Next.js development
Next.js Development Services for Startups and Small Businesses
I build fast, SEO-friendly Next.js apps for founders and small teams: new products and MVPs, marketing sites with a web app behind them, new features for an existing codebase, and migrations to the Next.js App Router. You get clean TypeScript, plain-English updates every week and code that you own outright.
Who it's for
- Founders who need an MVP or first version of a web product built properly from day one.
- Small businesses that want a marketing site and a customer-facing app in one codebase.
- Teams with an existing Next.js app that needs new features, fixes or a steady extra pair of hands.
- Companies running an older React single-page app or Pages Router project that want to move to the App Router.
- Anyone whose site is slow or hard to find on Google and needs performance and SEO work done properly.
- Founders who built a prototype with AI tools and now need a developer to make it reliable.
Next.js is a framework built on top of React that handles the parts of a web product most teams end up building themselves: routing, server rendering, data loading, image optimisation and search-engine basics. As a Next.js developer, my job is to use those tools well, so you get a site that loads quickly, ranks properly and stays easy to change as your business grows.
When Next.js is the right choice (and when it isn't)
Next.js is a strong fit when your product has a public face. If people need to find you on Google, share your pages on social media or land on your site from an advert, server rendering makes a real difference: pages arrive ready to read instead of waiting for JavaScript to build them in the browser.
It works especially well for:
- SaaS products with a marketing site, sign-up flow and logged-in dashboard in one codebase
- MVPs where you need to move quickly without cutting corners you'll regret later
- Content-heavy sites that need good SEO and fast load times on mobile
It isn't always the answer, though. A simple internal tool used by five people behind a login may not need server rendering at all, and a lighter React setup can be quicker to build and run. Apps that must keep working without an internet connection, like the offline-first point-of-sale system I lead at Grappetite, have very different needs around local data and syncing. I'll tell you on our first call if a different approach suits you better, including plain React development.
How I build Next.js apps
I build with the Next.js App Router, the modern way of structuring a Next.js app, and keep to a few principles on every project.
Server Components by default
Server Components are parts of the page rendered on the server, so less JavaScript reaches the browser. I only add browser-side interactivity where it's genuinely needed, such as forms, filters and menus. The result is faster pages, especially on mid-range phones.
Strict TypeScript and safe data handling
Everything is written in TypeScript with strict checks switched on, which catches a whole class of mistakes before they reach your users. Data fetching and caching are planned deliberately, so pages are fresh where they need to be and fast everywhere else. Forms are validated on the server as well as in the browser, because browser-only checks are easy to bypass.
Authentication and accessibility
Login, roles and permissions are handled on the server, not just hidden in the interface. Accessibility is built in from the start: proper headings, labels, keyboard navigation and colour contrast.
Performance and SEO built in
I work to a performance budget and keep an eye on Core Web Vitals (opens in a new tab), the loading, responsiveness and visual-stability measures Google uses to judge page experience. For SEO-friendly Next.js, I use the built-in metadata tools for unique titles, descriptions and social previews, generate a sitemap automatically, and add structured data where it helps search engines understand your pages.
Typical Next.js projects
Most of my Next.js development work falls into a few shapes:
- MVPs for founders who need a first version in front of users, built on foundations that won't need throwing away
- SaaS dashboards with charts, tables, user management and billing
- A marketing site plus app, sharing one design system and one deployment
- New features for an existing Next.js codebase
- Migrations from a React single-page app or the older Pages Router to the App Router, done route by route so your site stays live throughout
- Performance and SEO improvements for sites that are slow or struggling to be found
On the backend, Next.js can handle a lot through server actions and route handlers. When a project needs a separate API, background jobs or more complex business logic, I pair it with a dedicated Node.js backend.
Working with your existing or AI-generated code
You don't have to start from scratch. Many founders come to me with a Next.js app that a previous developer started, or one generated with AI tools that works in the demo but falls over in real use. I use AI coding tools daily myself, and I review AI-generated code with the same rigour as code written by a person.
If you're not sure what state your app is in, a fixed-price production audit gives you a clear, prioritised list of what to fix before you spend more. For apps built mainly with AI, my AI-built app takeover service focuses on security, reliability and the gaps those tools tend to leave behind.
Hosting, handover and what you keep
I usually deploy to Vercel, the company behind Next.js, though other hosts work well too. Everything is set up in your own accounts, with separate preview and production environments and automatic checks that run on every change, so problems are caught before they reach your customers.
When the project wraps up, you get documentation, a walkthrough call and full ownership of the code once it's paid for. If you'd like ongoing help, there's an optional monthly retainer, and you can compare all the options on my pricing page. When you're ready to talk through your project, get in touch to arrange a free call.
What's included
Architecture and plan
A short written plan covering pages, data, authentication and hosting, agreed with you before any code is written.
Production-ready Next.js app in TypeScript
A Next.js App Router codebase in strict TypeScript, organised so another developer can pick it up easily.
Responsive, accessible UI
Interfaces that work on phones, tablets and desktops, with keyboard support, proper labels and readable contrast.
SEO and performance setup
Page titles and descriptions, social previews, a sitemap, structured data where it helps, and attention to Core Web Vitals.
API and data integration
Connections to your database, payment provider, CMS or third-party APIs, with validation on the server.
Deployment and CI
Hosting on Vercel or a similar platform, separate preview and production environments, and automatic checks on every change.
Documentation and handover
A clear README, setup notes and a walkthrough call, so your team or next developer can run and change the app with confidence.
How it works
Step 1: Free 20-minute call
Day 1
We talk through what you want to build, who it's for and any existing code or designs. If Next.js isn't the right fit, I'll tell you.
Step 2: Scope and fixed quote
Within a few days
I write up the scope, milestones and a fixed price, so you know exactly what you're paying for before work starts.
Step 3: Build in milestones
Typically 4–10 weeks
I build in milestones with a live preview link you can click through each week, plus a written update on progress and next steps.
Step 4: Launch
We go live on your domain with monitoring, analytics and search setup in place, and I stay close for any early fixes.
Step 5: Handover and support
You get documentation and a walkthrough. If you want ongoing help afterwards, a monthly retainer is available but never required.
FAQ
Questions about this service
Why use Next.js instead of plain React?
Next.js is built on React but adds the pieces most products need: routing, server rendering, data fetching and SEO tools. Pages can be rendered on the server, so they load faster and search engines can read them easily. For most public-facing products, that saves time and gives a better result.
Can you add features to my existing Next.js app?
Yes. I start by reading through the codebase to understand how it's structured, then build new features in a way that fits what's already there. If I spot risky areas along the way, I'll flag them in plain English so you can decide what to prioritise.
Can you migrate my app from the Pages Router or a React SPA to the App Router?
Yes. I usually migrate step by step, route by route, so your site keeps working throughout and nothing has to be rewritten in one risky go. Before starting, I'll tell you honestly whether the migration is worth it for your situation.
Will my Next.js site be good for SEO?
I set up the technical foundations properly: server-rendered pages, unique titles and descriptions, a sitemap, social previews, structured data where relevant and fast load times. Rankings also depend on your content and competition, so I won't promise positions, but your site won't be held back by its code.
Where will my app be hosted?
Vercel is the simplest option for most Next.js apps, but other platforms work well too. I set the hosting up in your own account, so you control billing and access from day one.
How much does a Next.js project cost?
Every project gets a custom fixed quote after a free call and, if there's existing code, a look at it. You pay a deposit and then per milestone, so you only pay as work is delivered. Smaller tasks can also be done at my hourly rate.