Why we settled on Laravel
We tried plenty of other things first. Laravel won because it does the boring parts properly. Authentication, queues, scheduled jobs, database migrations and testing are all built in and all maintained by a large community, which means we spend our time on the part that is actually specific to your business rather than reinventing plumbing. It is PHP, so it runs cheaply and almost anywhere, and it has a predictable release cycle we can plan upgrades around.
It also means you are not locked in to us. Laravel is one of the most widely used frameworks in the world, so if you ever need to move your project elsewhere, there is no shortage of developers who can pick it up. We think that is a feature, not a risk.
01
Web applications
Booking systems, portals and platforms built from scratch.
02
Websites
Laravel powered sites with an admin your team can actually use.
03
APIs
Backends for mobile apps and services that need to talk to each other.
04
Integrations
Stripe, accounting systems, CRMs and whatever else you already run.
05
Upgrades
Moving older Laravel projects onto a supported version safely.
06
Rescue work
Taking on a Laravel codebase somebody else started.
Inherited projects
Already have a Laravel application?
A fair amount of our Laravel work starts with a codebase somebody else wrote. Sometimes the original developer has moved on, sometimes the agency folded, and sometimes the project simply outgrew whoever built it. Either way you are left with software your business depends on and nobody to call.
We take these on regularly. The first thing we do is read the code and tell you honestly what state it is in, what it would cost to bring up to date, and whether that is a better idea than starting again. You get that assessment whether or not you go on to hire us.
What we look at
- Laravel and PHP versions
- Security and dependencies
- Test coverage
- Hosting and deployment
- Cost to bring current
Ballr
Laravel and Vue, working together
Ballr is club management software we built for grassroots football clubs. Laravel handles the accounts, teams, fixtures, availability and notifications on the server, and Vue drives the parts of the interface that need to feel instant.
That combination is how we build most things. Laravel for the data and the rules, Vue where the screen needs to react without a page reload. It keeps the application quick without turning it into two separate codebases nobody can maintain.
Under the bonnet
- Laravel back end
- Vue front end
- Queued notifications
- Role based access
- Automated deployments
What our clients say
Our focus is on delivering top quality work to our clients, and making sure their experience is smooth & stress-free.
Join our happy clients"Kyle, Luke and the team at Element Seven have been extremely helpful with the set up and maintenance of our new site. With a quick, efficient and proactive turn around from initial concept to implementation, the team provided us with a functional and aesthetic website that has performed extremely well for us."
James Joyce
Business Development & Operations Manager, Haymarket
"In a market where many of our competitors overlook the importance of their websites, trusting Element Seven to bring our brand to life through a beautifully crafted website has helped Campbell Financial stand out. It reflects our values perfectly and positions us strongly in a space where first impressions really matter. I'd highly recommend Element Seven to anyone looking for a professional, detail-driven web partner."
Sheena Campbell
Owner, Campbell Financial
"I personally cannot recommend Element Seven enough, as their attention to user experience and the support they offer has been such a driving force to what we have been able to accomplish! As someone that is not tech savvy they are a pleasure to work with and I never feel awkward about asking any questions if I don't personally understand something which is a big deal to me! No matter what we have as an idea, we know they will have the best ways to do it to hand and always give us realistic timelines and expectations."
Tom Morrison
Founder, Tom Morrison Ltd.
Scope
We sit down and work out what the software actually has to do. If there is an existing system, we go through it with you and find out which parts earn their keep and which parts nobody has used in two years.
Architect
We map out the database, the models and how the pieces fit together before we write much code. Getting this wrong is expensive later, so it is worth the time up front.
Build
We build in short cycles and put working software in front of you as we go, on a staging site you can log into. You see progress in weeks rather than waiting months for a reveal.
Test
Automated tests cover the parts where a bug would cost you money, and we test the whole thing properly ourselves before anyone else sees it. We also check performance under a realistic amount of data.
Deploy
Deployments are automated and zero downtime, so releasing a change is a non event. We set up backups, monitoring and error reporting at the same time rather than after something goes wrong.
Maintain
Laravel puts out a major version every year. We keep your application on a supported version, apply security patches and stay available when you want to add something. See our website maintenance packages.
Laravel or WordPress?
This comes up on nearly every project, so here is the honest answer. WordPress is fine for a brochure site somebody updates once a month. The moment you need users logging in, payments taken, data that belongs to your business or logic nobody else has, you are better off with Laravel. The comparison below is what we have found running both.
| WordPress and plugins | Laravel | |
|---|---|---|
| Quick to stand up | ||
| Content editing | ||
| Logic specific to your business | ||
| No plugin licence renewals | ||
| Smaller attack surface | ||
| Automated testing | ||
| Version control and staging | ||
| Handles growth without rework |
What we build in Laravel
If you are weighing up a specific project, these pages go into more detail on the kind of work we do most often.
Web applications
Custom software for the parts of your business that spreadsheets and off-the-shelf tools have stopped coping with.
Booking systems
Online booking built around how your venue actually runs, with no commission on every booking you take.
Bespoke websites
Websites designed and built from scratch, with a content admin shaped around your team rather than a template.
Laravel development
