Laravel maintenance, rescue and support for UK businesses
Senior Laravel developer available for abandoned projects, bug fixes, performance work, and ongoing support. No rewrite mentality.
Laravel problems I fix
What goes wrong
- The original developer left and nobody can maintain the application
- The application is slow under load and nobody knows why
- Features were added without tests and things keep breaking
- A hosting migration stalled because nobody understands the deployment
- You inherited a Laravel codebase with no documentation
What I do about it
- Audit the codebase first. Document what exists before changing anything.
- Profile the application, identify the bottleneck and fix it with before-and-after data.
- Add test coverage incrementally around the highest-risk parts of the codebase.
- Document and stabilise the deployment pipeline before migrating anything.
- Produce a clear picture of what you have. That comes before any development work.
Laravel work I take on
Rescue and takeover
Taking over a Laravel application from a previous developer. Codebase audit first. Clear documentation before changes start. No assumptions.
Bug fixes
Systematic diagnosis of production bugs. Root cause analysis before any code is written. Fixes verified in staging before deployment.
Performance optimisation
Slow query identification, N+1 elimination, caching configuration and response time profiling. Measured improvements, not guesswork.
Feature development
New features added to existing applications. Tests included. Code that other developers can maintain.
API integration
Third-party API connections, webhook handling and data pipeline work. Built to handle failures gracefully.
Ongoing support
Monthly retainer covering updates, security patches and a set number of hours for fixes and features. Priority response when something breaks.
Taking over Laravel projects
Most abandoned Laravel applications can be stabilised without a rewrite. The instinct to start from scratch is rarely the right one. A thorough audit usually reveals a manageable set of problems that can be fixed incrementally.
The takeover process starts with understanding what the application does, how it is deployed and what the highest-risk areas are. That audit produces a document that can be shared with stakeholders and forms the basis for a prioritised fix list.
From there, work proceeds incrementally. The most critical stability issues first, then performance, then documentation and test coverage. The application improves without going dark.
White-label Laravel capacity for agencies
Agencies with Laravel clients who lack in-house depth need a reliable technical partner, not a consultant who charges for every call. I work under your brand, inside your tools and on your client's timeline.
Whether you need someone to take over a difficult rescue project or provide senior capacity for a complex feature build, I can join your team for the duration.
Common questions
Do you rewrite or fix existing Laravel applications?
I fix where possible. Rewrites are expensive, disruptive and often produce a new set of problems. Most Laravel applications that appear broken can be stabilised and improved incrementally. I recommend a rewrite only when the existing codebase is genuinely unsalvageable, and that is rare.
What Laravel versions do you work with?
I work with all supported Laravel versions, including legacy versions on older PHP. If you are on an end-of-life version, I can plan and execute the upgrade path rather than just refusing to touch it.
Can you take over a project with no documentation?
Yes. Undocumented codebases are the most common scenario in rescue work. The first phase of any takeover is producing that documentation. I audit the application, document what I find and agree a clear picture of the codebase before any development work begins.
How long does a Laravel rescue take?
It depends on the size and state of the application. A small application with identifiable problems can be stabilised in one to two weeks. Larger applications with widespread technical debt take longer. I give a realistic estimate after the initial audit.
Do you work with Laravel Forge or Envoyer?
Yes. I work with Forge and Envoyer regularly, along with Cloudways, DigitalOcean and managed hosting environments. Deployment pipeline work is part of most rescue projects.
Laravel application causing problems?
Describe what is happening. I will tell you whether I can help and what the first step looks like.