How to Sell Excel or Google Spreadsheets in WordPress

If you want to sell Excel or Google Spreadsheets in WordPress, then you’re not alone.

People use spreadsheets every day for budgeting, project management, inventory tracking, and countless other tasks. Instead of building these systems from scratch, many are willing to pay for ready-made templates that help them get started quickly.

We’ve seen many business owners and entrepreneurs rely on spreadsheet templates to save time and stay organized. Because these templates solve real problems, they can make excellent digital products.

The best part is that you only need to create a template once and can sell it over and over again without worrying about inventory or shipping.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to sell Excel and Google Spreadsheet templates in WordPress, including how to accept payments, deliver files securely, and protect your downloads from unauthorized access.

Why Sell Excel or Google Spreadsheet Templates?

Selling spreadsheet templates can be a great way to generate passive income because people already use tools like Excel and Google Sheets to manage their work, finances, and businesses.

Instead of creating spreadsheets from scratch, many users prefer to buy a ready-made template that helps them get started quickly. Here are some of the biggest benefits of selling spreadsheet templates:

• Low overhead: Create a template once and sell it repeatedly without managing inventory or shipping.
• Instant delivery: Customers can download their templates immediately after purchase.
• High demand: Spreadsheet templates are useful for budgeting, project management, business reporting, inventory tracking, and more.
• Scalable income: As you build a larger collection of templates, you can continue generating sales with minimal ongoing effort. Some sellers generate a few hundred dollars per month as a side hustle, while others earn $5,000 or more per month selling specialized templates.

What Types of Spreadsheet Templates Sell Best?

The most successful spreadsheet templates usually solve a specific problem for a specific audience. The more targeted your template is, the easier it is to market and sell.

Some popular spreadsheet template categories include:

• Budget trackers: Personal finance planners, savings trackers, and debt payoff calculators.
• Business dashboards: Sales reports, KPI trackers, and financial forecasting templates.
• Inventory management: Inventory trackers for online stores, Etsy sellers, and small businesses.
• Project planning: Content calendars, wedding planners, event planning templates, and task trackers.
• Client management: CRM spreadsheets, client databases, proposal trackers, and invoice templates.

If you’re unsure where to start, consider creating a template that solves a problem you’ve faced yourself. Chances are other people are looking for the same solution.

Which Platform Should You Use to Sell Excel or Google Spreadsheets?

First, you’ll need to choose an eCommerce platform to sell your Excel or Google spreadsheets.

Because these spreadsheets are digital files that users can download to their computers after making a purchase, you should pick an eCommerce platform specifically designed for selling digital downloads.

Such a platform would have the proper features, licensing, and subscriptions built in, which will make it easier for you to set up your store.

That’s why we recommend using WordPress and Easy Digital Downloads for selling your Excel and Google spreadsheets.

WordPress is the best website builder on the market and is used by over 43% of all the websites on the internet. It is an ideal choice as WordPress gives you full control over your website and allows you to create a user-friendly eCommerce store.

Easy Digital Downloads is our top-rated WordPress plugin for selling digital products. It powers over 50,000 active stores and maintains a 4.7/5 rating on WordPress.org from 700+ reviews.

We use EDD ourselves to sell many of our premium WordPress plugins and have had an excellent experience. To learn more about our experience, see our Easy Digital Downloads review.

With WordPress and Easy Digital Downloads, you can sell as many spreadsheet templates as you want while keeping full control over your business.

Unlike marketplace platforms such as Etsy, you’ll own your customer list and won’t have to worry about marketplace fees reducing your profits. You’ll only pay the standard processing fees charged by your payment gateway, such as Stripe or PayPal.

This can also be more cost-effective than platforms like Gumroad, which charge additional transaction fees on each sale.

That being said, let’s dig in to see how easy it is to create a WordPress site with Easy Digital Downloads so you can start selling your spreadsheets online.

Ready to get started? Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide:

Step 1: Setting Up Your WordPress Site

Before you start building your site, it’s important to know that there are two types of WordPress software: WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

WordPress.com is a hosted platform, while WordPress.org is open source and is free. We will be using WordPress.org as it gives you complete control over your website.

First of all, you’ll need a domain name and WordPress hosting to start selling your spreadsheets.

We recommend using SiteGround for your website. It is a popular hosting provider that offers managed WordPress hosting for Easy Digital Downloads. It comes with a free SSL certificate, pre-installed and optimized EDD, and a HUGE discount.

With this offer, you can start your website for less than $5 per month.

For more details on how to set up your WordPress site, you can check out our guide on how to make a WordPress website.

If you’re looking for other great options, we also highly recommend Bluehost and Hostinger.

Step 2: Setting Up Easy Digital Downloads

The free Lite version of Easy Digital Downloads (available on WordPress.org) allows you to create an amazing online store. 

However, if you want to use addons such as Content Restriction or Recommended Products, you will need the Extended tier or higher. If you need Recurring Payments for subscription-based spreadsheets, the Personal tier ($79.60/year) includes that feature.

For this tutorial, we will use the free plan.

To begin, you just need to install and activate the EDD plugin. If you need any help, you can check out our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, head over to Downloads » Settings from your WordPress admin sidebar.

From here, you must set your store’s location so the plugin can calculate sales tax and auto-fill some fields.

To do this, scroll down to the ‘Store Location’ section. Next, choose the location where your business is based from the ‘Business Country’ dropdown menu.

After that, you need to fill in the ‘Business Region’ field.

Here, you can open the dropdown and choose the state or region your store operates from.

Once you’ve entered the information, click on the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your settings.

Step 3: Setting Up Your Payment Gateway

When selling Excel or Google spreadsheets online, you’ll need a way to accept credit payments from your customers.

Easy Digital Downloads supports popular payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, and Amazon Payments. You can add even more payment gateways by browsing the official Easy Digital Downloads extensions library.

To choose your payment gateway, switch to the ‘Payments’ tab from the top. Once you’re there, make sure that the ‘General’ tab is selected.

Next, check the box for all the payment gateways that you want to add to your online store.

If you select multiple payment methods, you must also choose a default gateway.

You can choose any one you want, but we recommend selecting Stripe because it accepts credit cards as well as Google Pay and Apple Pay.

After that, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Once the page reloads, you will now see some new tabs where you can configure each of your separate payment gateways.

Configuring each gateway will be slightly different depending on which one you use. We will be using Stripe as an example.

To get started, switch to the ‘Stripe’ tab and click the ‘Connect With Stripe’ button.

This will launch a setup wizard that walks you through connecting your Stripe account step by step.

If you use multiple gateways, you’ll need to configure each one separately. Each gateway (PayPal, Amazon Payments, etc.) has its own configuration tab and setup process under Downloads » Settings » Payments.

Also, by default, Easy Digital Downloads shows all your prices in U.S. dollars.

However, if you want to show your prices in any other currency, simply click on the ‘Currency’ tab and choose the one you want to use from the dropdown.

Be aware that some payment gateways may not accept every currency. If you are unsure, then check the website of your chosen payment gateway.

Once you’re done with the currency settings, click on the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your settings.

Step 4: Turn Your Spreadsheets Into a Downloadable Product

Now that your WordPress site is set up with Easy Digital Downloads, you are ready to start selling spreadsheets online.

How to Sell a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

To upload your first Excel spreadsheet for sale, simply go to the Downloads » Add Download page from your WordPress admin sidebar.

Once you’re in the content editor, add a name for your Excel spreadsheet in the ‘Enter Download Name Here’ field.

This name will be shown on the product’s page, so be sure to use one that describes exactly what your spreadsheet does.

Next, type in the description that will appear on the product’s page.

Many online stores use product categories and tags, too. These can help shoppers find the products they’re looking for.

You can create tags and categories for your spreadsheets using the ‘Add New Download Tag’ and ‘Add New Download Category’ options.

After that, scroll to the ‘Download Prices’ section.

From here, enter the price customers will have to pay to download the spreadsheet. Most spreadsheet templates sell for $5-$50 depending on complexity.

Simple budget trackers typically sell for $5-$15, while advanced business dashboards with formulas and automation can command $30-$50 or more.

Next, you have to attach a ‘Download Image’ to the spreadsheet. This will appear as a featured image on the product page. You can easily create a product image using free design tools such as Canva.

Once you’ve done that, scroll down to the ‘Download Image’ section in the sidebar and just click on ‘Download Image.’ Then, simply upload any image you want.

After that, it’s time for you to upload your spreadsheet.

To do this, scroll down to the ‘Download files’ section and add a suitable name in the ‘File Name’ field.

Then click on the link button in the ‘File URL’ field.

This will launch the WordPress media library.

From here, you can easily upload the Excel file from the computer.

Once you’ve uploaded the Excel spreadsheet, click on the ‘Publish’ button. Now, your product is on sale on your site.

Selling Google Sheets with a Direct Link

Selling Google Sheets on WordPress is a slightly different process. Since Google Sheets only runs in a web browser, you cannot sell a downloadable Google Sheets file. All you get is a link.

To sell Google Sheets, you need to create a ‘copy link’ for the spreadsheet that you plan on selling. This copy link allows you to share a copy of your spreadsheet with the customers upon purchase.

To create this link, visit the Google spreadsheet that you plan on selling from your Google account and click the ‘Share’ button.

Once you’ve done that, a popup will appear on your screen.

From here, select the ‘Anyone with the link’ option from the ‘General Access’ dropdown menu.

Next, click the dropdown menu on the right and select ‘Viewer.’ This is the most important step — it ensures customers can only view your original spreadsheet to make a copy, but cannot edit or change your master file. 

Warning: If you accidentally select ‘Editor,’ customers will be able to directly edit your master spreadsheet, which could corrupt or delete your original file.

After that, simply click on the ‘Copy Link’ button.

Once you’ve copied the link, go to the ‘Download Files’ section in Easy Digital Downloads.

Next, paste the Google Sheets link in the ‘File URL’ field.

Once you’ve done that, remove the edit?usp=sharing section from your link and replace it with /copy. 

Before publishing, test the final link in a private browser window to confirm it immediately prompts ‘Make a copy’ 

If the link doesn’t work, double-check your sharing permissions are set to ‘Anyone with the link’ and ‘Viewer.’

Now that you’ve added your Google Sheet’s copy URL, click on the ‘Publish’ button at the top of the page.

That’s it! Your spreadsheet will immediately go for sale to customers.

Selling Google Sheets with a PDF Certificate

Another easy way to sell Google Sheets is by creating a certificate of download. It is a good alternative, but keep in mind it adds an extra step for your customer (downloading a PDF to find the link).

For the smoothest customer experience, we recommend the direct link method (described above) whenever possible.

All you have to do is create a Word document and paste the Google Sheet ‘copy link’ into the document.

After pasting the link, remove the edit?usp=sharing section from your link and simply add copy it in its place. Be sure to enable the URL as a hyperlink so that it is clickable.

Now, as you can see in the image above, the copy link looks a bit ugly. To make your certificate of download look more professional, you can use a link cloaker like Pretty Links.

With this plugin, you can make your links look professional and can also track the number of clicks the links in your certificates get.

For detailed instructions, you may want to see our tutorial on how to cloak affiliate links in WordPress.

Next, save the document you created on your computer. We recommend saving it as a PDF.

After that, head back to the ‘Download Files’ section in EDD and upload the certificate file. Then, click on the ‘Publish’ button.

With this method, customers will download the certificate after the purchase. They can then click the link provided in the purchase certificate to access the Google spreadsheet they just bought.

Step 5: Customizing Your Digital Download Emails

Every time someone buys a spreadsheet from your website, Easy Digital Downloads automatically sends them a purchase receipt email.

This email will have a link that the customer can use to download the Excel or Google spreadsheet they just purchased.

You may want to customize this email by adding your text and branding.

To do this, go to the Downloads » Settings page from the WordPress dashboard and switch to the ‘Email’ tab.

From here, make sure that the ‘General’ tab is selected.

Here, you may want to start by adding a logo to your purchase receipt emails.

This logo will appear right at the top of the email and will help customers identify who the email is from.

To do this, click on the ‘Attach File’ button next to the ‘Logo’ option and upload an image from the computer or your WordPress media library.

Additionally, to create more personalized emails, you can use dynamic text in your emails.

You can find the list of these variables at the bottom of the tab, and paste them into your emails to customize them to your customers.

When you’re happy with your purchase email receipts, simply scroll down and click on the ‘Save Changes’ button.

How to Market Your Spreadsheet Templates

Creating a great spreadsheet template is only the first step. To generate consistent sales, you’ll also need a strategy for getting your templates in front of potential customers.

Here are some proven ways to promote your spreadsheet templates:

• Offer a free template: Create a simple spreadsheet and give it away in exchange for an email address. You can then promote your premium templates to subscribers through email marketing.
• Use Pinterest: Many people search Pinterest for budgeting tools, planners, trackers, and other productivity resources. This makes it a great platform for promoting spreadsheet templates.
• Create tutorial videos: Show people how to use your templates with step-by-step videos on YouTube or social media. This helps build trust and can drive long-term traffic to your website.
• Partner with niche websites: Reach out to bloggers, creators, and influencers in your niche who may be interested in sharing your templates with their audience.
• Invest in SEO: Create content around specific problems your templates solve. For example, you might target keywords like “monthly budget template for couples” or “inventory tracker for Etsy sellers” to attract highly targeted buyers.

Over time, these marketing strategies can help you build an audience, grow your email list, and increase sales of your spreadsheet templates.

How to Protect Your Spreadsheet Templates from Unauthorized Sharing

No digital product is completely immune to sharing, but you can take steps to make your spreadsheet templates more secure.

• Use copy-only Google Sheets links: If you’re selling Google Sheets templates, then sharing a copy link instead of the original file ensures customers create their own version rather than accessing your master spreadsheet.
• Protect your downloads: Easy Digital Downloads can generate secure download links and restrict access to paying customers.
• Add branding to your templates: Including your logo, website URL, or copyright information can discourage unauthorized distribution.
• Use license management tools: If you’re selling premium templates, then you can use Easy Digital Downloads extensions to manage licenses and customer access.
• Provide ongoing updates: Customers are more likely to purchase directly from you when they know they’ll receive future improvements and support.

While these measures won’t completely prevent file sharing, they can help protect your work and encourage customers to purchase legitimate copies.

Bonus Tools to Sell More Excel and Google Spreadsheets

Now that you’ve successfully added Google Sheets and Excel spreadsheets to your website, your next step is to convince visitors to buy your downloads.

Here are some of our top picks for plugins that can help you sell more spreadsheets.

• All in One SEO is the best SEO plugin for WordPress. It helps you optimize your product pages so people searching for specific terms like “monthly budget template” or “inventory tracker” can find your site.
• MonsterInsights is the best analytics solution for WordPress. It lets you see exactly which spreadsheet templates are getting the most views and downloads so you can create a more solid conversion strategy for your store.
• OptinMonster is the best conversion optimization software. You can use it to create floating bars or popups to offer a discount on a spreadsheet bundle, helping you turn visitors into paying customers.
• PushEngage is the best push notification software for WordPress. It allows you to alert customers instantly when you release a new version of a spreadsheet or launch a new template category.

Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Spreadsheets

Here are some questions that our readers have frequently asked about selling Google and Excel spreadsheets in WordPress:

Is it legal to sell Excel spreadsheets?

Yes, it is legal to sell Excel spreadsheets as long as you created the content yourself. While you cannot resell the Microsoft Excel software, the unique templates, formulas, and layouts you design are your own intellectual property.

Can I earn money from Google Sheets?

Yes, you can earn money by selling Google Sheets templates. There is a high demand for pre-made trackers, budgets, and dashboards because many users prefer buying a ready-made solution rather than building complex sheets from scratch.

Can you embed Google Sheets in WordPress?

Yes, you can easily embed Google Sheets in WordPress. You can use the “File » Share » Publish to web” feature in Google Sheets to generate an embed code, or use a plugin like WPCode to display your data cleanly on your site.

Can you sell access to a Google Sheet?

Yes, selling access is the standard method for monetizing Google Sheets. Instead of a file download, you provide a “Make a Copy” link. This allows the customer to save a private version of the spreadsheet to their own Google Drive without altering your original master file.

Can I earn money making spreadsheets?

Yes, making spreadsheets is a profitable business model. You can monetize this skill by selling digital templates, offering freelance spreadsheet consulting, or building custom data solutions for small businesses.

We hope this article helped you learn how to sell Excel and Google spreadsheets online. You may also want to check out our ultimate guide on whether WordPress is good for eCommerce and our expert picks for homemade things to make and sell online.

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