Question for WP Designers

Generally when building WordPress sites I prefer to get the client's hosting information and build on their server because it just makes my life easier.

However in the instances that I can't, what I do is install wordpress on a subdomain on my hosting account, then set the website up there and when they are ready for me to implement it live, I paste all the files and export the database from my account and import to theirs. You have to set up widgets again manually, which can be annoying, but that's the best way that works for me.

The initial draft is always done on my computer (using XAMPP).

Then I upload it to a subdomain/subfolder either on my test site or on the client's site.
When everything is OK, I'll move the installation to the final location. (If you use the export/import in phpMyadmin - as opposed to using WP's own export tool - no need to set up the plugins and widgets because the settings are stored in in the database!)

Desktop first.

Never on client server initially. That should only be done once the full and final payment has been realized.

I have recently moved a few states away, and no longer have the same internet speed I used to have, but I'll tell you what I do.

I used to create a client sub domain on my business website, that I would build out their website on after we moved past the design phase.

You never want to hand over your work, or even upload it to a clients website without receiving final payment. I call it the hand over. When you deliver and they cut you a check.

I no longer have verizon fios, and my upload speeds have gone from 20/mbps to 1.5mbps which sucks, so now I try to build out everything using MAMP on my desktop and when I'm ready, I upload it in the same fashion to a sub-domain. Once they are happy with the results, they agree to pay and we do the hand over. If I'm hosting it, I move it to their domain.com and if I'm putting it on their host, they agree to send the money before it goes to their domain.com

There are some pitfalls and benefits to hosting a clients website. On the PRO side, you can get repeat business and charge monthly for hosting and other things, like maintenance, backups, upgrades of plugins.

The CON side is you're responsible. When they've got a hosting problem, they are going to bug you. If they have a problem with their email, they'll bug you. I had one client who began treating me like I was his IT staff to setup emails for their office. I fired that client.

It can be in your clients best interest if they own their own domain and hosting, but it can also be in your financial interest to host them too.

I was hosting things like Magento ecommerce sites, but I've decided all I'm hosting is WordPress websites, with Google Apps accounts. This keeps the email off my server and hosting WP isn't as great a headache.

And you might want to spread those who you host around on more than one server and you're also going to want to stay on top of server backups.

I've already been down the road of, OH S$%T I jacked up my server and all 14 clients websites are down, and I'm missing recent backups.

You've got to decide what the hassel is worth.

BTW, the whole reason why I think you should save delivery till final payment is simple. If you're giving you client work like some of these other guys, they can fire you and make off with your work at any time. A lesson I learned early on, when I started building a website and a jerk client decided he didn't want to pay me X anymore because some other guy said it should only be cost X.

He changed the passwords on the server, cut me off and is still using my design and work 2 years later and all I ever got paid was $200 deposit for nearly 4 weeks of work.

It's always easier to work on your local server. You don't have to upload anything. Once the site is ready on my local server, it goes to a live server on the Internet--either on my demo site or on the client's web sever. Most of my clients have their own web hosting. If someone doesn't have it, I ask them to buy it through my affiliate link

I prefer to purchase the domain name for them myself and give them hosting, this gives me full control. I use hostgator reseller account and build it on there on a new account, after I'm paid in full I give them the login and password to cpanel. To discourage costumers from thinking I am there full time IT guy, I tell them I charge for any updates to their site and I tell them, as an alternative, I will send them free resources (videos) on how to make changes or create email addresses themselves. The other benefit of a using a reseller is that if they start using email like crazy I can ban them.