The $115K/Month Google Sheets Reality Check That Changed Everything
Let's be honest—when you hear about someone making serious money with digital products, you probably picture some revolutionary SaaS tool, a complex app, or at least something that looks like it required a team of developers. Right?
But here's what actually stopped me in my tracks recently: Smart Women Society. They sell budgeting templates. Google Sheets and Notion stuff. The exact same category that like 10,000 other sellers are in. And they're pulling in $115,000 every single month.
When I first saw that breakdown, my immediate reaction was disbelief. Then frustration. Then curiosity. If their product "isn't special at all" (as the original discussion put it), what exactly are they doing that everyone else isn't?
I've spent weeks analyzing this case, testing similar approaches, and talking to people in the template space. What I found wasn't some secret tech hack or under-the-radar platform. It was something much more fundamental—and honestly, more accessible to anyone willing to shift their thinking.
This article isn't just another case study. It's a blueprint for how ordinary digital products can generate extraordinary income when you understand what actually matters to customers. And yes, we're going to get into the nitty-gritty details that most people gloss over.
Why "Not Special" Might Be Your Biggest Advantage
Here's the counterintuitive truth that most digital product creators miss: Being "not special" can actually work in your favor. Seriously.
Think about it from a customer's perspective. When someone searches for "budgeting template Google Sheets," they're not looking for revolutionary. They're looking for familiar. They want something that solves a specific, immediate problem without requiring them to learn new software or change their entire workflow.
Smart Women Society's templates work because they fit seamlessly into existing behaviors. People already use Google Sheets for budgeting. They already understand how spreadsheets work. The template just makes that existing process better—faster, prettier, more organized.
I've tested dozens of template products over the years, and the ones that require the least behavioral change consistently outperform the "innovative" ones. Customers don't want to think. They want to click, download, and immediately see improvement.
This explains why the most crowded markets—budgeting, meal planning, habit tracking—often have the highest earners. The demand is already proven. The customer education is already done. Your job isn't to invent something new; it's to execute better within an existing framework.
The Real Difference: It's Not About the Template
Okay, so if the template itself isn't revolutionary, what exactly is driving those sales? After digging through customer reviews, social media mentions, and the actual product experience, I found three things that separate the $115K/month template from the $15 ones.
First, presentation matters way more than most creators realize. We're not talking about just making it "pretty." We're talking about creating an experience that feels premium from the moment someone lands on the sales page. The screenshots are crystal clear. The copy speaks directly to emotional pain points. The branding feels cohesive and trustworthy.
Second—and this is huge—they've mastered the art of perceived completeness. When you buy their template, you don't just get a spreadsheet. You get tutorials. You get community access. You get updates. You get the feeling that you're buying into a system, not just downloading a file. That perception of ongoing value justifies a much higher price point.
Third, they understand their customer's actual workflow. Most template creators build what they think people should want. Smart Women Society built what people actually use. Their templates have just enough customization to feel personal, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming. That balance is everything.
The Marketing Engine Behind the Scenes
Now let's talk about the part everyone actually cares about: how they get customers. Because let's be real—you could have the best template in the world, but without visibility, you're making exactly $0.
What's fascinating about this case is that they're not relying on some secret traffic source. They're just executing basic marketing principles with remarkable consistency. Their primary channel appears to be Pinterest, which makes perfect sense when you think about it. People actively search Pinterest for organization ideas, budgeting tips, and life planning—exactly their target customer.
But here's what they're doing differently: They're not just pinning their product. They're creating genuine value first. Free mini-templates. Budgeting tips. Financial literacy content. Then, when someone's already engaged and trusting, the paid template becomes a natural next step.
I've seen so many template creators make the mistake of going straight for the sale. It doesn't work. The market is too crowded. You need to build authority first, and that means giving away real value before you ask for money.
Their email list strategy is equally smart. They're not just collecting emails for a generic newsletter. They're creating specific sequences for different pain points. Someone who downloads a free debt tracker gets different follow-up content than someone who downloads a savings challenge. That segmentation allows for much more targeted (and effective) sales messaging.
Pricing Psychology: Why $47 Beats $7 Every Time
Let's talk numbers for a minute. Most template sellers price their products between $7 and $15. They think they're being competitive. What they're actually doing is signaling low value.
Smart Women Society's main template sells for $47. Sometimes $67 with bonuses. That price point does something psychologically important: It tells customers this isn't just another throwaway template. This is a serious tool that will deliver serious results.
I know what you're thinking—"But won't fewer people buy at that price?" Here's what I've found testing different price points: Yes, you'll get fewer buyers. But you'll make more money overall, and you'll attract better customers. The people paying $47 are invested. They're more likely to actually use the product. They're more likely to leave positive reviews. They're less likely to demand refunds over minor issues.
Plus—and this is critical—higher prices allow for better marketing. When your product costs $47 instead of $7, you can afford to spend more acquiring each customer. You can run Pinterest ads. You can collaborate with bigger creators. You can invest in professional design.
The template space is filled with people racing to the bottom on price. Don't join that race. Build something worth paying for, then charge accordingly.
How to Actually Start (Without Overcomplicating It)
If you're reading this thinking "Okay, but where do I begin?"—let's get practical. I've helped several people launch template businesses, and the biggest mistake I see is overcomplicating the starting point.
First, pick one problem. Just one. Don't create "The Ultimate Life Planning Suite." Create "The Simple Debt Payoff Tracker for Google Sheets." Specificity sells. It's easier to market. It's easier to create. And it's easier for customers to understand.
Build your template in the tool you actually use. If you live in Google Sheets, start there. If you're a Notion power user, start there. Your familiarity will show in the product quality. Don't try to learn a new platform just because it's trending.
Now, here's a pro tip most people miss: Before you write a single line of sales copy, find 3-5 people who have the problem you're solving. Show them your template. Watch them use it. Take notes on where they get confused, what questions they ask, what features they wish it had. That feedback is worth more than any market research.
For the technical side, if you're not comfortable with the more advanced Google Sheets functions or want to analyze what competitors are doing successfully, you might consider using a tool like Apify to gather data on popular template features or pricing strategies. But honestly? Start simple. You can always add complexity later.
Common Mistakes That Keep Template Sellers Stuck
After analyzing dozens of failed and struggling template businesses, I've noticed the same patterns again and again. Avoid these, and you're already ahead of 90% of the competition.
Mistake #1: Building in isolation. Creating a template based on what you think is cool, rather than what customers actually need. Solution: Talk to potential buyers before you build anything. Join Facebook groups where your target audience hangs out. Read Amazon reviews of similar physical planners. Understand the language they use to describe their problems.
Mistake #2: Underestimating the importance of design. I'm not saying you need to be a professional designer. But you do need to understand basic principles of readability, hierarchy, and user experience. If your template looks confusing or amateurish, people won't trust it—no matter how functional it is.
If design really isn't your strength, consider hiring someone on Fiverr to clean up your templates. A small investment here can dramatically increase perceived value.
Mistake #3: Treating it as truly passive income from day one. Look, the dream of "create once, sell forever" is real—but only after you've done the active work of marketing, collecting testimonials, and refining your product. Expect to put in consistent effort for at least 3-6 months before you see real momentum.
Mistake #4: Ignoring the post-purchase experience. How someone feels after buying is just as important as how they feel before buying. Clear instructions, responsive support, occasional updates—these turn one-time buyers into repeat customers and evangelists.
The Tools That Actually Matter (And What to Skip)
Let's get practical about the tech stack. Because when you're starting out, every dollar and every hour counts.
For creating templates: Google Sheets is free and familiar to most people. Notion has a steeper learning curve but allows for more interconnected templates. Excel... well, I'd avoid it unless you're specifically targeting corporate users. My personal preference? Start with Google Sheets. The barrier to entry for customers is basically zero.
For selling: Gumroad is fantastic for beginners. Simple fee structure, handles digital delivery automatically, built-in email collection. As you grow, you might move to something like Podia or Kajabi for more advanced features, but don't overcomplicate this at the beginning.
For learning: Honestly, skip most of the "template business" courses. The principles are simple. Instead, invest in understanding basic copywriting and consumer psychology. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion is more valuable than any template-specific training. So is Building a StoryBrand for clarifying your messaging.
For tracking your own business: Create a simple spreadsheet (ironic, I know) to track your metrics. Cost per customer, conversion rates, refund rates, customer lifetime value. Most template sellers fly blind. Don't be one of them.
Beyond the First Template: Building a Real Business
Here's where most template creators plateau. They create one successful template, then... nothing. They don't realize that the first template is just the beginning.
Smart Women Society didn't stop at budgeting templates. They expanded into meal planning, goal setting, business planning—all for the same target audience. That's smart. Their customers already trust them. They already have payment information on file. The second sale is infinitely easier than the first.
But expansion needs to be strategic. Don't jump into completely unrelated niches. Build around your core customer's identity. If they're someone who wants to organize their finances, what other areas of their life feel disorganized? Home management? Time management? Content planning?
Another avenue: Create tiered offerings. A basic template for $27. A premium version with video tutorials for $67. A bundle with multiple templates for $97. This allows customers to self-select into the price point that works for them, and it dramatically increases your average order value.
Finally, consider building a community. A Facebook group for template users. A monthly Q&A call. This creates stickiness that goes far beyond the initial purchase. When customers feel like they're part of something, they're much more likely to stick around—and bring their friends.
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
If I could leave you with one takeaway from this deep dive, it's this: Stop trying to be special. Start trying to be useful.
The digital product space is filled with people chasing novelty. They're looking for the next big thing, the untapped niche, the revolutionary approach. Meanwhile, the real money is being made by people who take ordinary problems and solve them exceptionally well for a specific audience.
Smart Women Society isn't selling spreadsheet cells. They're selling confidence. They're selling control. They're selling the feeling of having your life together. That emotional transformation is worth $47. It's worth $115,000 a month.
Your template doesn't need to do everything. It needs to do one thing perfectly for one specific person. Find that person. Understand their fears, their aspirations, their daily frustrations. Build something that makes their life noticeably better. Then tell them about it in language that resonates.
That's it. That's the secret. No magic platforms. No complex tech stacks. Just identifying a real human need and filling it with care and consistency.
The market for "not special" products is enormous. Because most people don't need special. They need reliable. They need understandable. They need something that works today without a learning curve. If you can provide that—and communicate it clearly—you're not just selling templates. You're building a real business.
Now, what's the one problem you understand deeply enough to build a simple solution for? Start there.
