Building a client website on wordpress.com

  • Unknown's avatar
    oldsites · Member ·

    Hi,

    Does anyone know the best way to develop a website for a client on wordpress.com? I would usually build them on wordpress.org, but in this case the client has a wordpress.com account already and wants to use that. Obviously I could build it using their login, but this seems unprofessional – I’d prefer to build it using a developer account and then transfer it to the client when it’s completed. And of course I’d like to do this without paying to sign up for a year.

    This option does seem to exist on Shopify but I can’t find any mention of it here – does anyone know the best way to approach this?

    Thanks

    Tom

  • Unknown's avatar
    torres126 · Member ·

    Hi there, there are two main options which I would recommend:

    1. Ask your client to create the basics of the website (actually selecting a name, website address etc.) and then asking them to add you as an administrator. This would give you the rights to do just about anything, with some exceptions, such as deleting the website. This would be particularly useful if your client wishes to pay for a Paid Plan. https://en.support.wordpress.com/adding-users/

    2. Create the website all on your own account, and when you’re done, transfer it to your client’s account. https://en.support.wordpress.com/transferring-a-site-to-another-wordpress-com-account/

    Let us know if you have any further questions. :)

  • Unknown's avatar
    oldsites · Member ·

    Thanks for the response – and yes I do have a couple of further questions…

    option 1: My client does already have a premium wordpress.com account, so I think this may make most sense. However, is there any real difference between being added as an administrator than just using the client’s login? The reason I ask is because ideally I wouldn’t like the client to have full control of the site until it’s built and paid for, and as far as I can make out the client would have full access under their account all along?

    option 2: Would I need to pay for a premium account / buy the theme in question on my account? If so this doesn’t really make good sense as the client has already paid for a premium account.

    Thanks again…

    Tom

  • Unknown's avatar
    torres126 · Member ·

    Hi there,

    My client does already have a premium wordpress.com account

    Bare in mind that paid plans apply to websites, not accounts. For example, if you’d like to use a paid plan on different sites, you’d need to pay for it twice. The same goes with themes, although the Premium Plan unlocks all themes on the WordPress.com theme directory.

    However, is there any real difference between being added as an administrator than just using the client’s login?

    No, there isn’t any significant difference, and I understand based of your explanation why that can be frustrating. Perhaps the second option would be better suited for you then.

    option 2: Would I need to pay for a premium account / buy the theme in question on my account?

    Please refer to my previous message on how themes/plans are per website, not account. However, do you intend to have to have a plan before transferring your website?

    I’m going to tag WordPress.com staff to confirm if only the site owner can buy a plan, and when a site is transferred, if the new site owner continues paying for a plan.

    They’ll likely respond in a few hours, so let us know if you have any further questions. :)

  • Unknown's avatar
    brookedot · Member ·

    Thanks, @Torres126!

    Tom, the information that Torres126 provided is correct with the options provided.

    I’m going to tag WordPress.com staff to confirm if only the site owner can buy a plan, and when a site is transferred, if the new site owner continues paying for a plan.

    Any Administrator on the site may purchase upgrades, and be responsible for the plan’s renewal. However, the original purchaser will be able to transfer the upgrade to another user on the site.

    Or to put it another way, the upgrade owner and site-owner can be different but in most cases, they are the same.

    One thing that is possible is that you create the site for your client, then add them as an Administrator and have them purchase the upgrade.

    However, as you mentioned they have already bought a plan, having yourself added to their site seems like the most logical option here.

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