PHP Development
for Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane businesses.
Custom PHP web applications, APIs, e-commerce platforms, and CMS solutions. Plus support, upgrades, and rescue work for existing PHP systems that need attention.
We build new PHP applications on modern frameworks and we fix old ones that nobody else wants to touch. Perth-based, Australia-wide.
The language behind most of the business web
PHP is the most widely used server-side language on the web. It powers WordPress, Laravel, Symfony, Drupal, WooCommerce, and thousands of custom business applications. Roughly three out of four websites with a known backend use PHP. The ecosystem is enormous, practical, and deeply mature.
For Australian businesses, PHP is a strong choice for web applications, APIs, and operational systems. Development is cost-effective, hosting is cheap and widely available, and the developer pool is the largest of any backend language. If your project is a web application that needs to be built, maintained, and supported long-term — PHP gets the job done without drama.
We build new PHP applications on modern frameworks like Laravel and Symfony. And we support, upgrade, and rescue existing PHP systems that have fallen behind — outdated versions, security gaps, original developer gone, nobody maintaining the code. Both sides of PHP development are core work for our team.
PHP development — by project type
Web applications, APIs, e-commerce, content management, and legacy rescue. Most PHP projects fall into one of these categories.
Custom PHP Web Applications
Business web applications built in PHP — admin panels, internal tools, customer portals, booking systems, quoting platforms, and operational dashboards. Not marketing websites. Software that runs your business.
PHP handles the backend logic, database interactions, and API layer. The frontend can be server-rendered with Blade or Twig, or a decoupled React/Vue SPA that talks to a PHP API. The architecture matches the project requirements.
Most Australian business web applications run on PHP. The ecosystem is mature, hosting is straightforward, developers are available, and the frameworks handle everything from authentication to queue management out of the box.
PHP API Development
RESTful APIs that connect your PHP application to mobile apps, frontend SPAs, third-party platforms, and internal systems. Proper authentication, rate limiting, versioning, and documentation.
Laravel or Symfony for structured APIs with ORM, validation, and middleware. Slim or custom for lightweight microservices that need to be fast and minimal. The framework matches the API complexity.
Integration APIs that connect your PHP system to Xero, MYOB, HubSpot, Salesforce, Shopify, and hundreds of other platforms. Webhook receivers, scheduled sync jobs, and error handling built in.
PHP E-commerce Platforms
Online stores built on PHP — WooCommerce, custom Laravel e-commerce, and bespoke platforms for businesses that have outgrown off-the-shelf solutions. Product catalogues, inventory management, payment processing, and shipping integration.
For most small-to-medium retailers, WooCommerce on WordPress is the pragmatic choice. For businesses with complex pricing, multi-warehouse inventory, or B2B workflows, a custom Laravel e-commerce build gives full control.
Connected to your accounting (Xero, MYOB), shipping providers (Sendle, Australia Post, StarTrack), and warehouse management. Orders flow from the website into your operational systems without manual entry.
PHP Content Management Systems
Content-managed websites and applications built on WordPress, Drupal, or custom CMS platforms. Marketing sites, intranets, knowledge bases, and content-driven applications where non-technical staff need to edit content.
WordPress for most content sites — it is the standard for a reason. Custom PHP CMS when WordPress is not the right fit — multi-tenant platforms, heavily structured content, or applications where the CMS is a feature inside a larger system.
Headless CMS architectures where the PHP backend manages content via API and a React or Vue frontend handles the display. Best of both worlds — editorial flexibility with modern frontend performance.
PHP Legacy Application Rescue
Your business runs on a PHP application built five or ten years ago. The original developer is gone. The code is on PHP 5.6 or 7.2. Security patches have stopped. The hosting provider is sending warnings. But the system works, and the business depends on it.
We take over PHP applications other developers built. Code audit, security assessment, stabilisation, then a plan — upgrade in place, refactor module by module, or rebuild on a modern framework. The approach depends on the codebase quality and your business timeline.
Most legacy PHP applications can be upgraded without a full rebuild. PHP 5.6 to 8.x. Procedural code to a framework. Outdated dependencies replaced. Security gaps patched. Performance improved. The system keeps running throughout.
Client portal that cut email volume by 70%
We built a secure document exchange and task tracking portal for an accounting firm. Clients upload, review and approve — all in one place instead of email.
Read the full case study →Why PHP is still the pragmatic choice for business web applications
The most widely deployed server-side language on the web
PHP powers roughly 77% of websites with a known server-side language. WordPress, Laravel, Symfony, Drupal, Magento — the ecosystem is enormous. This is not a niche technology bet. It is the backbone of the web.
For Australian businesses, this means one thing: availability. PHP developers are easier to find than Rust developers. PHP hosting is cheaper than most alternatives. PHP frameworks have solved most common problems already.
Mature does not mean outdated. PHP 8.x is a modern, performant language with strong typing, JIT compilation, and clean syntax. The PHP of 2026 is not the PHP of 2010.
Lower development and hosting costs than most alternatives
PHP hosting is cheap. Shared hosting from $10/month. VPS from $20/month. Managed Laravel hosting from $15/month. You do not need Kubernetes or a $500/month cloud bill to run a PHP application.
Development cost is competitive because the ecosystem handles so much out of the box. Authentication, database management, file uploads, email, queues, caching, session management — these are solved problems in PHP. Your developer is building your business features, not reinventing infrastructure.
Long-term maintenance cost is lower because PHP developers are widely available. If your current developer moves on, finding a replacement is straightforward. That is not true for every language.
From simple websites to complex enterprise systems
PHP scales from a WordPress marketing site to a multi-tenant SaaS platform processing thousands of transactions per hour. The same language, different architectures. You do not need to change technology as the project grows.
Need a simple admin panel? PHP with Laravel in a couple of weeks. Need a complex workflow system with integrations? PHP with Laravel, queue workers, and API layer in a few months. Need to add AI features later? PHP backend calling Python AI services via API. The language does not box you in.
The flexibility extends to hosting. Shared hosting for small sites. VPS for medium applications. AWS or Azure for enterprise scale. Docker containers for teams that want portability. PHP runs anywhere.
Connects to everything your business already uses
Every major SaaS platform provides a PHP SDK or REST API that PHP calls natively. Xero, MYOB, Stripe, PayPal, HubSpot, Salesforce, Twilio, SendGrid, AWS, Azure — PHP talks to all of them.
Database support covers MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, and MongoDB. ORMs like Eloquent and Doctrine abstract the database layer so switching platforms does not mean rewriting queries.
PHP is the integration glue for most Australian business systems. Your accounting software, your CRM, your email platform, your payment gateway, your shipping provider — PHP connects them all through a single backend.
Already running a PHP application that needs help?
This is one of the most common reasons businesses contact us. The system works, the developer is gone, the PHP version is end-of-life. We take over.
Security Patching
PHP 5.6 and 7.x are end-of-life. No more security patches. We upgrade your application to PHP 8.x and fix vulnerabilities in the codebase — SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, and authentication gaps.
PHP Version Upgrades
Upgrade from PHP 5.6, 7.x, or 8.0 to the latest supported version. We handle deprecated functions, breaking changes, and dependency updates so the application works on modern PHP.
Framework Migration
Move from raw PHP or an outdated framework (CodeIgniter 2, CakePHP 2, Zend 1) to Laravel or Symfony. Structured migration that preserves your business logic while modernising the architecture.
Performance Optimisation
Slow PHP application? We profile, identify bottlenecks, and fix them — database query optimisation, caching layers, code refactoring, and hosting configuration tuning.
Codebase Takeover
Previous developer left? We audit the codebase, document it, stabilise it, and take over maintenance. Bug fixes, feature development, and ongoing support.
Ongoing Support & Maintenance
Monthly support plans covering security updates, bug fixes, dependency management, hosting monitoring, and feature additions. We know the code because we maintain it.
Need Help With an Existing PHP System?
PHP rescue, upgrades, and ongoing support
Tell us what you are running, what version it is on, and what the problem is. We will give you an honest assessment — upgrade, rebuild, or maintain — with a clear cost.
Common PHP development scenarios
New build, legacy rescue, or integration project — if one of these sounds like your situation, we have done it before.
New Business Web Application
Building a new internal system, portal, dashboard, or operational tool? PHP with Laravel is the fastest path to a reliable, maintainable web application for most business use cases.
Existing PHP System Needing Support
Running a PHP application your team depends on, but the developer who built it has moved on? We take over, stabilise, and maintain existing PHP codebases.
Legacy PHP Upgrade or Rescue
PHP 5.6, old CodeIgniter, outdated WordPress build — whatever the legacy situation, we upgrade, rescue, or rebuild PHP applications that have fallen behind.
E-commerce Platform
Online store with WooCommerce or custom Laravel e-commerce. Connected to your accounting, shipping, and inventory. From simple shops to complex B2B catalogues.
API & Integration Projects
Connecting your PHP application to other platforms — Xero, MYOB, HubSpot, Salesforce, payment gateways, shipping APIs. Or building APIs that mobile apps and SPAs consume.
WordPress / CMS Development
Custom WordPress themes, plugin development, WooCommerce builds, or WordPress rescue. Content-managed sites for businesses that need editorial control.
Common PHP upgrade and migration paths
If your PHP application is behind, here are the most common paths forward. We assess which one makes sense for your situation.
Common PHP stack combinations
PHP rarely works alone. These are the stack combinations behind most of our PHP client work.
PHP + Laravel + MySQL
The most common PHP stack. Rapid development, clean architecture, and an enormous ecosystem. Suits 80% of business web application projects.
PHP + React / Vue Frontend
PHP API backend with a modern JavaScript frontend. Decoupled architecture for interactive SPAs and dashboards. Laravel serves the API, React or Vue handles the UI.
PHP + WordPress + WooCommerce
Content-managed commerce. WordPress handles CMS and blog. WooCommerce handles products, orders, and payments. PHP custom code fills the gaps.
PHP + AWS / Azure
Cloud-hosted PHP applications on AWS (EC2, RDS, S3, Lambda) or Azure. Managed databases, CDN, auto-scaling, and Australian data centres.
PHP + PostgreSQL
For applications needing advanced database features — JSON columns, full-text search, window functions. PostgreSQL paired with Laravel or Symfony.
PHP Backend + Mobile App
PHP API serving React Native or Flutter mobile apps. One backend, multiple clients. The API serves the web app and the mobile app from the same data layer.
Our PHP system was built six years ago by a freelancer who disappeared. It ran our entire quoting process. We were terrified to change anything because nobody understood the code. HELLO PEOPLE took it over, audited the codebase, fixed the security issues, and upgraded it to Laravel. Took three months. Zero drama.
Common questions about PHP development
Is PHP still a good choice for new projects in 2026?
Yes. PHP 8.x is a modern, performant language. Laravel is one of the most actively developed web frameworks in any language. PHP powers around 77% of server-side web applications globally, has the largest hosting ecosystem, and the widest pool of available developers. For business web applications, it remains one of the most practical choices.
Can you work with our existing PHP codebase?
Yes. We take over existing PHP projects regularly — codebases built by other teams, freelancers, or in-house developers who have moved on. We start with a code audit to understand the state of the application, then maintain, upgrade, or rebuild depending on what makes commercial sense.
Can you upgrade our old PHP application?
Yes. We upgrade PHP 5.6, 7.x, and early 8.x applications to the latest supported version. We also migrate from outdated frameworks like CodeIgniter 2, CakePHP 2, or Zend 1 to Laravel. The upgrade path depends on how far behind the application is and how much custom code sits on top.
Should we upgrade our PHP app or rebuild it?
It depends on the codebase. If the code is reasonably structured and the business logic is sound, an upgrade is usually faster and cheaper. If the code is unstructured, the framework is truly obsolete, or your business requirements have changed significantly, a rebuild is often more cost-effective long-term. We assess both options and give you an honest recommendation.
How much does PHP development cost?
A standard PHP web application starts from $15,000 to $35,000 depending on complexity. E-commerce builds, SaaS platforms, and applications with complex integrations are higher. Legacy rescue and upgrade projects typically range from $5,000 to $25,000 depending on codebase size. We provide fixed-price quotes after a proper scoping process.
Do you fix projects built by other developers?
Yes. We regularly take over PHP projects where the original developer or team is no longer available. We audit the code, document it, fix critical issues, and either maintain the existing codebase or plan a modernisation path. No judgement — we just fix it and move forward.
Do you work Australia-wide?
Yes. We are based in Perth, Western Australia, but work with businesses across the country — Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and regional Australia. Most project work is done remotely via video call and shared project tools. We visit on-site when it adds value.
What PHP frameworks do you work with?
Laravel is our primary PHP framework for new builds. We also work with Symfony, WordPress (themes and plugins), and take over projects built in CodeIgniter, CakePHP, Slim, Yii, and older frameworks. For legacy rescue work, we work with whatever framework the original developer chose.
Get Started
Need PHP development, support, or rescue?
New project, legacy rescue, framework upgrade, or ongoing support — tell us the situation and we will come back with a practical plan. No jargon, no pressure.
Tell Us About Your PHP Project
New build, upgrade, rescue, or support — describe what you need and we will come back with an honest assessment and clear next step.
Prefer a quick chat? Call 0425 531 127 – we're Perth-based and we answer the phone.