Selling Digital Products Checklist for Developers

What this checklist is

A step-by-step checklist for developers who want to sell digital products such as code templates, starter kits, e-books, courses or plugins. It covers choosing and validating a product, writing a licence, picking a platform (Gumroad, Lemon Squeezy, Paddle or Stripe), how a merchant of record changes your tax work, pricing, delivery, refunds and support, marketing and keeping the product updated. It is practical guidance, not legal or tax advice.

It has 9 chapters and 38 checks, each with how to verify it and how much it matters. For developers selling their own digital products.

Chapter by chapter

1. Choose and validate the product (5 checks)

The best first product solves a problem you know well for people you can reach. Validate demand before you spend months building.

2. Licensing (4 checks)

Buyers of code need to know exactly what they may do with it. Write the licence before your first sale.

3. Choose a platform (6 checks)

The platform decides your fees, who handles sales tax and VAT, and whether you can get paid where you live. Compare them on their own terms.

4. Pricing (4 checks)

Price on the value to the buyer, account for fees and tax, and keep discounts honest.

5. Delivery and access (4 checks)

Buyers should get exactly what they paid for, immediately, and be able to get it again later.

6. Refunds and support (4 checks)

A clear refund policy and responsive support protect your reputation and reduce chargebacks.

7. Taxes (4 checks)

Indirect taxes such as VAT and sales tax, and your own income tax, are separate questions. Know which ones your platform handles.

8. Marketing (4 checks)

Products sell to people who already trust you. Build an audience, write a clear product page and keep claims honest.

9. Updates and long-term care (3 checks)

Developer products age as their dependencies change. Plan updates, communicate them and decide how the product will end.

How it works on Sefism

The checklist is one page: each check has a severity (must, should or nice to have) and a concrete way to verify it, and members can tick checks off as they go. The opening chapters are open to everyone. Adding it to your account uses credits, opens every chapter and keeps your progress.

Every claim is checked against the sources listed on the page (8 cited).