How to Outsource PHP Development Projects [A Detailed Guide]

PHP is a widely used server-side scripting language used to develop websites, web apps, and web portals. If you want to build an eCommerce platform, CMS, or custom web application, outsourcing PHP development services is an ideal choice.

Considering the complexities involved in PHP development, outsourcing becomes particularly beneficial when:

• Your in-house development team lacks the expertise or resources to manage projects.
• You aim for cost efficiency, particularly for short-term or one-time PHP projects.
• Tight deadlines require accelerating project timelines.
• Scalability is needed, allowing for easy adjustments to resources.

However, when you want to outsource PHP services, you search for a reliable PHP development company. This collaboration helps optimize costs, provides access to specialized talent, and accelerates project timelines.

Read this blog covering the process, top companies to outsource, costs, and pros & cons of PHP development outsourcing.

Let’s first discuss the statistics of PHP development outsourcing.

Must Know Statistics of PHP Development Outsourcing

Check out the statistics of the PHP programming language before covering the entire process of outsourcing:

• 18.58% is the PHP adoption rate by developers globally.
• PHP is utilized in 76.4% of websites globally, indicating its dominance as a server-side scripting language in web development.
• As per the reports of W3Techs, leading websites like Facebook, Microsoft and Wikipedia are built using PHP which shows its effectiveness in powering high-traffic platforms.

Now let’s discuss the process involved in outsourcing PHP development.

6 Easy Steps to Outsource Your PHP Development Project

Here are the 6 easy steps to consider for PHP development outsourcing.

1. Define PHP Project Scope and Requirements

   Here are the important aspects to consider when defining project requirements.

   • List specific functionalities and features needed based on user needs and business objectives.
   • State project goals and measurable benchmarks for success.
   • Create PHP-specific user stories and use cases to guide development and user interaction.
   • Specify server configurations, database structures, and performance expectations.
   • Identify budgetary or time constraints that affect project execution.

   Failure to do so leads to confusion and project setbacks. For example, developers work on features that are not necessary for your PHP project which leads to wasted time and resources.

2. Research and Select PHP Outsourcing Partner

   Conduct detailed research on B2B directories like Clutch & GoodFirms which provides a list of PHP companies to identify a suitable partner for your PHP development project. Draft an RFP document outlining your project requirements and invite outsourcing firms to submit proposals.

   The document must include all the necessary details from project cost to technical specifications. After receiving the proposals, compare each one to find the right partner that fits your needs. When evaluating these partners, you need to consider the following factors.

   • Look for PHP outsourcing partners with proven industry experience and proficiency in relevant frameworks like Laravel, Yii, CodeIgniter, CakePHP and Symfony.
   • Review past projects and client testimonials to ensure a successful track record.
   • Prioritize clear and efficient communication channels to overcome language barriers and time zone differences.
   • Evaluate outsourcing web or outsourcing app development costs against your budget without compromising quality.
   • Ensure transparent project management practices with regular updates and a suitable methodology.

   Vetting partners through these factors ensures you get the right partner to understand your project requirements and provide customized PHP solutions. After the selection, you need to initiate discussion and negotiate the project terms.

   At Space-O Technologies, our team has experience in PHP technology and its frameworks like Laravel, CodeIgniter, Symfony and Yii. We follow Agile methodologies to develop customized PHP solutions, which ensures your project is on track and meeting deadlines. Recently, our PHP-based online learning platform received $1.4 million in funding through an Angel syndicate.

Looking to Outsource Your PHP Project?

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3. Choose the Right Engagement Model

   Most software development companies follow 3 types of engagement models including the staff augmentation model, dedicated team model & full PHP project outsourcing model, each providing diverse benefits.

   Check out this table highlighting each model’s details.

   Engagement Model	Description	Suitable For
   Staff Augmentation Model	This model involves expanding your in-house team with external PHP developers temporarily.	Projects requiring specific expertise or additional resources for short-term tasks or to meet deadlines.
   Dedicated Team Model	With this model, you have a dedicated team of PHP developers exclusively focused on your project for an extended period.	Long-term projects or those needing ongoing support and maintenance, offer control and transparency over the development process.
   Full PHP Project Outsourcing Model	In this model, you delegate the entire PHP project, from conception to delivery, to an external development team or agency.	Projects where you lack in-house expertise or resources, or for those seeking a comprehensive solution with minimal involvement.

   You need to choose a model based on the level of flexibility, control and cost-effectiveness to fit your projects’ requirements and constraints.

4. Negotiate Project Terms and Sign Contracts

   When you initiate your project discussion, start with negotiating the project terms and signing contracts to formalize the collaboration. To ensure mutual understanding and alignment between both parties, consider the following factors during negotiation.

   • Set clear project timelines, milestones, and deliverables aligned with goals to ensure effective progress tracking.
   • Discuss resource allocation, team roles, and communication channels for smooth collaboration.
   • Negotiate project pricing, payment schedules, and expenses for financial clarity and alignment.
   • Address ownership and rights concerning project deliverables transparently to avoid any misunderstandings.

   Once the negotiation is done, both parties need to review and sign the contract to formalize the agreement and commence the project.

5. Establish Communication Channels and Provide Resources

   After signing the contract, decide on communication tools like email, video conferencing, or project management platforms to ensure smooth interaction. Consider organizing a kickoff meeting to introduce in-house team members, clarify roles, and discuss project objectives.

   During this step, provide the necessary documents containing project requirements, functional specifications, and user stories to the outsourcing PHP development partner. This ensures that both you and the partner are equipped with the required materials and information to begin the project.

6. Monitor Progress, Testing, and Deployment

   The last step involves evaluating the quality of deliverables, ensuring adherence to schedules, and addressing any issues or delays. Here is a checklist of specific questions to guide you through this step.

   For Progress Tracking:

   • Is the project currently on track to meet the milestone deadlines as planned?
   • What specific tasks have been completed since our last update, and what remains outstanding?
   • Have any unforeseen issues or delays arisen that might impact the project timeline?
   • Are we strictly following the initially defined project scope, or have there been any deviations?

   For Testing Processes:

   • What types of testing methods have been employed for the project?
   • Can you provide details on the test coverage and any identified issues?
   • Have all specified requirements been thoroughly tested?
   • How are security vulnerabilities being identified and addressed?

   For Deployment Readiness:

   • Have deployment scripts and procedures drafted, tested, and documented?
   • Are there any external dependencies or integrations that need special attention during deployment?
   • What contingency plans are in place to handle any unexpected deployment failures?

   By following this checklist, any identified issues or concerns will be promptly addressed to ensure the project’s smooth progress.

   After discussing the entire process of outsourcing your PHP project, let’s have a look at the leading 5 PHP companies for your project.

Top 5 PHP Development Outsourcing Companies

Here are the top 5 companies to help you choose the most reliable PHP outsourcing company for your project. Check out how we prepared this list.

Why Trust Our List?

We understand the importance of credibility. So here is a breakdown of how we analyzed and provided the list of top PHP companies.

7

Platforms Analyzed

We analyzed top platforms like Clutch, DesignRush and GoodFirms that provide a list of PHP companies along with reviews and ratings.

134

Companies Reviewed

From 7 platforms, we reviewed 134 companies and sorted 31 companies.

23

Hours Researched

We spent 23 hours manually reviewing 31 companies and sorted out the top 5 companies based on 13 factors.

13

Factors Considered

We considered 13 factors and evaluated the top 5 companies based on PHP services offered, hourly rates, location, client base, and technical expertise.

Now, let’s have a look at the table containing the overview of the top PHP development companies.

Company	Clutch Rating (Reviews)	Services Offered	Directions
Space-O Technologies	4.8 (61 Reviews)	PHP Consulting PHP Web Application Development PHP Website Development Enterprise Web Portal Development PHP API Development & Integration PHP Migration & Upgrade PHP Support & Maintenance
Orases	5.0 (61 Reviews)	PHP Consulting PHP Optimization Custom PHP Development PHP API Development PHP CRM & eCommerce Development
Highland	4.9 (45 Reviews)	PHP Website Development PHP Web Application Development SaaS Development PHP Performance Optimization PHP Maintenance & Support
BairesDev	4.9 (56 Reviews)	Custom PHP Development Fullstack PHP Development CMS Development Custom PHP Cloud Solutions PHP Support and Maintenance
Scopic	4.9 (23 Reviews)	PHP Web Development eCommerce PHP Development CMS Development PHP API Development and Integration PHP Cloud Solutions

Now you have an overview of the top 5 PHP development companies. If you want to and need complete details about the top 10 companies, check out this blog about the top PHP development companies. This makes it easier to choose the right partner to develop your PHP solutions.

Let’s discuss the cost of PHP development outsourcing.

How Much Does It Cost to Outsource PHP Development

The average cost of outsourcing a PHP development project in the USA ranges from $5,000 to $50,000 for smaller to medium-sized projects. For larger and more complex projects, the cost may exceed this range. This figure is not entirely precise as the cost is not entirely dependent on project size but also varies based on the following factors.

• Project complexity
• Desired features and functionality
• PHP developer experience and expertise
• Project timelines
• Geographical location
• Additional services required like maintenance, support & testing
• Integration with third-party systems or APIs

Check out this table to get a more in-depth understanding of the PHP development outsourcing cost.

Note: The price in the above table is not precise. Along with the features and functionality, the price varies on other factors like project complexity, developer experience and geographic location.

When you outsource PHP development projects, consider the tech stack and team involved in the process. Let’s discuss each.

Technology Stack Used for PHP Development

Here is the table highlighting the tech stack used for PHP development.

With the tech stack involved in outsourcing PHP projects, you need to consider the following team structure to ensure smooth and efficient project execution.

Team Structure for Outsourcing PHP Development Projects

Here is the table showcasing the team structure with the roles and responsibilities of the PHP development team.

After exploring the roles and responsibilities of each of the team members, let’s discuss the advantages of outsourcing PHP services.

6 Benefits of Outsourcing PHP Development Services

Here are the benefits associated with outsourcing PHP web development services.

1. Optimizes Cost Efficiency through Resource Allocation

   With outsourcing, you save costs associated with recruiting, onboarding, and training in-house PHP developers. Also, outsourcing eliminates the need to invest in the latest technology and maintain infrastructure.

2. Offers Specialized Expertise for Enhanced Development

   You get access to a global talent pool of experienced PHP developers with experience and knowledge in PHP frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter. This ensures your PHP development projects are developed to the highest standards with clean and efficient code.

   At Space-O Technologies, we have experienced PHP developers if you are looking for your web project. We have a team of talented developers specializing in developing custom websites and web apps using Laravel and CodeIgniter. From concept to execution, we ensure that every aspect of your web requirements is addressed.

3. Accelerates Project Timelines with Streamlined Processes

   The outsourcing PHP processes include following Agile methodology, regularly communicating, and using collaboration tools to ensure smooth project management. Following such processes leads to accelerating your project timelines, allowing for faster time to market.

4. Provides Flexibility to Scale PHP Development Team

   One of the key benefits is the flexibility to increase your development team size during peak development periods and reduce it during slower periods. Outsourcing also allows you to access specialized skills on demand without having a full-time developer to work on your project.

5. Ensures Application Quality with Strong Testing Measures

   Thorough testing is carried out which includes functional testing, integration testing, performance testing, and security testing. This helps in identifying and addressing bugs and issues, ensuring your application is reliable and secure.

6. Prioritizes Core Business Activities by Outsourcing Development Tasks

   Outsourcing PHP development tasks allows you to free up time and resources to focus on the core business activities. This helps you to prioritize strategic planning, customer engagement, and other critical functions that drive growth.

With several benefits, outsourcing also offers a few challenges that you must know. Let’s discuss each one in detail.

PHP Development Outsourcing Challenges and Solutions

Here are the PHP development outsourcing challenges and solutions to address these challenges.

1. Lacks Clear and Timely Communication Channels

   You encounter difficulties in PHP development outsourcing due to a lack of clear and timely communication channels between you and the external team. This leads to misunderstandings, delays, and ultimately, a hindrance to project progress.

   Solution:

   Implement a streamlined communication protocol to address the lack of clear and timely channels. This involves promoting regular status updates and using collaborative tools to ensure smooth PHP development outsourcing progress.

   When partnering with Space-O Technologies, our approach ensures structured communication with scheduled meetings and clear documentation. Also, we use collaboration tools such as Slack or Asana to facilitate real-time communication and enhance transparency.

2. Faces Data Privacy and Compliance Challenges

   When outsourcing PHP development, you face data privacy and compliance challenges, especially if dealing with sensitive information or operating in regulated industries. Ensuring compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA is crucial to avoid legal consequences and protect your reputation.

   Solution:

   Prioritize partners with robust data protection measures. Implement secure data transfer protocols and conduct regular audits for compliance.

3. Experiences Uncontrolled Expansion of Project Scope

   Uncontrolled expansion of project scope is common in PHP development outsourcing, leading to scope creep, missed deadlines, and budget overruns. This happens when additional features or requirements are continuously added to the project without proper evaluation or management.

   Solution:

   Establish a comprehensive project scope document. Implement a change management process to evaluate and approve scope changes.

4. Depends Heavily on External Providers for Technical Expertise

   Depending heavily on external providers for technical expertise poses a risk in PHP development outsourcing. This leads to dependency issues and a lack of control over project outcomes. When your project relies solely on external expertise, you face delays or quality issues if the external provider is unavailable or fails to meet expectations

   Solution:

   Invest in internal technical capabilities through training and upskilling. Foster a culture of knowledge sharing and consider diversifying outsourcing partnerships.

   Now you know every aspect of PHP development from the process to the scenarios when you require to outsource your PHP projects. If you still have any doubts, check out this next section.

Develop Your Web Solution With Space-O Technologies

PHP development outsourcing allows you to get benefits like cost savings, access to a wide pool of experienced PHP developers and rapid project timelines. The expertise of external PHP development teams helps tackle projects, meet deadlines, and stay competitive. Contact Space-O Technologies and discuss your PHP project requirement.