A guide to hiring offshore PHP Developers

A global shortage of PHP developers has made hiring the best talent locally a challenging task for many industries in the West. That’s why businesses are moving towards offshore PHP developers for their development needs.

An introduction to hiring offshore PHP developers

Hiring offshore gives companies access to a global talent pool of PHP developers, enabling them to utilize the skills of highly qualified tech talent while keeping down costs. But the process of hiring PHP developers from different countries can be complex and overwhelming, especially for those who’ve never done it before. 

For that reason, this guide explains what to consider when hiring offshore PHP developers. It also looks at the benefits of offshore hiring, the challenges involved, and the best practices for finding and evaluating the right candidates.

By the end, you will understand more about the offshore hiring process and be equipped with the knowledge to hire the best offshore PHP developers for your needs.

The benefits of PHP development

PHP is a popular programming language for building websites and web applications. It provides many benefits, such as

• Flexibility: As a flexible programming language, PHP can be used to develop a wide range of web applications, from small websites to large-scale enterprise applications.

• Open-source: It is an open-source language. Meaning it’s free to use, and a huge community is working together to troubleshoot and fix any issues.

• Scalability: PHP is highly scalable, making it ideal for building web applications that can grow and evolve over time as the needs of a business change.

• Speed: PHP is fast. That means websites and web applications developed using PHP load quickly and deliver a smooth user experience.

• Compatible: It can run on different platforms, such as Windows, Linux, and MacOS, making it cross-platform compatible.

Who needs offshore PHP development?

PHP can be used to build a wide range of web applications, from simple websites to complex enterprise applications, making it a versatile solution for businesses of all sizes and industries. As a result, there is a high demand for PHP developers in both onshore and offshore markets. 

In fact, any business or individual looking to build a website or web application can benefit from offshore PHP development — from startups and small businesses to large enterprises:

• Startups might only need a single PHP developer or a small team to build and maintain their website or web application. In these cases, a PHP developer who can work independently and has experience in front-end and back-end development may be sufficient. This is a cost-effective way to quickly build development capacity.

• Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may require a larger team of PHP developers to build and maintain their web applications. In addition, they’re likely to need expertise in specific areas such as e-commerce, social media integration, and mobile app development. Hiring offshore PHP developers opens up access to a broader talent pool and the specific skills needed.

• Enterprises – such as multinational corporations – may require a larger team of PHP developers to build and maintain complex web applications with high traffic volume and advanced functionalities. In these cases, a team of PHP developers with expertise in areas such as security, scalability, and integration with other systems may be necessary. Hiring offshore PHP developers is a cost-effective way to dial up and dial down capacity as and when needed.

PHP developers and the skills they need

PHP developers usually work on both the front-end and back-end of web development, creating web pages and applications. To meet clients’ requirements and expectations, developers need the right blend of technical and soft skills.

Technical Skills

• A deep understanding of PHP syntaxes and best practices is essential.
• Familiarity with related technologies, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, is important, as these technologies are often used in conjunction with PHP to create user-friendly interfaces and responsive designs.
• Experience with popular PHP frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, and Yii helps to streamline development by providing tools, libraries, and components.
• Should be proficient in database management systems – such as MySQL or PostgreSQL – to create and manage databases, optimize queries, and ensure security.
• Proficiency in version control systems such as Git is essential to track changes to the code and collaborate with other team members.
• Experience with web server technologies such as Apache, Nginx, or IIS is important because it’s essential for deploying web applications and ensuring optimal performance.

Soft Skills

• Strong problem-solving skills are needed to diagnose and fix errors in code, optimize application performance, and develop efficient solutions to complex problems.
• Communication skill is a must because developers need to communicate effectively with project managers, clients, and other team members. They should be able to provide regular progress updates, ask clarifying questions, and understand project requirements.

How much do offshore PHP developers cost to hire?

Like other software development roles, experience level, location, and the complexity of a project impact the cost of hiring PHP developers. In general, the cost of hiring PHP developers falls into 3 categories:

It’s important to note that the location of a PHP developer has a significant impact on the hourly rate. For example, PHP developers based in countries such as the US, UK, and Australia tend to charge higher rates than those based in Eastern Europe or Asia.

Top countries to hire offshore PHP developers

Below is the list of countries that have been providing a large pool of PHP developers:

• Nepal: A growing tech hub in Kathmandu combined with high-quality IT education providers across the country makes Nepal an ideal location to find PHP developers.

• India: One of the top outsourcing destinations for IT services, including PHP development. India has an ever-growing talent pool and experienced PHP developers who offer cost-effective services.

• The Philippines: A popular destination for outsourcing PHP development services due to its skilled workforce, English language proficiency, and low labor costs.

• Poland: Known for its highly skilled software developers, including PHP developers, Poland offers cost-effective and high-quality services.

• Romania: Another European country with a large pool of talented PHP developers who offer competitive rates.

Other countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Vietnam, and China also have PHP developers available for hire.

When looking to hire PHP developers, it is essential to consider factors such as language proficiency, cultural compatibility, and time zone differences to ensure effective communication and collaboration.

Why choose Proshore as an offshore software PHP development company?

Since operations began in 2009, Proshore’s offshore software development services have included PHP development. In fact, it’s one of our major stacks. We also specialize in the Laravel framework. 

Proshore is also a cost-effective option for companies based in Europe and the US. To give you an idea of the potential cost-savings, here’s a comparison between the typical costs in The Netherlands compared with the Proshore team in Nepal:

Cut costs and time-to-market significantly!​

Hire pre-vetted offshore developers from Nepal

Book a call

Past projects