Custom web applications for business
When your business has outgrown spreadsheets, disconnected SaaS tools, or off-the-shelf software that doesn't quite fit, it's time for something built specifically for the way you work. I design and build custom web applications that replace manual processes, connect your systems, and give you the operational clarity you've been missing.
What I build
I build web applications that run real business operations. Not prototypes, not MVPs that never graduate, but production software that your team relies on every day. Here are the types of systems I build most often.
Operational business systems
Custom CRMs, project management tools, job tracking systems, and workflow platforms built around the way your business actually operates. These aren't generic tools with features you'll never use. They're purpose-built systems that map directly to your processes, your terminology, and your team's daily workflow.
Data dashboards & reporting
Real-time dashboards that pull data from across your business into a single view. Instead of exporting CSVs and building pivot tables every week, you get live reporting that shows you what's happening right now. Revenue, pipeline, capacity, KPIs, whatever metrics actually matter to your business.
Client portals & self-service platforms
Secure portals where your clients can log in, view their project status, upload documents, approve work, and manage their account. These reduce the back-and-forth emails and phone calls that slow your team down, while giving your clients the transparency they want.
Internal tools that replace manual processes
The tools your team uses internally to get work done. Quoting systems, scheduling tools, inventory trackers, approval workflows, onboarding processes. If your team is currently managing something critical in a spreadsheet, a shared drive, or someone's head, I can build a proper system for it.
Integration layers connecting existing systems
Sometimes you don't need a whole new system. You need the systems you already have to actually talk to each other. I build integration layers and middleware that connect your accounting software, CRM, project management tools, email platforms, and other business systems so data flows automatically instead of being manually copied between them. This can be a standalone integration project or part of a larger custom application build.
Off-the-shelf software forces your business to work around its limitations.
Custom software is built around the way you actually operate.
Built with proven technologies
I choose tools based on reliability, community support, and long-term maintainability. Modern and proven, not bleeding edge for the sake of it. Every technology in my stack has been battle-tested in production across years of client projects.
Laravel
The backbone of most custom applications I build. Laravel is a PHP framework with an outstanding ecosystem for authentication, database management, queues, APIs, and more. It's mature, well-documented, and trusted by thousands of production applications worldwide.
React & Inertia.js
For the front-end, I use React to build fast, responsive user interfaces. Combined with Inertia.js, this gives you the snappy feel of a single-page application with the simplicity of a traditional server-driven architecture. No clunky page reloads, no unnecessary complexity.
PostgreSQL & MySQL
Reliable, proven databases that handle everything from small internal tools to large-scale operational systems. I choose the database engine based on the project's requirements, and structure your data so the application stays fast as your business grows.
WordPress (when it fits)
Not every custom application needs to be built from scratch. When a project involves content management, publishing, or client-facing pages alongside operational features, WordPress can be the right foundation. I know when WordPress is the right tool and when it's not.
Who this is for
Custom web applications are a significant investment, and they're not right for every business. But if any of the following sound familiar, it's probably time to start a conversation.
You're copy-pasting between spreadsheets
Your operational data lives across multiple spreadsheets, and someone on your team spends hours each week manually moving information between them. Data gets stale, mistakes creep in, and nobody trusts the numbers. A custom application can consolidate all of that into a single source of truth.
Your team works around your software
You're paying for software that almost does what you need, but not quite. Your team has developed workarounds, side processes, and sticky-note systems to fill the gaps. When the workarounds become the process, it's usually cheaper and more effective to build something that actually fits.
You're paying for tools that don't talk to each other
You've got five SaaS subscriptions and none of them share data. Your CRM doesn't know about your invoicing. Your project tracker doesn't connect to your quoting system. You're the integration layer, manually keeping everything in sync. A custom application can bring all of that together.
Your processes rely on tribal knowledge
Key business processes live in people's heads rather than in a system. When someone is on leave or leaves the business, critical knowledge goes with them. A well-built application captures and enforces your processes so the business doesn't depend on any single person's memory.
How I build software
I don't disappear for six months and come back with something you didn't ask for. Every project follows an iterative process where you see working software early and often. Here's how it works.
Discovery
Before writing any code, I need to properly understand your business. What are the pain points? How does work actually flow through your team? What does success look like? This phase involves conversations, process mapping, and sometimes shadowing your team to see the reality rather than the theory. The goal is to make sure we're solving the right problem.
Prototype & validate
I build a working prototype of the core functionality so you can see and interact with something real early in the process. This isn't a mockup or a slideshow. It's actual software you can click through. This step catches misunderstandings early, before they become expensive to fix, and gives your team a chance to provide feedback on how things should actually work.
Build iteratively
The application is built in focused cycles, with each cycle delivering usable functionality. You'll see regular progress and have the opportunity to provide feedback at every stage. This approach means you can start using core features while the rest of the system is still being developed, and priorities can be adjusted as you learn what matters most.
Ship & train
When the application is ready, I handle deployment, data migration, and onboarding. Your team gets proper training on how to use the system, and I make sure everyone is comfortable before stepping back. The transition from old processes to new is managed carefully so nothing falls through the cracks.
Support & evolve
Software is never truly finished. Once your application is live, I provide ongoing support, monitoring, and development. Bugs get fixed quickly, new features are added as your needs evolve, and the system grows alongside your business. Most of my custom application clients work with me on an ongoing basis because the best software improves continuously.
Delivered through
Wolf Digital
Custom web application projects are delivered through Wolf Digital, my software development consultancy.
Wolf Digital exists because custom application work is fundamentally different from website design. These projects are larger, longer, and more deeply embedded in how a business operates. They need a different kind of relationship, one built on deep understanding of your business, not just your brand.
Through Wolf Digital, I build, host, and evolve operational systems for owner-operators and growing businesses. The technology stack is modern and proven: Laravel, React, PostgreSQL, and WordPress where it fits. Everything is built to run reliably in production, with proper monitoring, backups, and ongoing support.
Whether you engage through Phil Kurth or Wolf Digital, you're working with the same person and the same commitment to building software that genuinely solves problems. The consultancy structure simply reflects the scale and nature of custom application work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Custom web applications typically start from around $15,000–$25,000 for a focused tool that solves a specific business problem, and scale up from there depending on complexity. A full operational system with multiple user roles, integrations, and reporting can range from $40,000 to $100,000 or more. I scope every project carefully and provide a detailed quote before any work begins, so you know exactly what you're investing in. I can also build in phases, starting with the core functionality that delivers the most value, then expanding over time as your budget and needs allow.
A focused internal tool or dashboard might take 4–8 weeks. A more comprehensive business system with multiple modules, integrations, and user roles typically takes 3–6 months. Complex operational platforms can take longer. I work iteratively, so you'll see working software early in the process and can start using core features while the rest is still being built. I'll give you a realistic timeline based on your specific requirements during our initial conversation.
Yes, and integration is often one of the main reasons businesses need a custom application in the first place. I build systems that connect with accounting software (Xero, MYOB), CRMs, email platforms, payment processors, and other tools your business already relies on. If the tool has an API, I can almost certainly integrate with it. If it doesn't, there are usually workarounds involving data exports, webhooks, or middleware layers. I'll assess your existing tool landscape during the discovery phase and map out exactly how everything connects.
