Squarespace Roles and Permissions — Owner to Store Manager

Understanding Squarespace's permission system is crucial for properly managing team access. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of each role and what contributors can and cannot do.

Permission Levels Overview

Squarespace offers several permission levels, each with specific capabilities:

Owner

What Owners Can Do

Everything. The owner has complete control over:

• All site content and design
• All settings and configurations
• Billing and payment information
• Adding/removing contributors
• Transferring site ownership
• Canceling the site
• Accessing support as the account holder

Limitations

• Only one owner per site
• Cannot be removed unless ownership is transferred
• Responsible for billing and legal compliance

When to Use

• You are the site owner/business owner
• You are ultimately responsible for the site
• You handle or oversee billing

Transfer Ownership

To change site owner:

1. Owner goes to Settings > Permissions
2. Click "Transfer Ownership"
3. Enter new owner's email
4. New owner must accept transfer
5. Original owner becomes Administrator (or is removed)

Warning: Ownership transfer cannot be undone. Only transfer to someone you completely trust.

Administrator

What Administrators Can Do

Almost everything except:

• Transfer ownership
• Cancel the site
• Access billing information (unless separately granted)

Full Access To:

• Pages and content
• Design and templates
• Settings and configurations
• Code Injection
• Integrations and connected accounts
• Domain settings
• SEO settings
• Analytics
• All commerce features (if applicable)
• Member areas (if applicable)
• Adding/removing contributors (with some limitations)

What Administrators Cannot Do

• View or change billing information
• Transfer site ownership
• Cancel or delete the site
• Remove the owner
• Access support as the account holder

When to Use

• Web designers/developers: Building or maintaining the site
• Agency partners: Managing client sites
• Trusted team members: Full-time employees with broad responsibilities
• Technical managers: Need access to all features

Security Note

Administrators have extensive access. Only grant to:

• People you trust completely
• Those who need this level of access
• Temporary access should be downgraded after project completion

Website Editor

What Website Editors Can Do

Content Management:

• Edit existing pages
• Create new pages
• Manage page settings
• Add and edit content blocks
• Upload and manage files in asset library
• Edit navigation menus

Limited Settings:

• Some basic page settings
• Can publish changes they make

What Website Editors Cannot Do

• Access Code Injection
• Change design/template
• Modify site-wide settings
• Access billing
• Manage integrations
• Add/remove contributors
• Access analytics (unless also given Reporting permission)
• Manage domains
• Access commerce features

When to Use

• Content managers: Update pages regularly but don't need technical access
• Marketing team: Manage landing pages and content
• Junior team members: Safe access for day-to-day updates
• Temporary editors: Short-term content projects

Best Practices

• Ideal for ongoing content updates
• Limits risk of accidental configuration changes
• Can be combined with other permissions (e.g., + Reporting)

Store Manager

What Store Managers Can Do

E-commerce Functions:

• Add, edit, and delete products
• Manage product variants and options
• Update inventory levels
• Process orders
• Issue refunds
• Manage customers
• View sales reports
• Create discount codes
• Manage product categories
• Edit product pages

Limited Access:

• Can only access commerce-related features
• Cannot edit other site content

What Store Managers Cannot Do

• Edit non-commerce pages
• Access site settings
• Change design or template
• Access Code Injection
• Manage billing
• Add/remove contributors
• Modify shipping or tax settings (Administrator only)

When to Use

• E-commerce managers: Daily product and order management
• Inventory specialists: Stock level management
• Customer service: Order processing and refunds
• Product team: Product listing and updates

Important Notes

• Store Managers can see customer data (names, addresses, emails)
• Ensure they understand data privacy responsibilities
• Only grant to those who need customer access

Blog Editor

What Blog Editors Can Do

Blog-Specific Access:

• Create new blog posts
• Edit existing blog posts
• Delete blog posts
• Upload images for posts
• Manage categories and tags
• Schedule posts
• Edit post settings (author, categories, excerpt)

What Blog Editors Cannot Do

• Edit other pages (non-blog)
• Access site settings
• Manage design
• Access Code Injection
• View analytics (unless also given Reporting)
• Manage contributors
• Access commerce features

When to Use

• Writers: Content creators focused on blog
• Content team: Regular blog contributors
• Guest bloggers: Temporary contributors
• Social media managers: Creating blog content for sharing

Best Practices

• Perfect for content-focused team members
• Safe permission level for external writers
• Consider combining with Reporting to see post performance

Reporting

What Reporting Users Can Do

Analytics Access:

• View all Squarespace Analytics data
• See page views, visitors, traffic sources
• View commerce analytics (if applicable)
• Export analytics data
• View real-time statistics

What Reporting Users Cannot Do

• Edit any content
• Change any settings
• Access anything except analytics
• Make any changes to the site

When to Use

• Data analysts: Need to view data but not edit site
• Marketing team: Track performance without editing access
• Stakeholders: Interested in metrics only
• Clients: Want to see their site's performance

Important Notes

• Read-only access to analytics
• Completely safe - cannot break anything
• Perfect for "view only" access needs
• Can be combined with other permissions

Limitation

• Only shows Squarespace's native analytics
• Does not include Google Analytics access (share GA4 separately if needed)

Commenter

What Commenters Can Do

• Leave comments on blog posts (if comments enabled)
• Reply to other comments
• Edit their own comments

What Commenters Cannot Do

• Access admin panel
• Edit any content
• View any settings or analytics
• Anything besides commenting

When to Use

• Community members: Active blog community
• Moderators: People who participate in discussions
• Rarely used: Most sites don't need this role

Note

This is a very limited role, rarely used in practice. Most sites either:

• Allow public commenting without login
• Or don't use Squarespace's built-in comments

Scheduling Permissions

What Scheduling Users Can Do

If you have Acuity Scheduling:

• Manage appointments
• View calendar
• Edit availability
• Manage clients/customers
• Send appointment reminders

What They Cannot Do

• Edit site content
• Access non-scheduling features

When to Use

• Service businesses: Staff who manage appointments
• Receptionists: Scheduling team
• Service providers: Individual practitioners

Note: Only relevant if your site uses Acuity Scheduling.

Billing

What Billing Users Can Do

Financial Access:

• View billing information
• Update payment methods
• View invoices
• Manage subscription
• Add/remove billing details

What Billing Users Cannot Do

• Edit site content
• Access site settings (unless also Administrator)
• Transfer ownership
• Cancel site (Owner only)

When to Use

• Finance team: Managing company subscriptions
• Accountants: Need access to invoices
• Billing managers: Separate from site management

Important

• Billing can be granted separately from site access
• Someone with only Billing permission cannot edit the site
• Recommended to keep billing separate from content access

Combining Permissions

Some contributors may need multiple permission types.

Common Combinations

Content Manager + Analyst:

• Website Editor + Reporting
• Allows content updates and performance tracking

E-commerce Manager + Analyst:

• Store Manager + Reporting
• Manage products and see sales data

Blog Manager:

• Blog Editor + Reporting
• Write posts and track engagement

Designer + Analyst:

• Administrator + Reporting (redundant - Admins already see analytics)

How to Add Multiple Permissions

Unfortunately, Squarespace doesn't always allow combining permissions:

• Some roles are mutually exclusive
• You may need to choose the broader permission level
• Or use multiple accounts (not recommended)

Best Practice:

• Choose the permission level that covers most needs
• Grant Administrator if truly needs multiple broad access types

Permission Comparison Table

*Administrators can manage some contributors but cannot remove owner

Choosing the Right Permission Level

Decision Framework

Ask yourself:

1. What does this person need to DO?

   • Specific task determines base permission level

2. How long will they need access?

   • Temporary: Consider higher access, then remove
   • Permanent: Use most restrictive level needed

3. How much do you trust them?

   • Complete trust + ongoing: Administrator
   • Trust but limited: Website Editor, Store Manager, Blog Editor
   • New or external: Most restrictive appropriate level

4. What's the risk if they make a mistake?

   • High risk area: More restrictive
   • Low risk area: Can be more permissive

Common Scenarios

Security Best Practices

1. Principle of Least Privilege

Always give the minimum access needed:

• Don't make everyone an Administrator
• Use specific roles for specific tasks
• Upgrade temporarily if needed for a project

2. Regular Audits

• Review contributor list quarterly
• Remove inactive users
• Downgrade permissions when projects complete
• Verify each person still needs their access level

3. Documentation

Keep a record of:

• Who has what access
• Why they have it
• When it was granted
• When it should be reviewed

4. Onboarding/Offboarding

When adding:

• Explain what they can/can't do
• Set expectations for access duration
• Provide training if needed

When removing:

• Remove promptly when no longer needed
• Document the removal
• Verify it's complete

Limitations to Know

Squarespace Plan Limitations

Personal Plan:

• Maximum 2 contributors
• Limited permission types

Business Plan and above:

• Unlimited contributors
• All permission types available

Permission System Limitations

• Cannot customize permission levels beyond what Squarespace offers
• Some permissions cannot be combined
• Cannot create custom roles
• Cannot set page-level permissions (e.g., edit this page but not that one)

What You Can't Restrict

Even with limited permissions, contributors can see:

• That the site exists
• Some basic site structure
• Their allowed sections

Cannot hide:

• Specific pages from specific contributors
• Certain settings from Administrators
• Individual products from Store Managers

Migration Considerations

From Other Platforms

If coming from WordPress, Shopify, etc.:

• Squarespace permissions are less granular
• May need to adjust team access patterns
• Some platforms offer more custom permission options

Plan Upgrades

When upgrading from Personal to Business:

• Can add more contributors
• More permission types become available
• Existing contributors keep their permissions

Troubleshooting Permission Issues

Issue: Contributor Can't Do Something

Check:

1. What's their permission level?
2. Is the feature available for that level?
3. Is it a plan limitation?

Solution:

• Upgrade their permission if appropriate
• Or provide alternative method (screenshots, share access differently)

Issue: Too Much Access

If contributor has too much access:

1. Immediately reduce to appropriate level
2. Review recent changes they made
3. Document the change

Issue: Need Custom Permission

Squarespace doesn't offer:

• Custom permission levels
• Page-specific access
• Feature-specific restrictions beyond standard roles

Workarounds:

• Choose closest standard permission
• Use Administrator for broad access
• Consider alternative solutions (share screenshots, separate tools)

Next Steps

• Add or Remove Contributors - Step-by-step guide for managing users
• User Management Overview - General concepts and best practices

Additional Resources

• Squarespace Help: Contributor Permissions
• Squarespace Plans Comparison
• Managing Your Team on Squarespace