The Go-To Podcast for Teachers Who Want to Build a Business From Home
If you’ve ever said, “I want to start something, but I have no idea where to begin,” this show is for you.
Each episode is packed with honest advice, practical steps, and mindset shifts to help you turn your teacher skills into income without burning out or getting stuck in overwhelm.
Whether you're dreaming of selling on TPT, launching a digital product, or just exploring your options, you’ll find simple strategies and real encouragement here.
48: How I Manage the Money in My Teacher Business (Taxes, Profit & Paying Myself)
In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I manage my business finances, not as an accountant, but as someone who has learned through experience.
I’m sharing what I did when I first started, what changed when my business started growing, and the simple systems I use now to stay organized.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
What I did when I made my first $500 in my business
The moment I realized I needed better financial systems
Why I opened an LLC and a business bank account
How I keep my business and personal finances separate
The simple spreadsheet system I use instead of QuickBooks
How I track income, expenses, and deductions each month
How I estimate and save for quarterly taxes (without surprises)
How I organize my money for:
taxes
business expenses
profit
owner’s pay
The difference between profit and paying yourself
Tools I Mentioned
I use a bookkeeping spreadsheet created specifically for TPT sellers.
It helps me:
track all income and expenses
calculate deductions
estimate quarterly taxes
You can check it out:
Remember:
The goal is to create a simple system that works for you
Even small changes like separating your accounts or tracking monthly can make a huge difference.
If you’re brand new and need help getting your TPT store started, I have a free starter mini course. You can get it here:
And if you’re in that in-between stage and you’re trying to figure out your next move, you can book a strategy call with me and we’ll map it out together.
Book a Teacher Business Clarity Call
📧 Got questions or want to share your story? Email me at info@monica-lopez.com. I read every message and would love to hear from you.
47: Why Most TPT Sellers Quit (And What Actually Grows a Teacher Business)
Many people start a TPT store or teacher business feeling excited about the possibilities. But after a while, some of them get discouraged when their store grows slower than they expected.
The beginning stage of a business requires a lot of time, energy, and learning. You’re figuring out how to create resources, how to design them, how to list them, and how to explain them so teachers understand how they can use them.
In this episode, I share the way I think about those early stages of business. I often describe it as the “baby stage” of a business. At the beginning, your business needs a lot from you before it can really start producing consistent results.
We also talk about a mistake I see many new sellers make — trying to build everything at once. Creating products, starting an email list, blogging, Pinterest, social media… all while their store only has a small number of resources in it.
Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do early on is simply focus on creating resources that genuinely help teachers and continue building your store.
If your teacher business feels slower than you hoped, this episode is meant to encourage you and help you understand what growth actually looks like in the early stages.
In this episode:
Why many teacher sellers stop working on their business
The early stage of a teacher business and why it feels hard
Why your store needs time and energy in the beginning
The mistake of trying to build everything at once
Why building a well-stocked store matters
If you’re currently building your teacher business or TPT store, this episode will help you understand why patience and consistency matter so much in the early stages.
If you’re brand new and need help getting your TPT store started, I have a free starter mini course. You can get it here:
And if you’re in that in-between stage and you’re trying to figure out your next move, you can book a strategy call with me and we’ll map it out together.
Book a Teacher Business Clarity Call
📧 Got questions or want to share your story? Email me at info@monica-lopez.com. I read every message and would love to hear from you.
46: Why My First Businesses Failed (But My TPT Store Finally Worked)
Have you ever wondered why some businesses work while others never really take off?
Before I started my TPT store and my teacher business, I actually tried several other business ideas. Looking back, I truly believe those businesses could have worked. But they didn’t… and the reason might surprise you.
In this episode, I’m reflecting on what finally made my teacher business work and how starting a Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store helped me build the confidence I needed to grow something much bigger.
If you’re a teacher who has been thinking about starting a business, creating resources online, or building a TPT store, this episode will help you think about your next steps a little differently.
I also talk about some ideas I’ve been learning from Alex Hormozi about having a clear offer and a clear niche, and how those principles showed up in my business long before I even knew what they were.
You’ll hear the real story behind how my teacher business started and the three things I believe every successful teacher business needs.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why my first business ideas didn’t work
The fear of visibility that holds many teachers back from starting a business
How starting a TPT store helped me build confidence as a business owner
The importance of having a clear niche and a clear offer
Why niching down can help your teacher business grow faster
How to know if there is a real market for your resources or business idea
Why building a teacher business is a long game
Resources Mentioned
If you’re brand new and need help getting your TPT store started, I have a free starter mini course. You can get it here:
And if you’re in that in-between stage and you’re trying to figure out your next move, you can book a strategy call with me and we’ll map it out together.
Book a Teacher Business Clarity Call
📧 Got questions or want to share your story? Email me at info@monica-lopez.com. I read every message and would love to hear from you.
45: What I Learned After My TPT Sales Flatlined: Funnels, Traffic, and Facebook Ads
What I Learned After My TPT Sales Flatlined: Funnels, Traffic, and Facebook Ads
If you’ve ever looked at your TPT dashboard and wondered, “Why are my sales suddenly… not moving?” this episode is for you.
For months, I blamed everything for my plateau: the algorithm, SEO, the saturated market, AI, promoting my membership, even the season. But the real reason my sales flatlined? It wasn’t any of those things. It was something much simpler and something I didn’t even notice until I sat down and compared my numbers.
In this episode, I walk you through the exact moment I realized what changed, the product line that suddenly tanked, and how turning off one small part of my funnel impacted my entire business. I’m sharing what I found inside my TPT analytics, what happened when I stopped running Facebook ads, and why traffic matters way more than we think it does.
If you’re in a season where things feel slow, or you’re not sure why certain product lines aren’t performing anymore, this episode will help you look at your data in a totally different way.
What you’ll hear today:
Why my sales plateaued for several months
The assumptions I made (and why they were wrong)
The moment the data finally made it clear
How Facebook ads were quietly feeding my best-selling product line
What I’m testing next with a brand-new funnel
A reminder to go back and look at what actually changed in your business
If you’re brand new and need help getting your TPT store started, I have a free starter mini course. You can get it here:
And if you’re in that in-between stage and you’re trying to figure out your next move, you can book a strategy call with me and we’ll map it out together.
Book a Teacher Business Clarity Call
📧 Got questions or want to share your story? Email me at info@monica-lopez.com. I read every message and would love to hear from you.
43: How to Grow Your TPT Store: Course, Coaching, or Just Execute?
Have you ever wondered if you actually need another course… or if you just need to get to work?
In today’s episode, I’m talking about investing back into your TPT business and how to decide whether you need:
• A course
• A coach
• Or just more execution
I break down the different stages of business growth and what kind of help makes sense at each one.
Because not every season requires spending money.
And not every plateau means you’re missing some secret strategy.
Sometimes you need to learn a new skill.
Sometimes you need clarity and direction.
And sometimes… you already know what to do and you’re just hesitating.
If you’re in that messy middle where not brand new, but not scaling yet either, this episode is especially for you.
We’ll talk about:
The difference between a skills gap and a strategy gap
Why over-learning can actually slow you down
When coaching makes sense
And how to figure out what stage you’re really in
If you’ve been asking yourself:
“Am I missing something?”
“Why isn’t this growing faster?”
“Do I need to invest again?”
This will help you sort that out.
If you’re brand new and need help getting your TPT store started, I have a free starter mini course. You can get it here:
And if you’re in that in-between stage and you’re trying to figure out your next move, you can book a strategy call with me and we’ll map it out together.
Book a Teacher Business Clarity Call
📧 Got questions or want to share your story? Email me at info@monica-lopez.com. I read every message and would love to hear from you.
42: How to Make TPT Work for You, Not the Other Way Around
If you’ve ever felt like you’re working hard on TPT but not getting the results you want, this episode will show you how to flip that dynamic. TPT is one of the smartest, lowest-risk business platforms available to teachers, but only when you know how to make it work for you strategically, instead of feeling like you’re endlessly creating without moving forward.
Today, I’m walking you through the exact mindset shifts and strategic decisions that helped me go from scared to charge $2 to confidently building multiple income streams. You’ll learn why TPT is more than a marketplace, how it quietly trains you to think like an entrepreneur, and how to identify when you’ve outgrown your old strategies and need a new level, a new plan, and a new mindset.
Inside the episode, we’ll cover:
Why TPT is still the smartest place for teachers to grow an online income
How to leverage the platform at any stage of business
The “mindset layers” every seller must peel back to grow
When to update your strategy so you don’t stay stuck
How TPT sets the foundation for memberships, courses, coaching, and more
What’s possible when you strengthen or expand your income streams
Four powerful questions to help you identify your next level
Whether you’re earning two figures or four, this episode will help you step back, reassess, and finally use TPT in a way that supports your goals instead of draining your energy.
Want clarity on your next step?
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start moving forward with a clear plan, schedule a free consult call with me. We’ll walk through where you are, where you want to go, and the exact strategy that will get you there faster and with less stress.
Resources & Links:
👉 Schedule a free consult call with Monica
Wanna start the right way?
If you want help making your TPT storefront look clean and professional from day one, check out my TPT Store Starter Kit Mini Course. It’s six short videos on:
Your logo and brand elements
Covers, thumbnails, and previews
Setting up your store visuals in Canva or PowerPoint
Making your storefront something you’re actually proud of
If you have questions or want to share your progress, email me anytime at info@monica-lopez.com. I love hearing from you.
41: What to Sell on TPT: The 4 Steps Every New Seller Should Start With
If you’ve ever opened your computer and thought, “Okay… but what do I even make for TPT?” This episode will help you finally get clear.
Today I’m walking you through four simple steps to figure out what to sell on TPT, without chasing trends or guessing what teachers want. These steps work whether you’re brand new or you’ve been selling for a while and need a reset.
In this episode, I break down:
✔️ Step 1: How to look through your own files to find product ideas that actually work
Because your best ideas are the things that already helped your students.
✔️ Step 2: How to polish those activities so they’re ready to list on TPT
Covers, thumbnails, clipart, and making them look clean and usable.
✔️ Step 3: Why publishing quickly matters more than getting it “perfect”
You can’t learn anything until it’s up and running.
✔️ Step 4: Why you should leave your product alone (and stop checking the data every day)
This one saves so much stress.
If you’ve been wanting to start your store but you never feel “ready,” this episode will give you a clear place to begin.
Wanna start the right way?
If you want help making your TPT storefront look clean and professional from day one, check out my TPT Store Starter Kit Mini Course. It’s six short videos on:
Your logo and brand elements
Covers, thumbnails, and previews
Setting up your store visuals in Canva or PowerPoint
Making your storefront something you’re actually proud of
If you have questions or want to share your progress, email me anytime at info@monica-lopez.com. I love hearing from you.
40: Should You Sell on Your Website? The Real Pros, Cons, and TPT vs. Your Own Store
Are you wondering whether you should sell your teacher resources on your website or if it’s just one more thing everyone says you “should” do?
You’re not alone. This is one of the most common questions teacher-sellers ask when they start taking their business seriously.
In today’s episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to know so you can make the right decision for YOUR stage of business.
By the end, you’ll know whether selling on your website is worth it, what it actually takes to make it profitable, and how to avoid wasting time or money in the process.
We cover:
Why so many teacher-sellers want their own website
Shopify vs. Squarespace vs. WordPress (and what I chose)
The truth about uploading your entire product catalog
How long it really takes to see sales
What you must have in place BEFORE you open a store
Website pros, cons, and deal-breakers
When a website becomes more profitable than TPT
Whether you should add a TPT “buy” button on your product pages
Why email list + trust = the secret to website sales
The long-term payoff most teachers never talk about
If you’ve been confused, overwhelmed, or unsure whether you’re “ready” to add a store to your website, this episode will give you the clarity you’ve been needing.
If you’re not sure whether you’re ready—or you need help figuring out the next right step in your business, I offer 1:1 coaching to help you grow with clarity and confidence.
I support teachers with:
TPT store strategy
Website setup + offers
Messaging + positioning
Mindset and overthinking
Anything your teacher brain is stuck on
If you’re craving real progress with way less overwhelm, book your coaching call:
yourteacherbiz.com/coaching
Links & Resources Mentioned
39: Why Your Teacher Business Feels Hard (and How Data Can Fix It)
If your teacher business feels harder than it should, you’re not alone. Most teacher entrepreneurs are making decisions based on emotion, guesswork, or daily dashboard checks that send them into panic mode. In today’s episode, we break down why your business feels overwhelming — and how simple data tracking can instantly bring clarity, calm, and direction.
We’re talking about what to track (and what NOT to track), how to set goals that actually fit the season you’re in, and why focusing on the right metrics will make your business feel lighter, more grounded, and easier to grow.
Plus, I’m sharing the tool that completely changed how I make decisions in my own business:
✨ The Teacher Business KPI Tracker: now available in my shop.
If you want your business to feel less emotional and more empowered this year, this episode is your roadmap.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why running your online teacher business feels so overwhelming
How data helps calm your brain and reduce the “nothing is working” spiral
The #1 metric that matters most when you’re just starting out
What to track in Year 1 versus Years 2–3 versus later stages
Why tracking too many things creates confusion (not clarity)
Why TPT dashboard dips don’t actually mean what you think
How a year-at-a-glance view can completely change your confidence
How to choose metrics that match your season of life
The simple tracking habit that makes business decisions easier
Mentioned in This Episode
👉 Teacher Business KPI Tracker
Get the simple Google Sheet that helps you track revenue, product growth, email metrics, website traffic, and more all in one place.
👉 Book a Free Teacher Business Clarity Call
Need support deciding what to focus on in your business? Let’s talk through your goals and simplify your next steps.
Connect With Me
Got questions or want to share your story?
Email me at info@monica-lopez.com. I read every message and would love to hear from you.
38: Social Media for Teacher Sellers: What to Post, How Often, and What Actually Works
Social media can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling teaching, life, and a growing TPT business. Do you really need to be on Instagram? Does marketing actually work? And how do you promote your resources without living on your phone?
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Ashley Mickelson, a longtime teacher seller and self-described accidental entrepreneur. Ashley shares what she’s learned over nearly a decade of selling on TPT, building relationships online, and using simple marketing systems that don’t lead to burnout.
We talk honestly about social media, automation tools like ManyChat, and why relationships (not hacks), are what truly grow a sustainable teacher business.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between wanting more visibility and wanting more peace, this conversation will meet you right where you are.
In this episode, we cover:
How Ashley accidentally turned teaching into a long-term TPT business
Why relationship-building matters more than posting perfectly
What ManyChat is and how teachers actually use it (in simple terms)
How automation can save time instead of adding stress
When it makes sense to invest in tools and when it doesn’t
How introverted or camera-shy teachers can start showing up online
The difference between content that lasts vs. content that connects
How Ashley balances family life, marketing, and running her business
Key takeaway:
You don’t need to do all the things to grow your business. You need to connect with real people, show up as yourself, and build systems that support your life, not consume it.
Connect with Ashley:
YouTube name
Teach the Teacher Author with Ashley Mikkelsen
https://www.youtube.com/@teachtheteacherauthor
Social media links
Insta-
https://instagram.com/teach.the.teacherauthor
FB-
https://facebook.com/teach.the.teacherauthor
FB group -
Instagram for Teacher Authors
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReJUNEvateyourIGChallenge
Website
https://teachtheteacherauthor.com/
Contact email
ashley@srtaspanish.com
landing page or freebie link
How to start your email list:
https://teachtheteacherauthor.myflodesk.com/dzu6rybc2d
Work with me:
If you’re a teacher who wants to build income outside the classroom, whether through TPT, digital products, or mindset work, I’d love to support you.
Book a 1:1 coaching call if you want personalized guidance on income planning,
Connect With Me
Got questions or want to share your story?
Email me at info@monica-lopez.com. I read every message and would love to hear from you.
37: Thinking of Leaving Teaching? The Realities of Full-Time Business Income
What if working from home and “passive income” aren’t as stress-free as we’ve been led to believe?
In this episode, I’m sharing a very honest reflection on what it’s actually like to run a business full time, especially as a former teacher who was used to a steady paycheck. I’m recording this at the start of a new year, in the middle of selling our house, and coming off a season that felt busy, heavy, and lacking joy. That reflection led me here.
If you’re a teacher dreaming of leaving the classroom, working from home, or building “passive income,” this episode is for you. Not to discourage you, but to help you make the best decision at the right time with clarity instead of fantasy.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why business ownership brings a different kind of stress no one really talks about
What “passive income” actually looks like in real life
The financial difference between a teacher paycheck and business income
Why making just enough money in your business isn’t enough
How taxes, expenses, and slow months really impact your take-home income
Why saving 3–6 months of expenses is non-negotiable
The importance of having more than one income stream (especially if you sell on TPT)
What surprised me when I reviewed my own income data
How to think clearly and realistically before quitting your job
This episode is about grounding your dreams in truth and making empowered decisions instead of emotional ones. You absolutely can build a business and work from home. I just want you to do it in a way that protects your peace, finances, and future.
Here’s to 2026:
Create value. Go sell it.
And don’t underestimate what you bring to the table.
If you want support applying what we talked about today to your business, you can book a one-on-one coaching call with me.
Schedule a Call
Connect With Me
Got questions or want to share your story?
Email me at info@monica-lopez.com. I read every message and would love to hear from you.
36: Why More Time Doesn’t Make You More Productive
When we’re working full time, it’s easy to believe that if we just had more time, we’d make more money in our business. But what happens when you finally have the time and productivity still feels off?
In this episode, I’m sharing honest lessons I’ve learned from staying home to work on my business full time, and what that taught me about productivity, time management, and execution. If you’ve been working hard but not seeing results, this episode will help you see what’s really getting in the way.
We talk about why time isn’t the real issue, how planning can turn into procrastination, and the simple strategies that helped me move from busy to actually getting things done.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why having more time doesn’t automatically lead to more money
The hidden productivity trap of working for yourself
How planning, learning, and “preparing” can become disguised procrastination
Why motivation is a myth (and what actually works instead)
How hesitation, overthinking, and fear slow down execution
How the 5 Second Rule helped me take action faster
The First Domino Concept and how routines reduce decision fatigue
How scheduling in realistic time blocks creates clarity and momentum
Key Concepts Mentioned
The First Domino Concept (starting with one small action that triggers momentum)
Decision fatigue and why structure matters when you work from home
How to Apply This to Your Life & Business
Identify your first domino (your one non-negotiable starting point).
Use the 5-4-3-2-1 rule when you feel hesitation or resistance.
Write out your schedule in advance to remove daily decision-making.
Focus on execution—not learning, planning, or scrolling.
If this episode hit home for you and you know you’ve been busy but not productive, this is exactly what I help teachers with inside my one-on-one coaching calls.
We look at what you’re working on, what actually makes money, and what you need to stop overthinking so you can start executing. No fluff. No endless learning. Just clarity, a plan, and action.
If you want support applying what we talked about today to your business, you can book a one-on-one coaching call with me.
Schedule a Call
Connect With Me
Got questions or want to share your story?
Email me at info@monica-lopez.com. I read every message and would love to hear from you.
So many teachers want more. More income, more flexibility, more ownership over their time, but never take the first step toward building a business.
Not because they lack skills.
Not because they don’t have ideas.
But because of a belief they’ve been carrying for years: “I’m just a teacher.”
In this episode, I unpack a deeply ingrained mindset that came up for me recently. One rooted in culture, class, and identity and how it quietly shows up when teachers think about selling on Teachers Pay Teachers or starting a business of their own.
We talk about the harmful messages many of us internalized about where we come from, what we’re “allowed” to want, and who we’re allowed to become and how those beliefs keep us playing small, even when we’re capable of so much more.
If you’ve ever thought:
“I don’t have anything worth selling.”
“Other teachers are better than me.”
“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“People like me don’t do that.”
This episode is for you.
In this episode, we talk about:
The hidden belief that keeps teachers from seeing their value
How cultural and family messages shape our business identity
Why where you come from does not determine where you’re going
What it really means to “act as if” when building confidence
Why selling on TPT isn’t about being special, it’s about believing you’re capable
How to take the first small step toward a new identity in business
You are not “just” a teacher.
You are a problem-solver, a creator, and someone with real value to offer.
And if you’re ready to explore what that could look like for you — even if it feels scary — you don’t have to do it alone.
Schedule a clarity call with me and let’s talk about where you are, where you want to go, and what your next step could be.
If you’re ready to walk into 2026 with more clarity, less overwhelm, and a whole lot more focus, this episode is for you. Today, I’m breaking down the strategies I’m keeping, the habits I’m letting go of, and the single biggest planning shift that has already made my business feel more intentional and aligned.
Inside the episode, we cover:
What Actually Worked in 2025 (and why I’m keeping it in 2026)
Listing TPT products consistently
Growing and nurturing my ESL Teacher Membership
Hiring help and staying in my zone of genius
Keeping email marketing simple but consistent
Blogging to add value + strengthen SEO
Free and paid collaborations
Monthly strategic planning sessions
Growing my Facebook group intentionally
What I’m Leaving Behind
Overworking and believing more hours = more success
Shiny object syndrome and business ideas that don’t align with my long-term vision
You’ll hear why clarity has become my guiding principle and how having a simple yearly skeleton plan has helped me instantly decide whether something fits my business—or belongs in the “nope” pile.
My #1 Strategy Shift for 2026
If you take nothing else from this episode, take this:
Plan out your promotions for the entire year.
You don’t need a detailed plan—just a simple structure. It creates clarity, reduces stress, keeps you focused, and protects you from shiny object syndrome.
Free Resource Mentioned
Free TPT Starter Kit Mini Course
Learn how to set up your TPT store the right way—branding, covers, thumbnails, storefront, and more.
Grab it here: Free Mini Course
Join the $100 for $100 Coaching Program
Ready to start making money on TPT?
This is a live group coaching program where I walk you step-by-step through making your first—and next—$100. It's not a passive course. You get accountability, live coaching, and support every step of the way.
Join here: $100 for $100
New to the Show? Start Here:
🎧 Ep 11 – Getting Your First TPT Sales: What to Focus on First (So You Don’t Burn Out or Give Up)
🎧 Ep 1 – Feeling Burnt Out as a Teacher? This Is Your Wake Up Call
🎧 Ep 7 – Side Hustle for Teacher or Full-Time TPT Seller? How to Choose Your Path
🎧 Ep 3 – Teachers Making Money Online: Is It Wrong to Want More?
Want support while you listen?
Join the free teacher business community
Ready for coaching?
Turn those aha moments into action.