To hand off a client website on Wix Studio, invite the client with the right role or transfer ownership of the site, move billing to the client and give them a client kit so they can run the site with confidence. Done well, a handoff turns a one-off build into a long-term client relationship.
This guide walks through each step, from choosing between a collaborator invite and a full transfer to fixing a transfer that won't go through.
TL;DR: client website handoff on Wix Studio
A clean handoff answers three questions for your client. Who owns the site, who pays for it and how do they make changes without breaking anything? Wix Studio gives you tools for each one, so you can keep the level of access that fits your service agreement.
You'll learn:
When to transfer a site and when to invite the client as a collaborator
How to set client roles and permissions
How to move billing to the client with payment requests
How to build a client kit for training and support
How to transfer a Wix site to a client step by step
Transfer ownership or invite the client as a collaborator?
Before launch, decide how much control the client should have and how much you want to keep. That choice shapes everything else in the handoff.
When to keep ownership
Keeping the site in your workspace makes sense when you're on a retainer, manage updates for the client or want to keep the site under your agency's processes. You invite the client as a collaborator with a role that lets them edit content or manage their business, while you stay responsible for the build.
When to transfer the site
Transferring the site makes sense when the client wants full ownership, has their own team or the project has a clear end date. The site moves to the client's Wix account, and you can choose to stay on with a co-owner role to keep supporting them.
Worth knowing: the decision is easier when it's written into your proposal. Agree on ownership, billing and post-launch support before the build starts, so the handoff confirms what everyone already expects.
Set client roles and permissions
Roles decide what your client can see and change. Getting them right protects the design you built while still giving the client real control over their business.
01. Predefined vs custom roles
Wix Studio includes predefined roles for common jobs, and you can create custom roles when a client needs a specific mix of access. A store manager might handle orders and products, while a marketing lead only needs the blog and email campaigns.
02. Page editing permissions
You can choose which pages each person can edit. This is useful when a client should update their blog or team page but not the home page layout.
03. Collaborator seats on Studio sites
Sites linked to a Wix Studio account get five free collaborator seats, even on free plans. If the site moves to a non-Studio account and isn't upgraded, that drops to one.
04. Teammates vs external collaborators
Teammates in your workspace can access the workspace itself, while external collaborators such as clients and freelancers only get access to the specific site they're invited to. When you invite a client from Sites, then Collaborators, choose a role and select Client so they get an invite email and landing page made for clients. Invites stay valid for 30 days.
Worth knowing: give clients the smallest role that lets them do their job, then add access as they grow into the site. It's far easier to expand permissions than to fix a layout someone changed by accident.
Hand over billing with payment requests
Clients usually prefer to pay for their own site plan, and you usually prefer not to front it. Wix Partners can send a payment request so the client pays Wix directly for the plan.
Once the client accepts, they become the site's Billing Manager and Wix bills them for renewals. Clients typically have 30 days to accept a payment request, and only the site owner or people with billing permissions can create one. Learn more about joining the Wix Studio Partner Program if you aren't a partner yet.
Worth knowing: payment requests separate billing from ownership. A client can pay for the plan while you keep the site in your workspace, which suits agencies that manage sites on a retainer.
Build a client kit for training and support
A client kit bundles the resources a client needs after launch, such as tutorial videos, helpful files and your agency's contact details. Client kits are available for Studio sites and are sent through a collaborator invite or an ownership transfer, and clients see the kit in their site dashboard.
Use the kit to answer the questions you'd otherwise get by email. Include a short video on editing content, a guide to their business tools and a clear note on what's covered by your support agreement. It also helps to show clients how to manage orders, bookings and messages on the go with the Wix app. If the site runs on the Wix Studio CMS, show the client how to update collections without touching the design. Our guide on building content-driven websites with Wix Studio CMS explains how that setup works.
Add custom branding to client touchpoints
Custom branding puts your agency's logo on client invite emails, client site dashboards and free-site banners. Only workspace owners and co-owners can set it up, and it's a simple way to keep your brand in front of the client long after launch. It's one of several Wix Studio management tools built for agencies.
"I think it's important to check your website after you finish editing it. Publish it and check how it looks in the browser. Scroll through the site, check it on mobile devices and test it on different screen resolutions to ensure everything looks good and works properly." Dafna Rabin, Wix Templates Design Team Lead
How to transfer a Wix site to a client on Wix Studio
When you're ready to hand over ownership, the transfer takes a few minutes.
01. Open the site in your workspace
Go to Sites in your Wix Studio workspace and find the client's site.
02. Start the transfer
Open the site's actions menu and select Transfer Site.
03. Enter the client's email
Use the email address linked to the client's Wix account.
04. Choose what moves with the site
Select what transfers along with the site, such as the site plan, the connected domain and business email and any premium apps.
05. Decide on your role
Choose to keep a co-owner role so you can keep supporting the site after the transfer.
06. Keep a copy if you need one
You can keep a copy of the site in your own account, which is useful for reusing a layout on future projects.
07. Confirm and track the transfer
Confirm the transfer, then track it in Roles & Permissions, where it shows as pending until the client accepts. The client has three days to accept, and you can resend or cancel the transfer before then.
Your payment details don't move with the site, so the new owner manages future payments. Before you start, check that the client's account and billing details are ready.
Troubleshoot a failed site transfer
Most transfer problems come from timing or billing settings. Here are the usual causes.
Expired invites
The client has three days to accept a transfer. If they miss the window, resend the transfer from Roles & Permissions.
Plan and domain locks
Once a transfer starts, you can't cancel the plan, disconnect the domain or change the primary domain. Make any of those changes before you start the transfer.
Recurring invoices
Sites paid through a recurring invoice can't be transferred until that invoice is canceled. Sort out billing first, then start the transfer.
Worth knowing: handoffs go smoothest when they're part of a repeatable process. Our post on 10 best practices for a smooth website handover shares how top agencies run the people side of launch, and our guide on how to manage multiple clients covers keeping every client relationship on track.
For the full build process that comes before handoff, read our guide to building a full-stack client website with Wix Studio.
Client website handoff FAQ
Can I transfer a Wix site to someone else?
Yes. You can transfer a site to another Wix account from your workspace by entering the recipient's email. The recipient has three days to accept, and you can choose to move the plan, domain and premium apps with the site.
Does the domain transfer with the site?
You can choose to include the connected domain and business email in the transfer. If you leave them out, they stay in your account and you'll need to handle them separately.
Can I keep editing the site after I transfer it?
Yes, if you choose to keep a co-owner role during the transfer. That way the client owns the site and you can still support it.
Who pays for the site after the handoff?
After a transfer, the new owner manages future payments since your payment details don't move with the site. If you keep ownership, you can send a payment request so the client pays Wix directly for the plan.
Can I move a Wix site to another host?
A Wix site moves between Wix accounts, not to other hosting providers. If a client wants to leave, plan the move as a rebuild on the new platform.
Ready to deliver your next client handoff on Wix Studio? Start creating on Wix Studio today →
