PHP & Laravel development
Whether it is a new Laravel application or an aging PHP codebase that needs stabilization and modernization, we deliver maintainable PHP without the cowboy code.
How we approach PHP & Laravel development.
PHP work divides into two very different jobs. One is building a new Laravel application properly. The other is taking a codebase that has grown for years without tests, structure, or an upgrade path, and making it safe to work on again. We do both, and the second is the more common request.
For new builds we use Laravel with a clear separation between HTTP handling, domain logic, and persistence. Business rules live in classes that can be tested without booting a browser or hitting the network. Queues handle anything slow, migrations describe the schema, and the test suite covers the flows that carry money or customer data.
For legacy work we start by establishing facts rather than opinions: what PHP version it runs, what breaks under a modern one, what has no test coverage, where user input reaches the database unescaped, and which dependencies are abandoned. That produces a prioritised remediation plan where security and stability come before refactoring aesthetics.
Modernisation is done incrementally and behind tests. We characterise existing behaviour first, then upgrade the runtime, replace unmaintained dependencies, introduce a framework or structure where it earns its place, and leave the application deployable at every step. A rewrite is a last resort, and we will say so plainly when it genuinely is the cheaper option.
What We Deliver
- Laravel application development
- Legacy PHP modernization and refactoring
- Custom API integrations
- Security hardening and performance audits
How we build and deploy.
Structured engagement from initial process audit to live production monitoring.
Codebase and risk audit
Runtime version, dependency health, security exposure, test coverage, and the paths most likely to break. Delivered as a prioritised list, not a wall of warnings.
Stabilise and cover
Characterisation tests around current behaviour and fixes for anything actively dangerous, so later changes have a safety net.
Upgrade and modernise
Runtime and dependency upgrades, replacement of abandoned packages, and structural refactoring applied where it reduces ongoing cost.
Feature work and handover
New functionality built on the stabilised base, with deployment automation and documentation for whoever maintains it next.
Operational challenges we eliminate.
The application runs on a PHP version that no longer receives security fixes
We characterise current behaviour with tests, then upgrade incrementally through each version, resolving breaking changes and abandoned dependencies as we go.
Nobody is willing to touch the code in case it breaks something
We add tests around the critical paths first. Once behaviour is pinned down, refactoring stops being a gamble and becomes routine work.
Business logic is duplicated across controllers, views, and cron scripts
We consolidate it into tested service classes with a single call path, so a rule changes in one place instead of five.
Under the hood.
Deep architectural rigor built for software engineers and technical decision-makers.
Framework-agnostic domain logic
Business rules live in plain classes that are testable without HTTP, so a future framework upgrade does not require rewriting what the application actually does.
Query and index profiling
Slow pages are traced to the queries causing them, then fixed with indexes, eager loading, and caching rather than by adding more server capacity.
Security remediation
Parameterised queries, output escaping, CSRF protection, secure session handling, and file-upload validation applied across the codebase, not just where the last incident happened.
Deployment without downtime
Migrations, queue workers, and cache warming sequenced so a release does not require taking the application offline.
Where this applies.
New Laravel applications
Internal tools, customer portals, and business applications built with tests, queues, and a deployment pipeline from the first commit.
Legacy PHP rescue
An application on an unsupported PHP version that nobody wants to touch, brought back to a state where changes are safe to make.
Third-party integrations
Payment providers, CRMs, ERPs, and internal APIs connected with the retry, logging, and reconciliation logic that keeps records consistent.
Performance remediation
Diagnosing and fixing the database queries, N+1 loops, and missing caches behind slow page loads and timeouts.
Verified delivery standards.
Underwriting Acceleration
Finject MCA brokerage CRM with AI statement parsing
Brand-Compliant Social Reach
PostAutoPilot distributed social automation platform
Client Value Delivered
Over 200+ projects shipped across SaaS, AI, and workflow automation
Intellectual Property Guarantee
Clients own 100% of all custom code, prompt pipelines, and databases upon launch
Common questions about PHP & Laravel development.
Q.Can you work on a codebase with no framework and no tests?
Yes, and it is a common starting point. We begin with an audit and characterisation tests so we know what the application currently does, then improve it incrementally rather than rewriting it blind.
Q.How do you decide between repairing and rewriting?
By cost and risk, not preference. If the business logic is sound and the problems are structural, repair is almost always cheaper. If the requirements have fundamentally changed and the code encodes assumptions that no longer hold, we will say so and scope a rewrite honestly.
Q.Do you handle hosting and deployment?
Yes. We set up deployment automation, queue workers, scheduled tasks, and backups, on your infrastructure or a managed platform, and document how it runs.
Q.Can you take over from a previous developer mid-project?
Yes. We start with an audit so both sides know exactly what state the code is in before any commitment is made about timelines.
Real software we have shipped.
HomeSchool Matchmaker: Multi-Role Community & Field-Trip Marketplace
A role-aware homeschooling ecosystem built on Bubble.io uniting family discovery, vetted educator matching, field-trip venue bookings with Stripe Connect escrow, and recurring memberships.
SuperCoaches: 2-Sided Marketplace for Athletic Coaching & Academic Tutoring
A peer-to-peer booking and discovery marketplace connecting families with vetted youth athletic coaches and academic tutors with real-time scheduling and escrow payouts.
Have a process that should work better?
Bring us the bottleneck, the brittle build, or the idea. We'll give you a direct read on what to do next.