Workflow systems
Turn approvals, intake, quoting or internal operations into a defined admin workflow instead of an email-and-spreadsheet process.
- Approval and review queues
- Intake and internal publishing
- Status transitions and notifications
CUSTOM PLUGINS · UK & EUROPE
Custom WordPress plugin development
Give your team the workflow WordPress is missing. Build an admin tool, connect an API, or improve an existing plugin with a developer who reviews the problem before recommending the code.
A fixed proposal in GBP after scope review. Istanbul-based, with UK working-day overlap and availability for suitable projects worldwide.
A WORKFLOW YOUR TEAM CAN USE
01
Receive the requestForms, records or an API event
02
Apply your rulesPermissions, validation and review
03
Connect the next stepUpdate a record, notify or sync
Clear states. Useful errors. Documented handover.
- Written scope in GBP
- Staging review
- Source code and handover
- Direct developer contact
In one sentence
What is custom WordPress plugin development?
A custom WordPress plugin adds the business functionality your website needs: approval steps, structured records, admin screens or connections to other systems. Keeping this logic in a plugin allows it to be maintained independently of the site design.
Start with the workflow and the people who use it. I review suitable existing plugins before recommending whether to build, extend or repair. Need the front end rebuilt too? See Custom WordPress Theme Development.
What gets built
A plugin shaped around your workflow
Build a new capability, extend a supported plugin or repair existing custom code. The scope starts with what your team needs to do.
Custom data models
Structure the data a workflow actually needs, not what a generic content type happens to offer.
- Custom post types and taxonomies
- Metadata and relationship models
- Custom tables and migrations where justified
Admin applications
Give each role the interface its job needs instead of the default WordPress admin screens.
- Role-specific admin screens
- Dashboards and reporting views
- Settings systems and bulk actions
APIs and third-party integrations
Connect WordPress to the systems the business already depends on, without hiding logic in fragile snippets.
- REST endpoints and webhooks
- CRM and SaaS synchronization
- Authenticated internal APIs
Existing plugin extensions
Not every project starts from zero. An existing plugin or setup that mostly works can be extended safely once its behaviour is understood.
- Integration adapters
- Missing business logic
- Replacing fragile custom snippets
Plugin replacement and consolidation
When several plugins and snippets have been layered together to approximate one workflow, that logic can sometimes be consolidated into one system with clearer ownership.
- Overlapping-plugin audits
- Consolidated business logic
- One system to maintain instead of several
Is this the right scope?
When custom plugin development makes sense
Good fit
- Your workflow does not fit cleanly inside off-the-shelf plugins.
- Several plugins are being forced together to approximate one process.
- An internal process still depends on spreadsheets, email or manual admin work.
- WordPress needs to exchange structured data with another platform.
- Existing snippets or customisations have become difficult to maintain.
- Different roles need different interfaces, permissions or workflow states.
When I would not recommend custom development
- A mature existing plugin already solves the problem cleanly.
- The requirement is trivial—an off-the-shelf plugin or setting is enough.
- The business process is not stable enough yet to define a scope.
- The project cannot justify long-term ownership and maintenance.
- You need a complete website or rebuild. See WordPress development.
- You need checkout, pricing, payment, subscription, order or stock logic. See WooCommerce Engineering.
- You need recurring updates or monitoring. See WordPress maintenance.
Selected product work
Proof in the implementation
Explore two public WordPress products that bring together structured data, permissions and connected workflows.
MiniSEO Pass
- Problem
- Different tools needed a shared way to recognise access and remaining content credits.
- System
- One access code connects AEO Pro access with content-system credits.
- Architecture decision
- Access duration and credit usage are tracked across the related tools.
- Delivered
- A public product page, connected tool interfaces and account/status lookup.
Simple Multilang
- Problem
- Teams needed a way to organise language versions and their search metadata in WordPress.
- System
- Language routing, translation groups, hreflang, multilingual sitemaps and REST export.
- Architecture decision
- A core language engine with additional features controlled through the product licence system.
- Delivered
- A public product and feature comparison with links to the free plugin.
Decision context
Existing plugin vs. custom plugin
Compare the fit, setup costs and ongoing responsibilities before choosing an existing plugin or commissioning custom work.
| Question | Existing plugin | Custom development |
|---|---|---|
| Does it fit? | Review settings and supported extensions against the requirement. | Define the exact behaviour and acceptance checks. |
| What will it cost? | Allow for licences, setup and any integration work. | Allow for discovery, implementation, testing and future changes. |
| Can we change it? | Depends on available hooks, APIs and licence terms. | The agreed source code and documentation are handed over. |
| Who maintains it? | Vendor releases still need compatibility checks on your site. | Your team or an agreed developer owns ongoing compatibility work. |
Security
Security is part of the architecture
Permissions, data handling and failure cases are part of the scope. Compatibility checks reduce update risk; the handover also identifies what needs maintaining as WordPress, PHP or connected services change.
Who can do what
- Agreed roles and access permissions
- Validation for actions that change data
- Appropriate protection for API endpoints
How data is handled
- Validated inputs and escaped output
- Data migration and deletion behaviour agreed
- Configuration and credentials kept separate from shared code
When a connection fails
- Useful error reporting for your team
- Retry and duplicate-handling rules where needed
- Testing with realistic success and failure cases
What you receive
Code, instructions and a clear handover
- Written requirements and acceptance checks
- Source code in an agreed repository or delivery package
- Staging implementation for review
- Configuration, dependencies and licence notes
- Test results and known limitations
- Release and recovery instructions
- Handover walkthrough and defined initial support period
How it works
From workflow to working plugin
MAP THE WORKFLOW
Understand the people, states, data, edge cases and integrations involved.
VALIDATED REQUIREMENTS AND SCOPEDESIGN THE BOUNDARIES
Define the data model, permissions, API contracts and failure paths so the build stays small and legible.
TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE AND A FIXED PROPOSALBUILD ON STAGING
Develop in a controlled environment with reviewable milestones, integration testing and validation.
A WORKING PLUGIN IN STAGINGHAND OVER CLEANLY
Ship documentation, deployment notes and a walkthrough so the system remains operable after launch.
AN OWNED, OPERABLE SYSTEMScope & cost
Define the workflow. Agree the proposal.
A fixed GBP proposal after reviewing the requirements.
Cost depends on the roles, workflow states, data and integrations involved. Share your budget range and deadline. The proposal states whether discovery is paid, what development and testing include, and which API fees, licences or ongoing support are separate.
Explore the plugin development cost guide →What raises scope:
- User roles
- Workflow states
- API access and limits
- Data migration
- Admin screens
- Failure handling
- Testing and handover
Questions
Custom plugin development, clearly scoped
How much does a custom WordPress plugin cost?
I provide a fixed GBP proposal after reviewing the workflow and technical requirements. Roles, data migration, admin screens, integrations and testing drive the cost. The proposal identifies any paid discovery, third-party fees, licences and continuing support. A budget range helps establish a realistic first scope.
Can you extend or repair an existing plugin?
Yes. Share the plugin details and the behaviour you need. I review the code, supported extension points and existing dependencies first. A configuration fix or a small extension may be enough; replacement is considered when the current approach cannot meet the agreed requirement reliably.
Can you take over code from another developer?
Yes, after an initial review. I need the code, relevant documentation, permissions to use it and access to a suitable test environment. The review identifies existing behaviour, dependencies and risks before ongoing development is quoted.
Can you connect WordPress to our CRM or private API?
Yes, where the other system provides the necessary API and permissions. We define the data exchanged, source of truth, access rules, rate limits, logging and failure handling before implementation. API access and third-party costs must be confirmed as part of scoping.
What code and access do we receive?
You receive the agreed source code, configuration instructions, dependencies and handover notes. Ownership, reuse terms and any third-party licences are set out in the proposal. The delivery should give your team or a future developer enough information to operate and maintain the plugin.
Will the plugin keep working after WordPress updates?
Supported APIs, clear dependencies and compatibility checks reduce the risk, but updates to WordPress, PHP and connected services can still require changes. The proposal defines initial support; ongoing compatibility work is a separate, explicit responsibility.
How long will development take?
The schedule is confirmed after the workflow, integrations and testing needs are understood. API access, sample data, stakeholder approvals and migration requirements affect delivery. The proposal gives review milestones and identifies what your team needs to provide.
Can you work with UK businesses and agencies?
Yes. I work remotely from Istanbul with UK and European teams, communicating in English and agreeing calls around UK working hours. Agency roles, repository access, confidentiality requirements and client communication can be defined before work starts. Suitable projects worldwide are welcome.
Can you build a plugin for checkout, pricing or orders?
Yes. Commerce-specific work is scoped through the WooCommerce development service, where checkout, payment and order behaviour can be reviewed together. General WordPress admin tools, content workflows and non-commerce integrations are scoped here.
What do you need to prepare a proposal?
Send your URL, the current and desired workflow, who will use it, the systems involved, a budget range and a deadline. Screenshots or sample records without sensitive information can help explain the requirement. Credentials can be arranged separately once access is needed.
Tell me how
your process should work.
Share the website URL, who uses the workflow, what happens now and what should happen instead. Add the systems involved, your budget range and any deadline.