How I Built a $5K Month Google Sheets Templates Business

Hi, I'm Andrew Kamphey, the Google Sheets wizard behind Better Sheets—a platform full of tools, templates, and tutorials for Google Sheets enthusiasts.

Better Sheets has generated over $200,000 in revenue in its first three years. Revenue fluctuates month to month, but it averages around $5,000 and can reach as high as $10,000 during peak periods like Black Friday.

Recently, I introduced a $9 monthly membership to make my resources more accessible. I wanted an affordable entry point beyond the free content I already offer on YouTube, TikTok, and my paid courses on Udemy. The journey has been full of pivots and lessons learned, and I'm excited to share how this all began.

The Backstory: From Startup to Google Sheets Expert

After five years of managing Google Sheets for a startup—turning it into a powerful internal toolkit—I decided to set out on my own.

Initially, I launched a newsletter about the influencer marketing industry and later sold it. Then I tried building a SaaS with a technical cofounder, but we couldn't quite make it sustainable.

At that point, I had no idea I’d become a Google Sheets guru. But during those years, people kept telling me my Google Sheets were truly unique.

I could build functionalities in Sheets that most people thought were impossible. I didn't know it then, but there was a market for those skills.

From Challenge to Launch: How I Created Better Sheets in 24 Hours During COVID Lockdown

In April 2020, amidst the height of COVID lockdowns, I set myself a challenge: launch something, anything, in just 24 hours. My initial idea was to create a curated collection of amazing Google Sheets—sort of a Dribbble but for spreadsheets.

I quickly realized that there weren't enough noteworthy Sheets out there, so I shifted gears. Why not teach people how to make them instead?

I made eight tutorial videos in one day, put four up for free, and put the other four behind a paywall. That was the first version of Better Sheets.

I launched it on a Saturday, got my first sale on Monday, and made the second sale two weeks later. It started as a side project, with a one-time payment option, and the rest is history.

The Launch Process: Keep It Simple

The first 24 hours were pretty uneventful. I made the videos, put up a simple Gumroad sales page, and created a Carrd website. That's it. It’s funny to think about how long that took me back then. Now, I can put up a Carrd site in under 10 minutes.

The difference? Experience and the confidence to just start without overthinking.

Within the past year, I made a major pivot. I shifted from simply creating Google Sheets tutorials to building tools that extend the capabilities of Sheets.

Originally, Better Sheets was a structured library of tutorials, but I wanted to offer more—so I started developing Google Sheets Add-ons and web-based tools.

Today, I’ve published six Google Sheets Add-ons to the Google Workspace Marketplace, including popular tools like Sheet Styles and Tiny Sheets.

Growing the Business: Leveraging Marketplaces

One of the biggest growth drivers for Better Sheets has been listing on AppSumo Marketplace. Around 80% of my customers come from there, and it generates about 85% of my revenue.

I offered a package of 19 Google Sheets templates on AppSumo, which has been downloaded over 40,000 times. Though AppSumo takes a 30% cut, the sheer volume of customers they bring in has been well worth it.

If you're interested in getting started with digital products, check out my guide on how to start digital products for tips and insights.

Listing on platforms like Udemy has also proven to be a great way to attract users who want to improve their skills. Instead of spending money on PPC ads or influencer campaigns, I get essentially free traffic from these platforms—and even earn revenue while doing so.

Another important piece of my growth was joining the affiliate marketing space. If you're curious about affiliate marketing, this guide for beginners could be a helpful starting point.

What’s Next for Better Sheets?

Right now, I’m working on a new course called Selling Spreadsheets. I want to distill everything I’ve learned from selling spreadsheets over the past three years, while also incorporating insights from other sellers.

My aim is to help people whether they’re just starting out or looking to scale their spreadsheet-selling business. There’s so much untapped potential—everyone should be selling spreadsheets!

If you are interested in other ways to make money while working remotely, consider checking out how to start freelancing with no experience. There’s a lot of overlap between building a freelance career and starting a business like mine. Both require resilience, creativity, and a strong commitment to learning.

Turning Advice into Action: Building Time-Saving Tools for Creators

I’m also focused on building more tools around the advice I give. If I find myself giving a piece of advice frequently, I think, “How can I make this outcome possible with just one click?”

This led me to create add-ons like Button Styles for making button-like cells, and a Coupon Code Maker that generates 1,000 Gumroad coupons with a single click. The goal is to save time and make the whole process easier for creators.

Building a Community of Google Sheets Enthusiasts

A significant aspect of Better Sheets' success has been the community of Google Sheets enthusiasts that has formed around it.

From YouTube comments to Udemy discussions, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful a sense of community can be. People share their ideas, their challenges, and their own creations, and that exchange helps everyone grow.

To foster more of this community spirit, I’m working on launching a private community space where members can interact directly, ask questions, and get support not only from me but also from each other.

The goal is to create an environment where beginners and experts alike can collaborate and push the boundaries of what's possible with Google Sheets.

Level Up with Better Sheets: Live Webinars & Q&As to Master Automation, Formulas, and Monetization

I also plan to host live webinars and Q&A sessions regularly, allowing members to dive deep into topics like automation, advanced formulas, and even the business side of selling Google Sheets templates.

By engaging more directly, I hope to make Better Sheets an even more valuable resource for anyone looking to upskill and monetize their Google Sheets expertise.

Lessons Learned: Consistency and Customer Focus

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout this journey is the power of consistency.

Whether it’s creating new content, responding to customer inquiries, or improving my existing products, maintaining a consistent effort has made all the difference.

It’s easy to get distracted by shiny new opportunities, but I’ve found that the best results come from staying focused and delivering value consistently.

Listening to customer feedback has also been a game-changer. Early on, I relied heavily on customer input to determine what tutorials or templates to create next.

This customer-centric approach helped me build products that truly met the needs of my audience, which, in turn, led to higher engagement and satisfaction.

If you're interested in learning more about customer focus, you can read about how to master customer relations in freelancing. This can be an incredibly important part of any business.

My Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

If I could offer one piece of advice, it’s this: find an accountability group. It doesn’t have to be formal—it could be just you and one other person.

The key is to meet consistently, share what you’re working on, and then show your progress.

I’m part of a group called Hackagu, where we meet weekly to share and get feedback. This format has been instrumental for me, whether I’m launching something new, building features, or tackling marketing.

The Power of Accountability: Building Confidence and Productivity through Sharing and Collaboration

Being accountable to someone else not only makes you more likely to follow through, but it also gets you used to receiving public critique.

This is crucial when you’re starting out. It helps you understand what you can achieve in a given timeframe and builds your confidence to share your work with the world.

If you’re feeling isolated, create this accountability habit with yourself.

Set aside a day each week, work on something, and then share it—even if it’s just emailing me what you made. Collaboration makes a big difference, and being in a room with like-minded individuals can create magic.

If you're interested in personal growth, consider reading morning habits of successful people. Creating routines that set you up for productivity can transform your day and your business.

The Tools I Use

• Google Sheets: The backbone of everything I do.

• Google Workspace: For internal organization.

• Gmail: To communicate.

• Loom: To record tutorials.

• Gumroad: For selling tools.

• AppSumo Marketplace: To reach new customers.

• Descript: To edit video content.

If you want to explore how to make money online using different platforms, check out make money online from home for more ideas on diversifying your revenue streams.

Better Sheets started with a simple goal—make Google Sheets awesome, not boring. Today, it's a thriving business that continues to evolve.

And if there's one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the world needs more Google Sheets creators. Let’s keep sharing, learning, and growing together.

Final Thoughts

Better Sheets is still evolving, and I have no intention of slowing down.

The potential for Google Sheets is limitless, and as long as people continue to work with spreadsheets, there will be a need for tools, templates, and guidance. My mission is to keep making Google Sheets accessible, powerful, and, most importantly, fun for everyone.

If you're thinking about creating your own business, I encourage you to start now. Take the first step, no matter how small, and commit to making progress each day.