Designing Locally...

You could create templates in Dreamweaver, which can be customized to make only certain parts of the html code editable..........

best option is to learn how to convert a html/css theme to WordPress, that way you can use what you are familiar with and still provide your clients with an excellent quality cms.

Yep, converting the sites to WP + company tutorials + hourly fee to do complicated stuff is one way.

As Susan, that's exactly what we do in my company. Works pretty well, and you'll have no problem converting the xhtml sites to WP.

Plus, with backoffice included you can get a higher price tag.

Fernando

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate it!

I charge 400$ on top for the CMS, problem solved

you can also use php includes. They work almost the same as the dreamweaver templates but don't require any extra software. The client would only have to write a plain text file with 2 extra lines of code in and name it .php. Not as convenient for the client as wordpress maybe, but it could turn out to be easier on you.

Why don't you just offer options in your wordpress theme to change the design slightly?

I just learned from an "offline guide" product that will be released tomorrow... you guys are leaving money on the table.
Why not have recurring income from selling a nice little 'site maintenance' monthly package?

iZame: I wouldn't convert anything. The best way to do what you want for local clients is to buy the Elegant Theme package for $39. per year for each client in their name. You get 55+ themes. Then they get the theme support and support is not on you.

Plus with Elegant themes the users can change most of their theme even the colors from the options pages. You can alter the themes to your clients liking if you have the skill set.

In your agreement with your local client make a big deal of the support provided by Elegant Themes and be sure to explain that you will provide the initial setup and design stuff, then they take care of their own support through Elegant Themes.

You could do that with other themes such as Genesis and WooThemes. At upgrade time you won't have problems with these types of frameworks.

Going with Thesis just doesn't work for what you want to do and the upload options doesn't work from upgrade to upgrade so your clients will be calling you. Not good.

you know with tech today and search engines, most questions can be answered in 5 minutes of searching the web..

as for your client issue...

if a client cant use ms word, then they will need to purchase a webmaster package : ) because thats all it is to use wp cms editor.

Wordpress is a good option but there are quite a few cms alternatives out there which depending on the project can deliver an easier to update experience then wordpress ever could.

I think what you need to keep in mind is the structure of most wordpress sites really dictates how easy it is to update.

By this i mean, once you start going into designs where you have different web pages with different layouts, you need to start updating the website via wordpress not just via post, but also through widdgets, custom fields and the like. As a result it can be difficult for customers to manage. But again this really depends on your design.

Basic rule of thumb i go by is, if it looks like a blog site, put it on wordpress - if it looks like a website, put it on something else - and 'something else' comes in a variety of flavors.

The usual suspects:
- Joomla
- Drupal
- Expression Engine

Some light CMS options:
- light cms
- pagelime
- surreal cms
- cushy cms

NOTE: most light cms's are paid but for what you get on the dollar, value wise makes it well worth it (obviously depending on how many websites you have)

I still can't believe people need help installing wordpress and a theme, has the world become this lazy?

I find headway theme very easy to customize and i will be using it for my clients Goodluck on learning how to covert to wordpress