# Organization Best Practices

> This skill provides guidance and enforcement rules for implementing multi-tenant organizations, teams, and role-based access control using Better Auth's organization plugin.

- Skill: `lukevella/organization-best-practices` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add lukevella/organization-best-practices`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/lukevella/organization-best-practices/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: lukevella (https://skillmd.com/u/lukevella)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/lukevella/organization-best-practices

---


## Setting Up Organizations

When adding organizations to your application, configure the `organization` plugin with appropriate limits and permissions.

```ts
import { betterAuth } from "better-auth";
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";

export const auth = betterAuth({
  plugins: [
    organization({
      allowUserToCreateOrganization: true,
      organizationLimit: 5, // Max orgs per user
      membershipLimit: 100, // Max members per org
    }),
  ],
});
```

**Note**: After adding the plugin, run `npx @better-auth/cli migrate` to add the required database tables.

### Client-Side Setup

Add the client plugin to access organization methods:

```ts
import { createAuthClient } from "better-auth/client";
import { organizationClient } from "better-auth/client/plugins";

export const authClient = createAuthClient({
  plugins: [organizationClient()],
});
```

## Creating Organizations

Organizations are the top-level entity for grouping users. When created, the creator is automatically assigned the `owner` role.

```ts
const createOrg = async () => {
  const { data, error } = await authClient.organization.create({
    name: "My Company",
    slug: "my-company",
    logo: "https://example.com/logo.png",
    metadata: { plan: "pro" },
  });
};
```

### Controlling Organization Creation

Restrict who can create organizations based on user attributes:

```ts
organization({
  allowUserToCreateOrganization: async (user) => {
    return user.emailVerified === true;
  },
  organizationLimit: async (user) => {
    // Premium users get more organizations
    return user.plan === "premium" ? 20 : 3;
  },
});
```

### Creating Organizations on Behalf of Users

Administrators can create organizations for other users (server-side only):

```ts
await auth.api.createOrganization({
  body: {
    name: "Client Organization",
    slug: "client-org",
    userId: "user-id-who-will-be-owner", // `userId` is required
  },
});
```

**Note**: The `userId` parameter cannot be used alongside session headers.


## Active Organizations

The active organization is stored in the session and scopes subsequent API calls. Always set an active organization after the user selects one.

```ts
const setActive = async (organizationId: string) => {
  const { data, error } = await authClient.organization.setActive({
    organizationId,
  });
};
```

Many endpoints use the active organization when `organizationId` is not provided:

```ts
// These use the active organization automatically
await authClient.organization.listMembers();
await authClient.organization.listInvitations();
await authClient.organization.inviteMember({ email: "user@example.com", role: "member" });
```

### Getting Full Organization Data

Retrieve the active organization with all its members, invitations, and teams:

```ts
const { data } = await authClient.organization.getFullOrganization();
// data.organization, data.members, data.invitations, data.teams
```

## Members

Members are users who belong to an organization. Each member has a role that determines their permissions.

### Adding Members (Server-Side)

Add members directly without invitations (useful for admin operations):

```ts
await auth.api.addMember({
  body: {
    userId: "user-id",
    role: "member",
    organizationId: "org-id",
  },
});
```

**Note**: For client-side member additions, use the invitation system instead.

### Assigning Multiple Roles

Members can have multiple roles for fine-grained permissions:

```ts
await auth.api.addMember({
  body: {
    userId: "user-id",
    role: ["admin", "moderator"],
    organizationId: "org-id",
  },
});
```

### Removing Members

Remove members by ID or email:

```ts
await authClient.organization.removeMember({
  memberIdOrEmail: "user@example.com",
});
```

**Important**: The last owner cannot be removed. Assign the owner role to another member first.

### Updating Member Roles

```ts
await authClient.organization.updateMemberRole({
  memberId: "member-id",
  role: "admin",
});
```

### Membership Limits

Control the maximum number of members per organization:

```ts
organization({
  membershipLimit: async (user, organization) => {
    if (organization.metadata?.plan === "enterprise") {
      return 1000;
    }
    return 50;
  },
});
```

## Invitations

The invitation system allows admins to invite users via email. Configure email sending to enable invitations.

### Setting Up Invitation Emails

```ts
import { betterAuth } from "better-auth";
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";
import { sendEmail } from "./email";

export const auth = betterAuth({
  plugins: [
    organization({
      sendInvitationEmail: async (data) => {
        const { email, organization, inviter, invitation } = data;

        await sendEmail({
          to: email,
          subject: `Join ${organization.name}`,
          html: `
            <p>${inviter.user.name} invited you to join ${organization.name}</p>
            <a href="https://yourapp.com/accept-invite?id=${invitation.id}">
              Accept Invitation
            </a>
          `,
        });
      },
    }),
  ],
});
```

### Sending Invitations

```ts
await authClient.organization.inviteMember({
  email: "newuser@example.com",
  role: "member",
});
```

### Creating Shareable Invitation URLs

For sharing via Slack, SMS, or in-app notifications:

```ts
const { data } = await authClient.organization.getInvitationURL({
  email: "newuser@example.com",
  role: "member",
  callbackURL: "https://yourapp.com/dashboard",
});

// Share data.url via any channel
```

**Note**: This endpoint does not call `sendInvitationEmail`. Handle delivery yourself.

### Accepting Invitations

```ts
await authClient.organization.acceptInvitation({
  invitationId: "invitation-id",
});
```

### Invitation Configuration

```ts
organization({
  invitationExpiresIn: 60 * 60 * 24 * 7, // 7 days (default: 48 hours)
  invitationLimit: 100, // Max pending invitations per org
  cancelPendingInvitationsOnReInvite: true, // Cancel old invites when re-inviting
});
```

## Roles & Permissions

The plugin provides role-based access control (RBAC) with three default roles:

| Role | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `owner` | Full access, can delete organization |
| `admin` | Can manage members, invitations, settings |
| `member` | Basic access to organization resources |


### Checking Permissions

```ts
const { data } = await authClient.organization.hasPermission({
  permission: "member:write",
});

if (data?.hasPermission) {
  // User can manage members
}
```

### Client-Side Permission Checks

For UI rendering without API calls:

```ts
const canManageMembers = authClient.organization.checkRolePermission({
  role: "admin",
  permissions: ["member:write"],
});
```

**Note**: For dynamic access control, the client side role permission check will not work. Please use the `hasPermission` endpoint.

## Teams

Teams allow grouping members within an organization.

### Enabling Teams

```ts
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";

export const auth = betterAuth({
  plugins: [
    organization({
        teams: {
            enabled: true
        }
    }),
  ],
});
```

### Creating Teams

```ts
const { data } = await authClient.organization.createTeam({
  name: "Engineering",
});
```

### Managing Team Members

```ts
// Add a member to a team (must be org member first)
await authClient.organization.addTeamMember({
  teamId: "team-id",
  userId: "user-id",
});

// Remove from team (stays in org)
await authClient.organization.removeTeamMember({
  teamId: "team-id",
  userId: "user-id",
});
```

### Active Teams

Similar to active organizations, set an active team for the session:

```ts
await authClient.organization.setActiveTeam({
  teamId: "team-id",
});
```

### Team Limits

```ts
organization({
  teams: {
      maximumTeams: 20, // Max teams per org
      maximumMembersPerTeam: 50, // Max members per team
      allowRemovingAllTeams: false, // Prevent removing last team
  }
});
```

## Dynamic Access Control

For applications needing custom roles per organization at runtime, enable dynamic access control.

### Enabling Dynamic Access Control

```ts
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";
import { dynamicAccessControl } from "@better-auth/organization/addons";

export const auth = betterAuth({
  plugins: [
    organization({
        dynamicAccessControl: {
            enabled: true
        }
    }),
  ],
});
```

### Creating Custom Roles

```ts
await authClient.organization.createRole({
  role: "moderator",
  permission: {
    member: ["read"],
    invitation: ["read"],
  },
});
```

### Updating and Deleting Roles

```ts
// Update role permissions
await authClient.organization.updateRole({
  roleId: "role-id",
  permission: {
    member: ["read", "write"],
  },
});

// Delete a custom role
await authClient.organization.deleteRole({
  roleId: "role-id",
});
```

**Note**: Pre-defined roles (owner, admin, member) cannot be deleted. Roles assigned to members cannot be deleted until members are reassigned.

## Lifecycle Hooks

Execute custom logic at various points in the organization lifecycle:

```ts
organization({
  hooks: {
    organization: {
      beforeCreate: async ({ data, user }) => {
        // Validate or modify data before creation
        return {
          data: {
            ...data,
            metadata: { ...data.metadata, createdBy: user.id },
          },
        };
      },
      afterCreate: async ({ organization, member }) => {
        // Post-creation logic (e.g., send welcome email, create default resources)
        await createDefaultResources(organization.id);
      },
      beforeDelete: async ({ organization }) => {
        // Cleanup before deletion
        await archiveOrganizationData(organization.id);
      },
    },
    member: {
      afterCreate: async ({ member, organization }) => {
        await notifyAdmins(organization.id, `New member joined`);
      },
    },
    invitation: {
      afterCreate: async ({ invitation, organization, inviter }) => {
        await logInvitation(invitation);
      },
    },
  },
});
```

## Schema Customization

Customize table names, field names, and add additional fields:

```ts
organization({
  schema: {
    organization: {
      modelName: "workspace", // Rename table
      fields: {
        name: "workspaceName", // Rename fields
      },
      additionalFields: {
        billingId: {
          type: "string",
          required: false,
        },
      },
    },
    member: {
      additionalFields: {
        department: {
          type: "string",
          required: false,
        },
        title: {
          type: "string",
          required: false,
        },
      },
    },
  },
});
```

## Security Considerations

### Owner Protection

- The last owner cannot be removed from an organization
- The last owner cannot leave the organization
- The owner role cannot be removed from the last owner

Always ensure ownership transfer before removing the current owner:

```ts
// Transfer ownership first
await authClient.organization.updateMemberRole({
  memberId: "new-owner-member-id",
  role: "owner",
});

// Then the previous owner can be demoted or removed
```

### Organization Deletion

Deleting an organization removes all associated data (members, invitations, teams). Prevent accidental deletion:

```ts
organization({
  disableOrganizationDeletion: true, // Disable via config
});
```

Or implement soft delete via hooks:

```ts
organization({
  hooks: {
    organization: {
      beforeDelete: async ({ organization }) => {
        // Archive instead of delete
        await archiveOrganization(organization.id);
        throw new Error("Organization archived, not deleted");
      },
    },
  },
});
```

### Invitation Security

- Invitations expire after 48 hours by default
- Only the invited email address can accept an invitation
- Pending invitations can be cancelled by organization admins

## Complete Configuration Example

```ts
import { betterAuth } from "better-auth";
import { organization } from "better-auth/plugins";
import { sendEmail } from "./email";

export const auth = betterAuth({
  plugins: [
    organization({
      // Organization limits
      allowUserToCreateOrganization: true,
      organizationLimit: 10,
      membershipLimit: 100,
      creatorRole: "owner",

      // Slugs
      defaultOrganizationIdField: "slug",

      // Invitations
      invitationExpiresIn: 60 * 60 * 24 * 7, // 7 days
      invitationLimit: 50,
      sendInvitationEmail: async (data) => {
        await sendEmail({
          to: data.email,
          subject: `Join ${data.organization.name}`,
          html: `<a href="https://app.com/invite/${data.invitation.id}">Accept</a>`,
        });
      },

      // Hooks
      hooks: {
        organization: {
          afterCreate: async ({ organization }) => {
            console.log(`Organization ${organization.name} created`);
          },
        },
      },
    }),
  ],
});
```