Working with a freelance SEO

Plenty of small businesses bring in one self-employed person to help their website show up in search. That person usually needs some access to the website and its Google accounts. Before they start, the business decides what they can see and change.

Give access, not your password

Google's Search Console help sets out three levels of access. An owner "has full control over properties in Search Console". A full user "has view rights to all data and can take some actions". A restricted user "has simple view rights on most data".

Google also says, "A property must have at least one verified owner, or no users will have access to the property." Google Analytics lets an administrator add users at the account or property level, with the permissions the administrator chooses.

Keep the ownership yourself

Search Console has two kinds of owner with the same permissions. A verified owner proved ownership with a token on the site, such as an uploaded HTML file. A delegated owner was given ownership by a verified owner, without a token.

Google says that to add or remove a verified owner, you add or remove a token on the site. A delegated owner is added or removed on the user management screen. Google says owners can add and remove other users. A verified owner inside the business keeps that control with the business.

Your customers' data

A freelancer may see personal data about your customers, for example in a contact form or a customer list. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) says, "Processors act on behalf of, and only on the instructions of, the relevant controller." Its guide to controllers and processors explains how to tell which role each person has.

In October 2026, the ICO says that because of changes made by the Data (Use and Access) Act, this guidance is under review and may change.

Lock the accounts

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) says, "Turning on 2SV is one of the most effective ways to protect your online accounts from cyber criminals." It recommends two-step verification on all your important accounts, even ones with strong passwords.

A freelancer and an employee

GOV.UK says a person's employment status in employment law helps determine their rights and their employer's responsibilities. It says, "A person may have a different employment status in tax law." It also says courts and tribunals can make final decisions on employment status, and that Acas gives advice on it. HMRC's guidance on off-payroll working (IR35) covers the tax side.

When the work ends

In Search Console, an owner removes a user by choosing Remove access next to their name. Google says that if a warning appears that the user might regain access, they were a verified owner with ownership tokens, and those tokens need removing too.

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