Feb 4, 2026
Why Client Handoffs Matter
Building a beautiful Framer website for a client is only half the job. The other half — and the part that determines whether the client actually succeeds with their site long-term — is the handoff. A clean handoff ensures the client can update content, manage their CMS, and maintain their site without needing to call you every time they want to change a paragraph.
Poor handoffs lead to frustrated clients, broken designs (from clients editing things they shouldn't), and an endless stream of "quick fix" requests that eat into your time. A structured handoff process protects your work, empowers your client, and sets a professional tone that leads to referrals and repeat business.
Preparing the Site for Handoff
Before handing anything over, make sure the site is truly ready. This means going beyond "it looks good" and ensuring everything is production-grade.
Content Audit
Review every page for placeholder content that didn't get replaced — lorem ipsum text, stock photos that were meant to be temporary, "Coming Soon" sections that should either be completed or removed. Clients will find these embarrassing after launch, and it reflects poorly on your process.
SEO Configuration
Verify that every page has a unique meta title and description. Check that the sitemap is generating correctly, structured data is in place, and Open Graph images are set for social sharing. Don't leave SEO as the client's problem — configure it properly before handoff. Our Framer SEO guide covers the complete checklist.
Performance Check
Run the site through Google PageSpeed Insights and address any red flags. Compress oversized images, remove unused scripts, and ensure the site loads quickly on mobile. A fast site from day one means the client starts with a strong foundation. Our performance optimization guide covers the full audit process.
Clean Up the Project
Name your layers properly. Rename generic layers like "Frame 47" and "Group 12" to descriptive names like "Hero Section," "Feature Card," and "Footer Links." If the client ever opens the Framer editor, they should be able to understand the structure at a glance.
Organize components. Use a clear folder structure for components (Navigation/Header, Cards/Feature, etc.). Delete any unused components or draft elements that were part of the design process but aren't in the final site.
Remove hidden elements. Delete layers that are hidden or off-screen rather than leaving them invisible. Hidden elements add confusion and can accidentally become visible if someone doesn't realize they're there.
Setting Up Client Access
Framer offers different access levels through its roles and permissions system (available on Pro plans and above). Understanding these roles is crucial for giving clients the right level of access.
Editor: Full access to the design editor, CMS, and site settings. Use this for clients who are comfortable with Framer and want complete control. The risk is that they can accidentally break layouts or delete components.
Content Editor: Access to the CMS and on-page content editing, but no access to the design editor. This is the recommended role for most clients. They can update text, images, blog posts, and CMS items without touching the underlying design structure.
Viewer: Read-only access. The client can see the project but can't change anything. Useful during the review phase before launch, or for stakeholders who need visibility but shouldn't make changes.
For most handoffs, set the client as a Content Editor. This gives them the autonomy to manage their content while protecting your design work from accidental changes.
CMS Training
If the site uses Framer's CMS (for a blog, portfolio, team members, products, etc.), the client needs to understand how to add, edit, and manage CMS items. This is usually the most important part of the handoff.
What to Cover
How to access the CMS. Show the client where to find the CMS panel in Framer, how to navigate between collections, and how to view existing items.
How to add a new item. Walk through creating a new blog post (or whatever the primary CMS content type is) step by step. Cover every field — what to put in the title, how to write the short description, where to upload the featured image, how to use the formatted text editor for the content body, and how to assign a category.
How to edit existing items. Show the client how to find and edit existing CMS items. Emphasize that changes to CMS content don't go live until the site is published.
How to publish changes. Explain the difference between saving (which saves to the CMS) and publishing (which pushes changes to the live site). This distinction confuses many clients and is critical for preventing accidental live updates.
Draft vs published status. Show how to create drafts that don't appear on the live site, which is useful for preparing content in advance.
For a deeper reference you can share with clients, our Framer CMS guide covers the system comprehensively.
Creating a Client Documentation Package
Don't rely on a single training call — create written documentation the client can reference later. The reality is that clients forget 80% of what you show them within a week. Documentation solves this.
A solid documentation package includes:
Site overview: A brief summary of the site structure — what pages exist, what each page does, and how the navigation is organized.
CMS guide: Step-by-step instructions with screenshots for the most common tasks: adding a blog post, updating a team member, adding a portfolio item, etc. Tailor this to the specific CMS collections in the client's site.
Image guidelines: Recommended image sizes for each context (hero images, blog featured images, team headshots, etc.), file format recommendations (WebP or compressed JPEG), and maximum file sizes. Clients will upload 5MB uncompressed photos straight from their camera if you don't set expectations.
SEO guidelines: How to write meta titles and descriptions for new pages or blog posts, including character limits and best practices. Provide a simple template they can follow.
Contact information: How to reach you for changes that go beyond content updates — design modifications, new page creation, technical issues.
On-Page Editing
Framer's On-Page Editing feature (updated to version 2.0 in January 2026) is a game-changer for client handoffs. It lets Content Editors click directly on text and images on the live preview and edit them in place — no navigating the CMS panel, no understanding layers or components.
For clients who just need to update text and swap images occasionally, On-Page Editing is often all the training they need. Show them how to open the editor, click on any editable text to change it, and click on images to replace them. It feels like editing a Google Doc — intuitive enough that most clients pick it up in minutes.
Not everything is editable through On-Page Editing — layout changes, adding new sections, and modifying component structures still require editor access. But for day-to-day content updates, it dramatically lowers the barrier.
Transfer vs Continued Management
Decide upfront whether you're transferring full ownership of the Framer project to the client or maintaining it under your account with the client as a collaborator.
Full transfer: The client owns the Framer project and pays for their own plan. You lose direct access unless they add you as an editor. This is cleaner for one-time projects where the client wants full independence.
Continued management: The project stays on your Framer account and the client is added as a Content Editor. You maintain design control and can make updates as needed. This works better for ongoing retainer relationships where you provide regular updates and maintenance.
Both approaches are valid — the right choice depends on the client relationship and whether ongoing support is part of your agreement.
Setting Up a Maintenance Agreement
Many agencies and freelancers find that offering a maintenance package alongside the handoff creates recurring revenue and keeps clients happy. A typical maintenance agreement includes:
Monthly content updates: A set number of text changes, image swaps, or blog posts per month.
Technical maintenance: Monitoring site performance, updating integrations, and fixing any issues that arise.
Design updates: A set number of hours per month for design changes, new sections, or layout modifications.
Priority support: Guaranteed response times for urgent issues.
Having a maintenance agreement also means you catch problems before the client notices them — a third-party script that stopped working, a form that broke after an integration update, or a page that loads slowly because the client uploaded massive images.
Common Handoff Mistakes
No documentation. Relying solely on a video call or verbal walkthrough. Clients forget things. Write it down.
Giving too much access. Setting the client as a full Editor when they only need to update blog posts. This leads to accidental design changes and panicked support requests.
Skipping the training. Assuming the client will "figure it out" is a recipe for frustration. Even a 30-minute walkthrough of the CMS saves hours of back-and-forth later.
Not testing the client's workflow. Before handoff, have the client add a test blog post or make a content edit while you watch. This reveals confusion points that you can address immediately rather than discovering them weeks later.
Forgetting domain and billing setup. Make sure the client has access to their domain registrar, their Framer billing is set up (if they're taking ownership), and all third-party accounts (analytics, forms, email marketing) are properly transferred or shared.
A professional handoff is the final impression you leave with a client. Do it well, and you've set them up for success, protected your design work, and established yourself as someone who thinks beyond just the build. That's the difference between a freelancer who builds sites and an agency partner that clients recommend to everyone they know.
