Already have a website for your painting business? Maybe it was custom-built, created by a web designer, or runs on Wix, Squarespace, or another platform. If you’re happy with it, there’s no reason to replace it just to use PaintClarity.
You can keep your existing website exactly as it is and run PaintClarity through a separate WordPress installation. WordPress provides the foundation PaintClarity runs on, while your existing website continues serving customers.
You don’t need to build a second public website or learn how to design one in WordPress. Once PaintClarity is installed, you and your painters use its own interface to manage the business. Depending on your hosting, WordPress can be installed on a subdomain or in a separate directory.
Keep Your Existing Website
PaintClarity is a WordPress plugin, but that doesn’t mean your entire painting website needs to run on WordPress. The plugin simply needs a working WordPress installation behind it.
Your public website continues showcasing your work, explaining your services, and helping customers contact you. PaintClarity runs separately, providing the tools for managing your painting business.
For example, a painting company could use:
| Purpose | Website address |
|---|---|
| Existing public website | www.smithpainting.com |
| PaintClarity on a subdomain | app.smithpainting.com |
| PaintClarity in a directory | www.smithpainting.com/app/ |
You would use one of the two PaintClarity addresses, not both.
You and your painters sign in to PaintClarity to manage the work. Customers can also use links generated by PaintClarity to review and accept quotes or pay invoices when online payments are enabled. They don’t need a WordPress account for those customer-facing functions.
Your existing website stays in place, and PaintClarity handles the business behind it.
Option 1: Install WordPress on a Subdomain (Recommended)
A subdomain is simply an additional web address connected to your existing domain name. For example, your public website could remain at www.smithpainting.com, while PaintClarity runs at app.smithpainting.com.
Both addresses belong to your business, but they operate independently. This is particularly useful when your existing website is hosted on a platform that doesn’t support WordPress plugins.
Step 1: Check Where Your Website Is Hosted
Start by finding out who hosts your current website. If you’re unsure, your web designer or hosting provider should be able to tell you.
Some hosting accounts can run another WordPress installation without requiring a separate subscription. Others may require WordPress-compatible hosting.
If your website uses Wix or another managed website builder, you can generally keep the existing website and connect a separately hosted WordPress installation through a subdomain, provided your domain and DNS settings allow it.
Common Hosting Options
Platform information checked October 12, 2026.
Wix: Wix supports connecting a subdomain to an externally hosted website or application. Your Wix website can remain in place while WordPress runs separately. See Wix’s subdomain instructions.
Hostinger: Hostinger supports installing WordPress on a subdomain or in a separate directory, depending on your hosting plan. See Hostinger’s WordPress installation guide.
Other hosting providers: Many traditional web hosts support additional WordPress installations. Availability depends on your plan and how your current website is configured.
If you’re unsure what your hosting supports, ask your provider:
I already have a website and want to keep it unchanged. Can I install a separate WordPress site at app.mydomain.com to run a business-management plugin?
Your provider should be able to tell you whether this is supported and what you’ll need.
Step 2: Create Your PaintClarity Address
Once you’ve confirmed where WordPress will run, create a subdomain named app. This gives you an address such as app.smithpainting.com.
Most hosting providers have a simple option for adding a subdomain. If WordPress will be hosted by a different company, that provider can give you the instructions needed to connect the new address.
You don’t need to move your existing website or change its public address. If you’re unfamiliar with domain settings, ask your hosting provider for assistance so the new installation doesn’t interrupt your current website.
Step 3: Install WordPress
Most WordPress-compatible hosting providers offer an automatic installer. Look for Install WordPress, WordPress Manager, or WordPress Installer in your hosting control panel.
Select your new subdomain as the installation location and follow the prompts to create an administrator account. Make sure HTTPS is enabled so the new address uses a secure connection.
When installation is complete, your WordPress administrator login will typically be available at: https://app.smithpainting.com/wp-admin
WordPress is now ready to run PaintClarity. There’s no need to design a homepage, create blog posts, or install a website builder.
Step 4: Install PaintClarity Free or Pro
Sign in to your WordPress dashboard and open Plugins > Add New Plugin. Search for PaintClarity, click Install Now, and then Activate.
You can also download the Free version directly from the WordPress Plugin Directory.
Want to start with Pro? You can purchase PaintClarity Pro here and follow the installation instructions provided with your purchase.
Once installed, complete PaintClarity’s initial setup to enter your company information and configure your business.
For a complete overview of the available tools, visit PaintClarity.com.
Option 2: Install WordPress in a Separate Directory
If your existing website uses hosting that supports WordPress, you may prefer to install it in a separate directory instead of creating a subdomain.
For example, your public website could remain at www.smithpainting.com, while PaintClarity runs at www.smithpainting.com/app/.
This keeps PaintClarity under your existing website address while giving WordPress its own installation.
Step 1: Check With Your Hosting Provider
Ask whether your current hosting plan allows WordPress to be installed in a separate directory without affecting your existing website.
This option is generally suitable for conventional hosting environments where you have access to the website files and can run WordPress. It usually isn’t available within closed website builders such as Wix or Squarespace.
If your hosting doesn’t support a separate directory installation, use the subdomain method instead.
Step 2: Choose the Installation Directory
We recommend the directory name app because it’s short, professional, and easy to remember.
Your PaintClarity address would be: https://www.smithpainting.com/app
Your hosting provider may allow you to enter this directory name during WordPress installation.
Important: Make sure WordPress is installed in the new directory, not over your existing website. Back up your current website before making changes.
Step 3: Install WordPress
Open your hosting provider’s WordPress installation tool, select your existing domain, and enter app as the installation directory.
Follow the prompts to create your administrator account and complete the installation. Your WordPress dashboard will typically be available at: https://www.smithpainting.com/app/wp-admin
If your host doesn’t offer an automatic installer, you can use the official WordPress installation instructions or ask your hosting provider for assistance.
Step 4: Install PaintClarity
Once WordPress is running, sign in and install PaintClarity through Plugins > Add New Plugin.
You can start with the Free version or purchase PaintClarity Pro if you prefer.
Your existing website continues operating as before, while PaintClarity runs from the separate directory.
Which Setup Is Best for Your Business?
Both options allow you to keep your current website. The best choice depends on where your website is hosted.
| Your situation | Recommended setup |
|---|---|
| Your website is on Wix or another closed website builder | Subdomain with separate WordPress hosting |
| Your website is custom-built and you want to keep it unchanged | Subdomain |
| Your hosting already supports additional WordPress installations | Either option |
| You prefer PaintClarity at yoursite.com/app/ | Separate directory |
| You’re unsure which option to choose | Ask your hosting provider about a subdomain |
We recommend using a subdomain whenever possible. It keeps PaintClarity separate from your public website and provides more flexibility if you change hosting providers later.
A directory installation is also a good choice when your current hosting supports it.
Keeping PaintClarity Secure and Updated
PaintClarity contains important business information, so your WordPress installation should be maintained like any other business application. Fortunately, most WordPress hosting providers offer tools that simplify routine maintenance.
We recommend taking a few precautions:
- Use HTTPS: Make sure your installation has a valid SSL certificate.
- Use strong passwords: Protect administrator accounts and enable two-factor authentication where available.
- Enable automatic updates: Configure WordPress and compatible plugins to update automatically, with backups and update monitoring in place.
- Set up automatic backups: Back up the WordPress database and files regularly, with copies stored outside your hosting account.
- Use appropriate permissions: Give painters access only to the functions they need.
- Avoid unnecessary plugins: A dedicated PaintClarity installation doesn’t need unrelated WordPress plugins.
Enable Automatic Updates
Since this WordPress installation exists primarily to run PaintClarity, you may not visit the WordPress administration area very often. Enabling automatic updates can help keep it secure and current.
Open Plugins > Installed Plugins and look for the Enable auto-updates option. Confirm that automatic updates are supported for your PaintClarity edition and any other installed plugins. For Pro, follow the update guidance supplied with your license.
Automatic updates don’t replace backups or occasional maintenance checks. Keep automatic off-site backups enabled and periodically confirm that important functions still work, particularly after major updates.
Does the WordPress Installation Need to Appear in Google?
No. Since WordPress is being used to run PaintClarity rather than as your public marketing website, there’s generally no reason to promote its default pages in search results.
Under WordPress > Settings > Reading, you can enable Discourage search engines from indexing this site.
PaintClarity also includes no-index directives for its customer-facing quote and invoice pages to help keep them out of search results, along with expiring documents that cannot be read after certain dates.
These settings control search-engine indexing, not access to information. Private business records remain protected through authentication and appropriate user permissions.
Avoid placing the entire installation behind an additional site-wide password without testing the customer-facing functions. Customers may need to open quote links, accept estimates, or complete payments without signing in to WordPress.
Can Painters Use PaintClarity on Their Phones?
Yes. Painters can open the PaintClarity address on their phones and sign in to access the job information available to their accounts.
They don’t need to use the WordPress page editor or manage the website. They work directly in PaintClarity’s mobile-friendly interface.
What About Customer Quotes and Payments?
Your customers continue visiting your existing website to learn about your business and request services. When you send a quote through PaintClarity, the customer receives a link to the appropriate page on your PaintClarity installation.
Customers can review and accept quotes using the online acceptance and e-signature features without needing a WordPress account.
PaintClarity Pro also supports online card payments through Stripe, allowing customers to pay through the configured payment workflow.
Before sending live quotes or payment requests, test the links and customer-facing pages to confirm they work correctly with your chosen installation address.
Do You Need a Paid WordPress Plan?
No. WordPress itself is free, open-source software, and PaintClarity offers a Free plan. You don’t need to purchase PaintClarity Pro simply because you’re running WordPress separately from your public website.
However, WordPress hosting may have a cost. If your current hosting plan supports another installation, you may already have everything you need. Otherwise, you’ll need a WordPress-compatible hosting service.
You can review the Free and Pro options on PaintClarity.com.
Do You Need to Maintain Two Websites?
Not in the usual sense. Your existing public website continues operating as before, while WordPress provides the foundation for PaintClarity.
You don’t need to create blog posts, design another public homepage, or maintain additional website content. The WordPress installation still needs software updates, security, and backups, but much of that work can be automated through your hosting provider.
Once configured, it can remain focused on running PaintClarity.
Ready? Here’s How to Get Started
You can keep your current painting website and run PaintClarity separately without rebuilding anything.
- Check your hosting: Ask whether you can install WordPress on a subdomain or in a separate directory.
- Choose your PaintClarity address: We recommend
app.yourpaintingcompany.com, or/app/if you’re using a directory. - Install WordPress: Use your hosting provider’s WordPress installer and enable HTTPS.
- Install PaintClarity: Start with Free or choose Pro.
- Complete the setup: Enter your company information and configure your users.
- Enable backups and updates: Keep your installation maintained and your business information protected.
- Test your installation: Create a sample quote and confirm the customer-facing links work correctly.
You don’t need to move your website, change its design, or start over with a new online presence. Whether you’re working alone or managing multiple crews, PaintClarity can run separately while your existing website continues serving customers.
Your website stays where it is. PaintClarity handles the business behind it.