Jonathan Bird Web Development
Laravel Developer Brisbane
  1. Website Platforms
  3. Laravel Development

Laravel Developer Brisbane

I am a freelance Laravel Developer based in Brisbane, Australia who has worked with Laravel almost daily since 2013. I provide a one-stop Laravel shop for my clients who need bespoke web solutions, from strategy through to design, development, ongoing maintenance and hosting. I work directly with you, no account managers or outsourced teams in between. When off-the-shelf solutions don't align with your business needs, the answer is to develop a custom web application using the Laravel PHP framework. I spend the time to understand business requirements and user journeys completely before development begins, then build solutions using the full Laravel ecosystem including Livewire, Horizon, Sanctum, Forge, and more. I work with businesses across Brisbane and throughout Australia, from startups building their first product to established companies maintaining complex applications. Many of my client partnerships span 5 to 7 years or more, which I think says a lot about the quality of work and the relationships I build. You can view a selection of my Laravel projects below.

Why choose Laravel for your next project?

Authentication: User, Roles & Permissions

One of the key benefits of Laravel is how easy it is to architect your application and build in a full user authentication system - user management, two factor authentication, roles and permissions to wrap around your pages and features without needing to invest weeks in developing this from scratch.

API & ERP Integrations

Laravel makes it straightforward to build robust APIs and integrate with third-party systems like Xero, MYOB, NetSuite, Options, Westpac PayWay, and other APIs and ERPs. I build custom integrations that sync your web application with accounting, inventory, CRM, and logistics platforms so your business data flows where it needs to.

Admin Panels

Every custom Laravel application I build includes a tailored admin panel that gives you full control over your data, users, and content. Whether it's managing orders, generating reports, or handling approvals, I build admin interfaces that match your actual workflows rather than forcing you into a generic dashboard.

Single Sign-On (SSO)

Authenticate your staff or users using a Single Sign-On (SSO) approach for your Laravel application. This could be as simple as OAuth between apps, or SAML SSO for Office 365. SSO can be integrated into your application using SAML, LDAP, JWT, or the OAuth protocol.

Complex Business Rules

Laravel being PHP's most popular framework for developing custom web applications means that the quality and structure of the framework makes it easy to develop web applications that have complex business rules and requirements. I develop web applications using the technologies that lead the top companies including Laravel PHP, Redis, and MySQL.

eCommerce

Packages such as Laravel Spark and Laravel Cashier make it easy to hit the ground running with all-in-one billing and subscription tools. Laravel also makes it easy to develop any custom integrations if you prefer to integrate your own payment processor of choice such as Westpac PayWay.

Website Project Process

My website project process includes a comprehensive approach encompassing phases for website discovery, design, development, quality assurance, training, and post-launch review.

Jonathan Bird Web Development - Website Process

Case Studies - Featured Case Studies that use Laravel

These showcased projects serve as a window into my expertise in the realm of Laravel Developer Brisbane. Carefully selected to represent a variety of solutions, they demonstrate the diverse capabilities I bring to the table.

Impact Office Supplies eCommerce Website (B2B & B2C)
Algolia/TypeSense Search AWS Cloud Management Laravel Development

Impact Office Supplies eCommerce Website (B2B & B2C)

Impact Office Supplies is Australia’s leading independent office supplies store, enabling Australia-wide businesses and communities to order your office supplies online with ease.

All 4 Adventure Competition Website
AWS Cloud Management Laravel Development

All 4 Adventure Competition Website

Live the All 4 Adventure Dream is an exciting competition being run exclusively in conjunction with the telecast of All 4 Adventure giving viewers the chance to win $250K of prizes.

Rumble's Quest Child Wellbeing Measurement & Reporting Platform
Laravel Development AWS Cloud Management

Rumble's Quest Child Wellbeing Measurement & Reporting Platform

Rumble's Quest is a robust and reliable measure of social and emotional wellbeing for primary school children in Australia. The digital tools developed help to measure and report back to educators.

Delivery Management Software
Laravel Development Algolia/TypeSense Search AWS Cloud Management

Delivery Management Software

A powerful delivery management solution streamlining logistics, enhancing real-time tracking, and optimising operations.

Hour Cap Time Tracking & Billing SaaS Application
Laravel Development

Hour Cap Time Tracking & Billing SaaS Application

A modern, full-featured time tracking and billing platform built for freelancers, consultants, and small teams who bill client hours and need seamless Xero integration for invoicing.

Culture Kings Shopify & Laravel Websites
Shopify & Shopify Plus Development Laravel Development AWS Cloud Management

Culture Kings Shopify & Laravel Websites

Culture Kings had significant eCommerce growth and as one of the senior web developers employed, I was appointed in redesigning & developing their new website in Shopify, as well as their middleware application in Laravel.

View all Case Studies

From the Blog - Laravel Articles From a Specialist Developer

I write regularly about Laravel development, sharing practical solutions and insights from over a decade of building production applications. These articles reflect the same expertise and attention to detail I bring to every client project.

Laravel

How to Fix "Target Class Does Not Exist" Error in Laravel 13 (2026 Guide)

The "Target class does not exist" error in Laravel is usually caused by incorrect controller references, missing imports, or autoloading issues. This guide covers all the common causes and how to fix them in Laravel 13.

Read article
· Last updated: April 1, 2026
Laravel

How to Fix "Failed to Open Stream: Permission Denied" Error in Laravel 13 (2026 Guide)

The "failed to open stream: Permission denied" error in Laravel is almost always a file ownership or permissions issue with the storage and bootstrap/cache directories. This guide covers all the common causes and how to fix them in Laravel 13.

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Laravel

Laravel's Failover Queue Driver: How to Never Lose a Job

Laravel's failover queue driver quietly switches to a backup connection when your primary queue goes down. Here's how to set it up, monitor it, and make sure your jobs always get processed.

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Laravel

How to Fix "SQLSTATE[42S22]: Column Not Found" Error in Laravel 12 (2026 Guide)

The "Column not found: 1054 Unknown column" error is one of the most common database issues in Laravel. Learn how to diagnose and fix it, whether it's a typo, a missing migration, or an Eloquent relationship issue.

Read article
View all articles
“We have used Jonathan for a number of years to develop and maintain our rather complicated Online Portal and website. Jonathan is always extremely responsive to requests and proactive in ensuring our online presence is safe, presents well and is functional to our customers needs. We would definitely recommend Jonathan for your custom web development needs.”
Nathan Smith Marketing Manager, East Coast Bullbars
“Digital Bird is my first pick for delivering web projects on time, on budget and to the brief — every time. Beyond being a delight to work with, Jonathan Bird is that rare breed of developer who is both masterful on the tools (an absolute Laravel whizz!) while also being adept at engaging the client in UX-thinking, to which he applies expert insights, gained through years of experience, to help further improve the end design for the target user’s experience. This powerful combination of skills means that 4 years on and a variety of projects later (from search directories to corporate website developments), Digital Bird firmly remains my first pick for developer.”
Emma Keller Communications Manager, Brisbane South PHN
Brisbane South PHN
“We’ve been working with Jonathan Bird for our website maintenance, and he has been nothing short of exceptional. Jonathan consistently goes above and beyond, responding quickly whenever we need help and resolving issues with impressive turnaround time. His communication is clear and thorough — he always explains what the problem was, how he fixed it, and provides helpful recommendations for long-term solutions. It’s rare to find someone this reliable and proactive. Highly recommend!”
Nichola Ross Marketing Manager, Rapidline (FurnX Commercial Furniture)
“Digital Bird has had a huge influence on our business providing many solutions besides just a fantastic reliable website. Jonathan is great to work with and has a solution to every challenge. Jonathan also has the ability to “dumb it down” and provide timely advice and assistance if something goes astray. With Jonathan we have in excess of 99% uptime on all three websites.”
Jeff Ross Director, Impact Office Supplies
Impact Office Supplies Logo
“Was an absolute pleasure to work with Jonathan. Could not be happier with our new website! Professional, responsive, brilliant communication from the beginning to go live. If you are fortunate enough to be in a conversation with Jonathan for a new site - just do it!”
Alex Brennan Director, Blue Ink Office Supplies
“I’ve worked with Jonathan from Digital Bird for several years and found him to be a highly competent developer who often exceeds expectations. Together, we’ve collaborated on a number of medium-sized platforms serving hundreds of thousands of users, including learning management systems, a widely-used school well-being platform, trade promotion competition sites, and more. Jonathan is very skilled in API and platform integration, payment systems (such as Stripe), AWS, internet security, and more. As a Project Manager/Product Owner, I feel very confident working with Jonathan and recommending his services to our clients.”
Zachary Bavas Technical Operations, Invision Media
Invision Media
“Highly recommend Jonathan for anything web development in Brisbane and Australia-wide. Have worked with a lot of developers over the years and Jonathan’s work and communication on projects has been a clear standout. A very talent developer if you’re looking for anything from WordPress, Shopify, Laravel, or anything in-between.”
Brodie Clark Director, Brodie Clark SEO Consulting
Brodie Clark Consulting Logo
“Jonathan Bird is one of the best I have worked with in this space. He is responsive, clever and contributes to the brief, and most importantly, he is a great person to work with. It can be hard to find the right people who can take on something and lift it to another dimension. Jonathan does that and more.”
Mark Gold Director of Corporate Affairs, AMA Group Ltd
AMA Group Logo
“Jonathan Bird was instrumental in redesigning my business’ website and provided invaluable feedback throughout the entire process. The results far exceeded my expectations. They then went above and beyond and met all deadlines in revamping the site again, when we re branded our business. Jonathan has been managing our website updates and hosting ever since and, with more than 10 years industry experience, is always able to add value, solve problems and exceed expectations. I highly recommend him.”
Craig Dobbs Partner, Apiary Financial
Apiary Financial Logo
“5 stars don’t reflect the real experience provided by Jonathan, but there aren’t more stars to give. Jonathan is the best in the business and is a dream to work with. He goes above and beyond for all requirements that Mobile Camera Security has and is the only developer that we will work with.”
Brandon Petterson Head of Technology, Mobile Camera Security
Mobile Camera Security Logo

You’re in good company

Culture Kings All4Adventure Creative Conversions ROH Wheels Museum of Brisbane Griffith University Wotif Group Healing Foundation
Culture Kings All4Adventure Creative Conversions ROH Wheels Museum of Brisbane Griffith University Wotif Group Healing Foundation
FurnX Commercial Furniture Impact Office Supplies Blue Ink Velg Training Gippsland PHN East Coast Bullbars Inspiring Brighter Futures Triple P Positive Parenting Program Brisbane South PHN Burger Urge
FurnX Commercial Furniture Impact Office Supplies Blue Ink Velg Training Gippsland PHN East Coast Bullbars Inspiring Brighter Futures Triple P Positive Parenting Program Brisbane South PHN Burger Urge

Common Laravel Project Questions

Here are some of the most common questions about Laravel Development that I get asked.

Do you also work with clients that are based outside of Brisbane and Australia?

While I am known for being a Brisbane-based Freelance Web Developer, I do also regularly work with clients throughout Australia and globally. I can work with customers the in UK, the US, Canada, and many other countries. So yes, I'm a Freelance Web Developer in Brisbane, but I operate internationally.

Why would I develop custom Laravel software if I can use an off-the-shelf solution?

Off-the-shelf solutions are pre-build and come with the benefit of included feature updates. With custom applications, you have full flexibility to develop solutions exactly as you require without needing to work around another platform. There is no correct decision, it fully depends on your business requirements, it's important to consider all pros and cons before deciding.

What are the ongoing cost differences between custom Laravel development and off-the-shelf software?

Generally for a medium to large sized project, the costs may be similar in the long-term. Custom Laravel development has the obvious upfront cost that you must develop the application, as well as any future development, and maintenance costs for updates. Off-the-self software commonly has many hidden costs - Enterprise off-the-shelf software has licence costs that can be as high as $500K annually, and it's not uncommon to require many customisations to off-the-shelf solutions, and you are at the mercy of their development resources which can cost upward of $300 per hour. There isn't a 'correct' choice, you must decide which option suits your business requirements more.

How do I hire a Laravel developer in Australia?

When hiring a Laravel developer in Australia, look for someone with proven commercial experience building and maintaining production applications, not just tutorial projects. Ask to see case studies, check how long their client relationships last, and make sure they understand the full stack including deployment, hosting, and ongoing maintenance. I have been working with Laravel since 2013, and many of my clients have been with me for over 5 years, which reflects the quality and reliability of the work I deliver.

How much does a Laravel developer cost in Australia?

Laravel developer rates in Australia typically range from $150 to $300+ per hour depending on experience, complexity, and whether you are working with a freelancer or an agency. Agencies tend to charge more due to overheads. As a freelance Laravel developer, I work directly with you without the extra layers, which means you get senior-level experience without the agency markup. Project costs vary widely depending on scope, so the best approach is to get in touch and discuss your specific requirements.

How long does it take to build a custom Laravel application?

It depends entirely on the scope and complexity of the project. A straightforward application with standard features like authentication, a dashboard, and basic CRUD might take 4 to 8 weeks. More complex applications involving API integrations, custom business logic, multi-tenancy, or real-time features can take several months. I always start with a discovery phase to properly scope the project before committing to timelines, so you know what to expect before development begins.

What should I look for in a Laravel developer?

Look for a developer who has hands-on experience with the broader Laravel ecosystem, not just the core framework. This includes tools like Livewire for interactive interfaces, Horizon for queue management, Sanctum for API authentication, and Forge or similar for deployment. You also want someone who writes tests, understands database design, and can handle the full lifecycle from development through to production hosting and maintenance. Long-standing client relationships are a strong indicator of reliability and quality.

Can another developer take over a Laravel project you have built?

Absolutely. I follow Laravel conventions and best practices, which means any competent Laravel developer can pick up and continue working on a project I have built. I write clean, well-structured code with proper documentation where needed. You are never locked in to working with me, and you always own the code. That said, most of my clients choose to continue working with me because of the context and understanding I build up over time.

Talk to me about your Laravel project

Get a quote