled to turn them into something usable. I knew there had to be a better way, and as a creative teacher, I decided to find it. That’s when I came up with reusable, adaptable templates with a twist of fun – perfect for my classroom and my TPT shop.
Teachers everywhere are searching for ready-to-go resources they simply don’t have the time to create themselves. Take escape rooms, for example. They’re an instant classroom hit, but the logistics – puzzles, layouts, piecing everything together – can stop even the most ambitious teacher in their tracks.
It IS possible for students to learn and have fun at the same time, without even realizing they’re absorbing valuable knowledge. A lesson that combines reading comprehension, movement, text evidence, deductive reasoning, collaboration, close reading skills and critical thinking all wrapped into one engaging activity.
BUT…. there’s definitely some printables I would personally steer clear of because everyone is creating them. Printable planners and stickers yield over 600,000 results on Etsy making your odds of being found in the search slim to none. The search bar is your friend! On both TPT and Etsy, you can use the built-in search bar to do free market research. This gives you a glimpse as to what people are actively searching for and gives you a hint at what’s in high demand.
7. What’s your secret to marketing and selling printables effectively?
During the 15 years I spent working as a teacher, I never could have imagined that I would be making 6-figures….much less 7-figures! Because, frankly, it was impossible to do in the field of education.
While now, I have my business running smoothly, I started at the bottom, like everyone else. I was trapped in a classroom creating lesson plans, sending parent emails & enduring micromanagement, all while being underpaid.
For years, I just accepted this as one of the facts of teaching. We teach for the kids, not the money…right? Then I found the power of digital downloads and everything changed. My husband’s job loss was really a blessing in disguise and came with a silver lining.
When I created my first resource for TPT, I was a middle school teacher with no special skill set (seriously, I am just your average teacher). I am not a graphic designer. I didn’t have a “team” of marketing experts, heck, I didn’t even have a large social media following (and I still don’t). I started from scratch with ZERO experience.
TPT and Etsy have built in traffic, a ready-made audience, marketing tools, and payment systems, making your printable easier to be found. Utilizing these marketplaces is much easier than building your own website and driving traffic there.
Of all the marketing tactics out there, having an email list is my biggest driver of sales. I tried social media, but for one, I did not enjoy it and secondly, I never really saw an ROI. Not to say that they aren’t right for you, they just weren’t right for me. I’m an introvert, so putting my face on videos was a definite no for me.
You have to be willing to experiment and test things out – it’s all part of the process. Maybe it’s swapping out a cover image to make it more eye-catching or crafting an SEO-optimized product description to help your resource stand out in searches. Small changes can make a big impact, but it takes time and patience to figure out what works best for you and what resonates with your audience.
Over the years, most of my activities have undergone some form of a “makeover.” Sometimes it’s as simple as updating a title to make it more descriptive or tweaking the content itself to improve the resource. Feedback has been a game-changer for me. Whether it’s from a customer review or a casual comment, I’ve learned to view constructive criticism as an opportunity to grow.
Each update or adjustment not only improves the quality of my resources but also strengthens the connection I have with my audience. Testing, learning, and refining are key to creating products that stand the test of time.
8. What mistakes do beginners often make when starting out, and how can they avoid them?
The number one mistake I see people make is thinking that the market is oversaturated. You HAVE to change your mindset. If I gave in to this misconception, I would never be where I am today.
Mistake number two is poor quality design… yes, page elements matter! Low-quality graphics, hard to read fonts, or even just the page layout can deter potential buyers. Don’t just slap a few random pages together with misaligned text boxes and call it a day.
Do your market research! Not understanding your target audience or trends in printable games can lead to products that don’t resonate with customers. It may also lead to you creating something you THINK your audience wants but there’s no research to back that up. Don’t just create to create. Quality over quantity can make or break your business. When I first started selling, I thought the more products I had, the more money I would make but that quickly proved to be wrong.
Giving up too soon – I see this one ALL THE TIME. Success takes time. Many people decide to open a TPT or Etsy shop, add a few printable games and then give up when sales don’t come rolling in. Let me remind you that 1) Selling on TPT or Etsy is a marathon, not a sprint and 2) If you only have 6 products in your shop, your odds of being found in the search are extremely low. Just keep adding quality products and good things WILL happen.
The last mistake I see printable sellers make is overlooking seasonal opportunities. Failing to capitalize on holidays or special occasions can be a HUGE missed opportunity. Teachers and parents are ALWAYS looking for a way to entertain their kids for a holiday break. Adding seasonal products is the easiest way to keep your shop fresh and exciting while driving consistent sales throughout the year.
9. How do you balance pricing?
The best way to determine pricing is to look at your competitors. You should NEVER try to underprice your competition, although in theory it sounds like a good idea, it does NOT work, plain and simple.
You’re simply doing a disservice to yourself and undervaluing your work. Lower prices DO NOT equal higher sales. Lower prices DO NOT equal more followers. In fact, lower prices may lead browsers to think your products are low quality. Think like a customer, what would you pay?
I’ll be honest here, one of the first resources I made was a very basic flipbook for the classroom that I whipped up in about 20 minutes. I truly thought that if my price was the lowest, people would flock to my store.
I priced it $3 lower than my competition. Oh how I was wrong. I mean dead wrong…that resource NEVER sold, not even once. I ended up removing it from my shop because it does not reflect the quality or vision of my business today.
10. Can you share a success story or standout moment from your printable business?
This journey has been absolutely incredible (and one I never thought possible). One of the most defining moments of my “You did it, Lisa!” story came in 2024 when I was featured in both Woman’s World Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Seeing my name in print felt surreal. I knew my story as a former teacher turned entrepreneur was unique, but I never imagined it would resonate with so many people.
The interviews gave me a chance to share my struggles, triumphs, and everything in between, from the challenges of starting my TPT shop to the joy of turning an Etsy side hustle into a thriving business. It was humbling and exciting to realize that my journey could inspire others to chase their own dreams.
11. How do you manage your time?
When I first began selling printables, I was a full-time teacher. I would come home after work and put 2-3 hours in each day creating printables. I would fall asleep playing on my phone reading success stories and watching tutorials. On the weekends, I put in a few more hours, whenever I could fit it in. One hour here and there seemed to do the trick as long as I didn’t give up and remained consistent.
Working a full-time job, running kids to soccer practice, attending social events, cooking and chores that never end. You might think you don’t have time to put anything else on your plate, but that is a LIMITING belief. You can find success by putting in 15 minutes here or 30 minutes there, just don’t give up.
12. What are your best tips for someone ready to start selling printables as a side hustle?
Start TODAY, not tomorrow, not next week, not next year. Because digital downloads can be sold over and over, it IS possible to turn a $10 printable into hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars! Digital downloads are a billion dollar industry, so why not cash in and get your own piece of the pie? This is your opportunity to get in now while the competition is LOW and the demand is HIGH.
The flexibility of selling digital products is second to none. Since you are the boss, there is no micromanager. No one is telling you what to do every single day. With digital downloads, you have the power to work when and where you want.
Take the shortcut! I started from scratch and I had NO idea what I was doing. I went down the YouTube rabbit hole watching videos for hours on end. I think if I were to do things all over again, I would have found a mentor or invested in proven courses that gave me a foundation for my new business. I made too many mistakes along the way that could have been avoided had I been equipped with the right information.
There’s a variety of fantastic courses from well-established TPT and Etsy sellers to help newbies get started. They may come in the form of a webinar, course, guide, eBook, download, etc. Regardless of how they are delivered, MOST of them truly help sellers start on their path to success.
However, if you’re going to invest in yourself and purchase a course offered by TPT or Etsy sellers… look at their store! No seriously! Many of these course creators are touting that they’re “experts” or “gurus” but have less than 1,000 reviews or less than 3,000 followers. Can they really offer you expert advice that you can rely on?
13. Do you think this business is sustainable long-term?
This question comes up a lot, and I can confidently say that digital downloads have long-term growth and sustainability. The world is becoming increasingly digital, and the demand for educational resources that can be downloaded and used instantly is only growing. Parents, teachers, and homeschoolers love the convenience and flexibility these resources provide, making it a thriving market for the foreseeable future.
Do I think AI has changed the game? Absolutely. AI has introduced tools that can assist with content creation, speeding up processes like brainstorming, proofreading, or even generating basic text. However, when it comes to crafting truly exceptional resources, there’s a level of creativity, attention to detail, and personalization that AI just can’t replicate.
For instance, creating the perfect page layout with balanced borders, cohesive themes, and carefully selected clipart requires a special touch. The ability to match the tone of a resource to the needs of a teacher or student, while making it visually engaging and educationally effective, is uniquely human.
Sure, AI might help with the initial stages, but the heart and soul of a resource come from the creator’s expertise, passion, and understanding of what educators and learners truly need. That’s something AI will never fully achieve.
With Canva being so popular, there are more teachers and parents creating their own resources. But has this impacted my sales? Not at all. In fact, every year, my business continues to grow. Why? Because I focus on creating printables that go beyond what someone can whip up in 20 minutes on Canva.
If your business relies on 1-2 page printables that are simple to recreate, then yes, I think you might face challenges down the line. The goal is to focus on something that solves a problem for your audience. These “problems” never go away. Parents are always looking for a way to entertain the kids. Teachers are always looking for a unique way to engage their reluctant learners. These needs never disappear, and that’s where the opportunity lies.
The goal is to deliver value that can’t be easily replicated. When you focus on crafting one-of-a-kind activities that solve real problems, you’re not just creating a product – you’re building trust and loyalty with your audience. That’s what keeps your business growing year after year, regardless of new tools or competitors entering the scene.
14. Where can our readers learn more about you and your business?
If you want to follow my journey or explore the resources I’ve created, you can visit my website, ThinkTankTeacher.com.
There, I share updates about my entrepreneurial adventures, tips for teachers looking to make an impact in their classrooms, advice for Etsy sellers, courses for printable sellers, and a wide variety of printables designed to save time and spark engagement.
Whether you’re looking for classroom-ready activities, party games, inspiration to start your own passive income journey, or just curious about what’s next, I’d love to connect with you there!
Final Thoughts
Lisa Fink’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of uncertainty, opportunity can emerge when you’re willing to take a chance and put in the work.
From her first $3.56 sale to a multi-million-dollar business, Lisa’s journey proves that selling digital products like educational printables can be a game-changing side hustle or full-time business.
Her advice is simple yet profound: start small, solve real problems, and focus on quality. Whether you’re a teacher looking for extra income or a parent dreaming of financial freedom, there’s room in this industry for you to succeed.
Want to dive deeper into Lisa’s story or explore the resources she offers? Check out her website at ThinkTankTeacher.com for inspiration, tools, and step-by-step courses to kickstart your printable-selling journey.