Disclosure: 4KIDS belongs to the City Profit group, which publishes this site. Fee figures come from public seller pages and secondary guides in September 2026 and use US examples, so check the current schedule for your country before you decide.
In the City Profit product ladder the low-price step is called C$: a small paid purchase that turns a stranger into a customer before any big commitment. For a company that sells expensive things, a template, a checklist, a spec pack or a playbook priced at $5-50 does three jobs. It earns money on its own, it proves the buyer will pay you, and it gives you an email address and permission to talk about the main offer. 4KIDS is a clean example of the mechanics, because everything about it is digital: A4 PDF sets with instructions and answers, delivered right after payment, printed on an ordinary printer.
| Channel | Fee logic | Fees on $8 | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy (US) | $0.20 listing, 6.5% transaction, 3% + $0.25 payment processing | about $1.21 | about $6.79 (85%) |
| Teachers Pay Teachers, Basic seller | seller keeps 55%, plus $0.30 per resource | about $3.90 | about $4.10 (51%) |
| Teachers Pay Teachers, Premium ($59.95 a year) | seller keeps 80% | about $1.60 | about $6.40 (80%), before the annual fee |
| Gumroad, direct sale | 10% + $0.50 per transaction | about $1.30 | about $6.70 (84%) |
| Gumroad Discover marketplace | 30% per transaction | about $2.40 | about $5.60 (70%) |
| Own store (for example WordPress with a card processor) | processor around 3% + a fixed fee, plus hosting | about $0.50 (assumed) | about $7.50 (94%) before hosting and marketing |
Squarespace and Shopify sit between these. Squarespace charges 7%, 5% or 0% on digital content depending on the plan (Basic, Core, Advanced) on top of the plan price. Shopify’s Basic plan is listed at €19 a month on annual billing plus payment processing. The own-store row is an assumption for illustration: use your own processor’s rates.
At $8, the own store saves roughly $0.70 per sale against Etsy. If hosting and tools cost $250 a year, that is about 350 sales a year before you count your own marketing. Below that volume a marketplace is cheaper, because it brings buyers you would otherwise have to pay for. Above it, or when the lifetime value of a customer is large, the own store wins, because you keep the email list and the data.
For a buyer comparing with a subscription library such as Twinkl (about $90 a year in the US for the annual Ultimate plan), a single set at a few dollars lets a parent try one topic without committing to a year.
Templates, checklists, boilerplates and prompt packs sell well as low-ticket products. Use Gumroad or a similar tool to test demand in a weekend. Move to your own store once you have proof of demand and want the customer list next to your product site.
Spec sheets, installation guides, DIY plans and design files attract prosumers and small buyers. An own store fits, because you want their contact details for the physical products. Marketplaces suit consumer-style items but hide the customer from you.
A contract pack, a compliance checklist or a pricing calculator sells your expertise before any call. Deliver it by email after payment, and follow up with an offer for the paid service. The free sample is the most important part.
Printable games, quests and worksheets for children aged 3-12, as ready A4 PDF sets with instructions and answers.
From UAH 199 to 349, in hryvnia, for personal use.
Yes, a free 10-page sample arrives by email within a minute.
See a working digital store. Download the free sample and look at the ladder from the buyer’s side.
