Running a business in Hawaii often means wearing multiple hats—from CEO to janitor to social media manager. Eventually, you reach a breaking point where delegation becomes necessary. However, we often see local business owners handling this transition poorly by texting their master login credentials to a freelancer or agency. This “trust-based” security works until it doesn’t.
Squarespace offers a streamlined “Contributor” system that allows you to grant specific access levels without compromising your billing information or ownership rights. Whether you are hiring a web designer from the mainland or a local copywriter in Kaka’ako, here is how to grant access securely.
1. Locate the Permissions Dashboard
The process differs slightly depending on your Squarespace version, but for most modern sites (version 7.1), the path is centralized in the settings menu.
- Log in to your Squarespace account and open the specific website you need to manage.
- In the main sidebar menu, click Settings.
- Scroll down to find Permissions (sometimes labeled Permissions & Ownership). This is your control room for user access.
2. Send the Invitation
Unlike some platforms where you create a user for them, Squarespace requires you to invite the user via email. They must then accept the invite to link it to their own Squarespace account.
- Click the Invite Contributor button.
- Enter the Name and Email Address of the person you are hiring. Tip: If working with an agency, ask for their specific “support” or “dev” email address to ensure the invite doesn’t get lost in a personal inbox.
3. Select the Critical Role (The Most Important Step)
Squarespace has a unique permission structure that often confuses users. Unlike WordPress, the “Editor” role is very restrictive. You must choose carefully to avoid bottlenecking your team.
| Role | Best For… | Critical Limitations & Powers |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | Web Designers, SEO Agencies, Lead Developers | High Trust Required. They can design pages, add code, and change settings. Crucially, they also have full billing permissions (can upgrade plans or view invoices), but they cannot transfer site ownership. |
| Website Editor | Content Updaters, Junior Staff | Very Restrictive. They can edit existing pages and add blog posts. They cannot add new pages, change the site’s design/style, or touch settings. If you hire a designer, this role is usually insufficient. |
| Store Manager | Retail Staff, Fulfillment Teams | Can manage inventory, orders, and customers. They cannot edit the website design or general settings. |
| Billing | Accountants, Bookkeepers | Can only view invoices and subscription details. They have no ability to edit the site content. |
4. Finalizing and Revoking Access
Once you toggle the appropriate permissions, click Invite. The recipient will receive an email link. You will see them listed as “Invite Sent” until they accept.
The “Pau Hana” Rule: When a contract ends or an employee leaves, you must revoke access immediately. Leaving old “Admin” accounts active is a common security vulnerability.
- Return to the Permissions panel.
- Click on the contributor’s name.
- Select Remove Access to instantly sever their connection to your site.