Design handoff to non-designers: Making small business websites owner-editable

When you visit a new city, you want to get a feel for the place. So you’re probably doing a lot of Google searching: where to find the best coffee, which galleries are showing local artists, how to catch that perfect view. Online reviews help, sure—but what really makes a place stand out is a great website. With strong visuals, clear info, and an easy way to book a table or buy a ticket, the website becomes the invitation.

That’s why good website design is essential for small businesses. Often, it starts with a designer. But once the site is live, the real question becomes: what happens next? What if the client wants to update a menu or post about an event? That’s where design handoffs matter—and why editable design is key.

Why website design matters for small businesses

For small businesses, a website isn’t just a digital presence—it’s a marketing tool. It helps them promote new offerings, share updates, and engage their audience. As a designer, your role is to create something not only beautiful, but also usable—a platform clients can manage on their own.

Good website design for a small business means thinking beyond launch day. A sustainable site is one that clients can confidently update and maintain, without calling you for every content change.

The challenge: making websites editable for non-designers

The average cost of website design for small businesses varies depending on the sector and scope. Many clients are looking for a short-term investment: affordable, inexpensive website design for small businesses that gives them long-term control. But clients come with varying levels of tech comfort. Some are fluent in tools like Canva or WordPress. Others might struggle to find the login button.

That’s where your role expands from designer to educator. During your early conversations about the design, ask questions about the clients‘ goals and expectations:

• What kind of digital design tools have you used before?    
• Have you ever edited a website?
• How often do you expect to update the site?
• What kind of updates do you imagine doing yourself?

These put out a feeler for how to tailor the design handoff in a way that meets the client where they are at.

What to include in a design handoff

The goal is simple: a design handoff so smooth your client can confidently edit and customize the site while keeping the design strong and consistent.

To ensure this, start with templates for the pages they’ll edit most—blog posts, events, menus, or projects. Include placeholder content so they can see what goes where, and use layout-locked sections to keep structure intact while allowing for content changes.

Next, deliver a brief style guide. Nothing overly technical—just a clear summary of fonts, colors, and image dimensions. When possible, embed these standards into the templates to make consistency effortless.

Include a simple admin guide with screenshots or short screen recordings. Cover essentials: how to log in, change text and images, and publish updates. If you're using Readymag, their quick start guide is a helpful fallback.

Finally, budget for a tutorial session or two. These sessions give clients and their teams space to ask questions and work through any possible sticking points in real time. This kind of thoughtful handoff turns your work into a lasting tool—and it’s one of the best website design tips for small business success.

Who is involved in a design handoff

While your main contact may be the business owner, they’re not always the one maintaining the site. It could be a team member, an intern, or someone hired down the line.

Clarify early who needs access and what kind of training they’ll need. Then, design accordingly with features like private previews, content permissions, and layout locks to support multiple users after the design handoff. These collaboration-friendly features are especially valuable when offering website design services for small business teams that wear many hats.

Best practices for a smooth, sustainable handoff

When you design for future edits, you’re thinking ahead about how a non-designer will interact with each page. That means using intuitive structures, avoiding overly abstract layouts, and limiting the number of decisions a client has to make when updating content.

Simplicity is a strength. Small touches like labeling layers clearly, using consistent image sizes, and sticking to a clear typographic hierarchy will help guide the way. This reduces the risk of broken pages, design drift, or emergency emails asking how to undo a mistake.

In your handoff guides or tutorials, replace jargon with plain, human language. Instead of “insert media asset,” say “upload a new photo.” The more your materials sound like your client, the more likely they are to use them.

Looking ahead, you might consider offering something like a monthly check-in or a handful of support hours so the client knows they’re not completely on their own. Even if they don’t use it, just knowing it’s there gives them confidence. These add-ons make even affordable website design for small businesses feel like a premium service—one that supports clients long after launch.

How Readymag bridges the gap between designer and owner

When you build a site in Readymag, there are a few ways to structure the transfer of the project—and each one affects the design handoff. Some designers build everything in their own account and transfer ownership at the end. Others invite the client to create a Readymag account first, and work as a collaborator.

There’s also a hybrid option: the designer manages structure and design, while the client gets editing access for day-to-day updates.

You can also choose to export the full source code using Readymag’s Code Export feature. In this case, clients may need a developer’s help for setup and ongoing changes. The feature is available on Advanced and Extra plans

Each model has pros and cons in terms of control and flexibility. If you're unsure what works best, Readymag offers guidance on client-designer workflows.

These flexible options make Readymag a strong choice for those seeking the best website design and hosting for small business needs—especially when ease of use and collaboration are priorities.