Work with client on or offline?

[Ziggy]

I'm setting up my first shop and I'm wondering if it's advantageous to setup the store "online" but not live so the client can comment on and check progress?

The check progress part is not a great idea but to get feedback from the client on the look and feel sounds good. The other options of course are to provide paper copies or show them on a laptop.

So is putting the site online, giving them too much power to micro-manage or a great way to keep the client in the loop?

[superprg]

If you ask me, putting the site online is really a good idea as client can experiment with all the features etc and can let you know very quickly if there is any problem or you are going in the wrong direction

It can become a headache sometimes when you say cannot work for two days and the client sees that nothing has changed in the cart, he might conclude that you are being slow in work etc
Finally, It all depends on your relationship with him, but I will always go with online shop

[Ziggy]

Good points. Thanks.

[TinaS]

I always work online with my clients sites. I also use htaccess and put an index.html page with the client logo on it and a statement of "coming soon" or "closed for maintenance" while I am working ( when working a BRAND NEW store/domain) - if I am upgrading I work in a seperate folder. Either way I can use htaccess to "hide" the store from the public and still allow my clients access to their work in progress ;)

I am though one of the lucky I guess, I have 2 clients that have numerous sites and are very very good at letting me work at my pace - they want perfect not fast. And every single job I have ever taken from the forums (old and new) have been absolutely FANTASTIC to work with :)

In December I got extremely sick and was unable to do much of anything at all until March, and not one of my clients complained - I happen to believe your relationship with your client should ALWAYS be this way. You absolutely must have complete communication and understanding with your clients.

[Ziggy]

While I couldn't agree more, it also sounds like you've never been burned or had your work stolen. Been there, done that and I wish you the best of success and that you may never experience a bad client.