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Should Clients Have Full Access to Their Websites?

Thank you for taking the time to sit with us and talk about this trending topic. Before we dive in, can you share a little about who you are, what you do, and what makes you a relevant voice for this conversation?

Response 1 - A warm introduction: who you are, what you do, and why your perspective matters.

Absolutely — and thank you for having me.

I’m Joseph Haecker, a longtime Wix builder, agency-side strategist, and the Editor-in-Chief of Wix Insider Magazine. I built my first Wix website back in 2009, long before the platform became the powerhouse it is today, and I’ve spent the past 15+ years designing, launching, and scaling digital experiences for startups, creators, small businesses, and global audiences.

Beyond my own client work, I’ve launched multiple user-generated content digital magazines that collectively highlight thousands of experts, creators, and industry professionals. My entire career revolves around helping people tell their story, elevate their credibility, and strengthen their digital presence — and none of that works without a strong, well-structured, professionally handled website.

I’ve seen firsthand how much strategy, UX thinking, SEO planning, architectural decision-making, and behind-the-scenes expertise goes into a site that actually performs. And because I’ve worked with hundreds of business owners at every level of tech familiarity, I’ve also seen how quickly a great site can be unintentionally damaged by someone who doesn’t understand what they’re changing.

So when we talk about whether clients should have full access to their websites, it’s not just a theoretical debate for me — it’s something I’ve navigated for over a decade. I understand both the builder’s perspective and the client’s expectations, and I’ve seen what happens when the wrong hands have the wrong level of access.

That’s why I’m excited for this conversation. It’s not just about permissions — it’s about protecting the value of the work, the strategy behind the build, and ultimately the long-term success of the client’s business.

Okay then — let’s dive in. Why did you choose this trending topic? Why does it matter to you personally, and why should it matter to our readers?

Response 2 - Your motivation, personal relevance, and why readers should care.

Great question. I chose this topic because I’ve lived this scenario more times than I can count. I’ve had clients say, “But you built this in Wix…” as if that somehow makes the work less valuable. And honestly, the part that hits even harder is when fellow Wix builders casually say, “I could build that on a Saturday.” Or, "I need you to just set it up, and I'll make all of the changes..."

Here’s the truth...If someone could have built it, they would have built it.

My value — our value — isn’t in dragging elements onto a canvas. It’s in the years of experience, strategy, technical understanding, UX decisions, content architecture, SEO planning, and business insight that go into building something that actually works.

What bothers me is that, as a community, we’ve unintentionally devalued our own work. We say yes too easily. We downplay the expertise behind what we do. We treat Wix like “just a builder,” when in reality, we’re deploying full-scale digital products that transform businesses.

To put it in perspective...
The last development check I wrote (outside the Wix ecosystem) was in 2019 for $80,000.

Ask yourself...When was the last time you charged a client $80,000 for a Wix website? And better yet—what’s actually stopping you from doing it?

This is why the question of whether clients should have full access matters. If a client wasn’t familiar enough to build the site themselves, they’re not familiar enough to safely manage the backend without risking damage to the strategy we’ve put in place.

So no — I don’t hand over full access.
Instead, I build clients a custom dashboard with limited, safe permissions so they can update what they need without breaking the structural integrity of the site.

This topic matters because it speaks directly to our worth as builders.
If we don’t protect the value of what we create, no one else will.

Let’s unpack this a bit further. Can you share examples, personal stories, or experiences that help illustrate your point of view on this topic?

Response 3 - Encourage anecdotes, real-world examples, and lived experiences.

Absolutely — and I’ll give you a very real, very recent example.

I had a great phone call with a Wix website builder who was interested in the Wix Insider Magazine platform. He worked in a specific niche industry and loved the idea of partnering to launch a digital magazine based on my business model. I explained that launching new magazines isn’t the issue — I’ve built an entire ecosystem around this model. What I do is partner with people who want to leverage my framework while I handle the architecture, systems, and launch strategy.

So I told him plainly:
“I can build your magazine for $12,800, plus 50% of revenues. That’s the model.”

He agreed the idea was strong. He saw the potential. He understood it was a proven system.

And then later… he emailed me saying,
“I could build the magazine myself on a Saturday.”

Here’s the problem with that statement...
I’ve been developing this business model since 2021, and truthfully, I’ve been learning the principles behind it since 2012.

Could he build a website?
Sure. Anyone can drag and drop on a canvas.

But does he understand the strategy, the mechanics of user-generated content, the revenue systems, the publication architecture, the workflows, the SEO structure, the dynamic collections, the automation layers, and the magazine model deeply enough to replicate it?

I seriously doubt it.

The issue isn’t whether he “could.”
The issue is that the moment he heard the solution was built on Wix, he instantly devalued the entire model.

And that’s exactly why I don’t give clients full access to the backend of the sites I build.

My value isn’t Wix.

My value is knowing how to use a tool at an expert level — a level that took me years of research, building, testing, breaking, rebuilding, and refining.

There is zero reason for me to hand over full control and let someone unintentionally destroy the strategic integrity of a product I’ve spent years perfecting.

I’m not in the business of devaluing myself or my skill set — and neither should any Wix builder.

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Let’s challenge this a little. Can you argue both sides of this topic or help find some common ground between differing perspectives?

Response 4 - We encourage critical thinking, fairness, and balance.

This is fun, and challenging. Can I validate a reason to give a client full access? Sure — and I actually have.

Back in 2023, I had a client who refused to pay me. The project was done, the value had been delivered, and they were benefiting from my work… but the invoice sat unpaid. So I made the call: I held the website hostage under a simple, clear agreement — when the invoice is paid in full, I’ll turn over full control of the site.

They ultimately paid. And I fulfilled my side of the deal.

I handed them full ownership — full access, full permissions, full control.

And then I watched them destroy the site.

Not intentionally, but through a mix of inexperience, overconfidence, and misunderstanding the architecture I had built for them. They dismantled the strategy, broke the structure, diluted the messaging, and wiped out the integrity of the design. It was painful to witness… but it was also the perfect example of why this conversation matters.

So yes — I can absolutely argue both sides:

Why some people believe clients should have full access:

• It’s their business, and they want independent control
• They assume Wix means “simple enough to manage alone”
• They think website ownership equals backend access
• They equate access with freedom, flexibility, or cost savings
• Some clients have in-house teams capable of managing it

Where I find common ground:

I understand the desire for autonomy. I understand wanting full control of something you’ve invested money into. And in very specific cases — like a buyout — full access can make sense.

But here’s where lines must be drawn:

The only scenario where I would ever give full access is with a formal buyout agreement.

At that point, they’re not just purchasing a website.
They’re purchasing:
• the architecture
• the strategy
• the intellectual property
• the rights to break it, rebuild it, or ruin it

And once it passes into their hands, it’s theirs to succeed with — or destroy.

But without a buyout? No.

Because access isn’t just about editing a page — it’s about protecting the structural integrity, the years of expertise behind the build, and the long-term performance of their digital platform.

So can I see the other side? Yes.
But common ground only exists when we acknowledge the value behind the work — and treat it accordingly.

Looking ahead, what do you think the future of this topic looks like, and why is it important for our readers to be aware of where things are heading?

Response 5 - Forward-thinking insights, predictions, relevance, impact.

Looking ahead, I think the future of this topic is going to expose something that most people in our community don’t want to admit. And it’s important for readers to understand where this is heading, because it affects how we price, how we position ourselves, and how seriously clients perceive the value of our work.

The reality is this...Most Wix website builders are in a race to the bottom when it comes to pricing.

I’ve seen the quotes people post in Facebook groups. I’ve watched builders fight over $300 projects like it’s a luxury opportunity. And yes — there will be people reading this who say, “Not me, I charge premium rates.” But if we’re being brutally honest?

I doubt that.

Because the moment we tell a client, “I built this on Wix,” we’ve already slashed our value in their mind — and many builders slash their own value before the client even asks. The vast majority of Wix builders are hobbyists. Talented? Yes. Creative? Absolutely. But hobbyists, nonetheless.

Less than 0.0001% of builders in this ecosystem have ever accepted a $200,000 check…or a million-dollar check…or more…to build a Wix website.

And yet, the irony is that Wix is fully capable of producing websites at that level.

With Velo code, CMS architecture, repeaters, advanced logic, automations, integrations, and now the Enterprise package, Wix has entered a completely different arena. There is absolutely a future where a Wix website — or a Wix-based platform — sells for a billion dollars.

That is the direction the product is heading.

But here’s the kicker...That future is not coming for 99.999% of Wix Website Builders.

Why?

Because if builders continue to undervalue their work, underprice their services, hand over full access without understanding the implications, and treat Wix like a “simple builder” instead of a powerful development platform, the perception of our value will never change.

For me, the future of this topic is a litmus test.

Those who take their craft seriously — who price accordingly, protect their builds, and treat Wix like the development ecosystem it actually is — will thrive as the platform evolves.

Those who race to the bottom will stay at the bottom.

The future is there. But only a tiny percentage will rise to meet it.

This has been a pleasure. Before we go, can you share some pro tips or advice related to this topic — and let readers know how they can get in touch with you?

Response 6 - Practical advice + invitation to connect.

This has been a pleasure, and I appreciate the chance to dig into a topic that I think will quietly shape the future of our community. If I had to leave readers with a few pro tips, they would center around value — your value as a builder, your expertise, and the boundaries you set with clients.

First, protect your work. You’re not just assembling pages; you’re building a digital asset that carries strategy, architecture, user experience, content flow, and long-term performance. If a client didn’t build the site themselves, there’s a reason for that — and handing over full backend access can compromise everything you’ve put in place. Instead, offer guided access. Build dashboards. Create controlled environments where clients can safely update what they need without risking structural damage.

Second, stop underpricing yourself. Most Wix builders don’t charge what their work is actually worth, and it’s hurting the entire ecosystem. When prices race to the bottom, so does perceived value. Treat your craft like the professional service it is. Wix is not the discount aisle of web development — unless you operate that way. Lean into the platform’s full capabilities: Velo, CMS, automation, integrations, and enterprise-level builds. The more seriously you take your process, the more seriously clients will take your work.

Third, don’t let the tool define you. Wix is powerful, but your expertise is what makes it valuable. The model, the strategy, the experience, and the intellectual framework behind your work are what clients are really paying for. Make decisions — including access permissions — based on protecting the integrity of that value.

If anyone reading this wants to continue the conversation, share their perspective, or be featured in Wix Insider Magazine, I’d love to connect. You can reach me directly through LinkedIn, or visit WixInsider.com to submit your story, get featured, or explore how we’re showcasing the builders shaping the future of the Wix ecosystem.

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