Build Site based on Purchased template

If you produced a website based on a purchased website template (such as from TemplateMonster), do you disclose to you client that this site built using a purchased pre-made template?

I personally do not buy these pre-made templates but if I were to buy one I would inform the buyer if it was not a unique sale due to the fact that the template is most likely used at some other site.

If you bought the rights to the template then I don't believe it is necessary to tell the buyer that you bought it because the template now belongs to you.

If I did this, then yes I would.

Ethics aside, in an industry where clients often aren't in a position to assess the quality of a job, maintaining trust is vital. Passing off a bought template as an original work (even if only by implication) risks destroying your credibility.

I'm thinking of buying a template from TemplateMonster to use on a site of mine. I like what they have a few other companies I know use templates from there and are successful, I guess sometimes it just doesn't boil down to the design if its custom or not but what you offer with the design.

artcoder,

You've brought up an interesting question, which not alot of people could really come up with a definite answer to.

With purchasing full rights to a pre-made, you have sole discretion on what you do with it. Re-selling it as an "original," when most pre-mades are well-known, loses the trust between you and a potential client, losing all chances of a possible contract.

When I purchased a pre-made template to re-sell when I established my own Web Hosting provider, I let all my clients know it was purchased elsewhere, but I had exclusive rights. They liked the fact I told it as was, and they remained with me for the following three years, until I had to shut down due to issues.

Yes, I agree and I agree with the poll results as well. I always disclose to clients where my templates came from. In fact, sometimes I tell them to go to TemplateMonster themselves and tell me which one they like the best.

I was just curious as to what other people thought. Hence the poll.

Depends on the client. Some clients (who are great in their own respective fields of work) have no clue about what a web template even is so it's pretty pointless to tell them. Yes most of the time.

I am using templates from Templatemonster.com to complete low budget client's requests. I explaine them costs on design license, modification costs and programming costs if needed.

Originally Posted by Technokinetics If I did this, then yes I would.

Me, too.

I am 100% sure that there is no harm in telling truth to client.