Hiring a Joomla Programmer: What Every Business Owner Should Know

Hire a Joomla Programmer

Running a website on Joomla gives you power, flexibility, and long-term stability — but only when it’s managed by a skilled Joomla programmer.

Whether you’re planning a new build, need technical upgrades, or just ongoing maintenance, choosing the wrong person can result in broken features, failed updates, or even full site downtime. This guide will help you avoid that.

The Risk: Not Every Developer is a Joomla Programmer

One of the biggest mistakes we see is hiring a general PHP developer who says they can handle Joomla. While they may be comfortable writing code, they usually lack platform-specific knowledge — and that leads to serious trouble down the line.

Here’s what can go wrong when the site isn’t handled by an experienced Joomla programmer:

  • Updates break the site due to unsafe overrides or outdated extensions
  • Permissions, menus, or SEF URLs stop working correctly
  • Extension conflicts create hidden bugs
  • Security vulnerabilities go unnoticed
  • SEO and performance issues hurt visibility

When these problems happen, you’re forced to find a real Joomla expert urgently — often after losing valuable time and business.

Joomla Programmer Hiring Checklist

Core Expertise

Experience working with Joomla 3, 4, and 5
Deep understanding of MVC architecture
Familiar with core APIs and coding standards
Can safely upgrade or migrate websites
Builds custom extensions, plugins, and modules

Template & Frontend Work

Proficient in creating template overrides
Works with frameworks like Helix, Gantry, or YooTheme
Understands responsive design and frontend optimization

Extension Handling

Experience with tools like SP Page Builder, RSForm, JCE Editor, Akeeba Backup
Can handle complex integrations with eCommerce tools (Hikashop, VirtueMart, J2Store)
Knows how to resolve extension conflicts and compatibility issues

Multilingual & ACL

Can set up multilingual content and menus correctly
Understands and configures Joomla’s ACL system

Security & Performance

Follows best practices for site security
Sets up backups using tools like Akeeba
Optimizes site performance (Gzip, caching, lazy load)
Fixes slow-loading pages and improves Core Web Vitals

SEO & Technical Setup

Configures metadata, SEF URLs, and canonical links
Experience with structured data and sitemap generation
Prepares the site for better search engine visibility

Communication & Support

Documents work clearly for future reference
Offers training to admin users
Communicates project progress and handles updates professionally

Bonus tip: Ask if they contribute to Joomla community projects or have any extensions listed in the Joomla Extension Directory (JED). That’s often a sign of deep expertise.

💡 Need Help with Your Joomla Website?

Whether you’re starting a new Joomla project or need help fixing an existing site, our experienced team is here to help.

Schedule a Free Consultation

We’ll review your needs and guide you through the next steps—no obligation.

What Does a Professional Joomla Programmer Actually Do?

A professional Joomla programmer does more than just “code.” Here’s what a solid Joomla expert should be capable of:

  • Custom module or plugin development
  • Template overrides and layout control
  • Safe migration from older versions (e.g. 3.x to 5.x)
  • Debugging broken sites or resolving core conflicts
  • Setting up multilingual content
  • Managing ACL and user permissions
  • Securing the site and optimizing performance
  • Integrating third-party APIs or eCommerce extensions
  • Preparing the site for SEO and Core Web Vitals

Recommended Reading

Want to understand Joomla from a non-technical perspective before hiring a developer?

Check out: Joomla for Non-Techies: A Friendly Guide to Easy Website Management

Let’s Talk About Your Joomla Project

Whether you’re exploring a migration, need a custom extension, or want a second opinion on your current site—we’re just a message away.

👉 Contact us Now to speak with a Joomla expert.

Final Thoughts: Invest in the Right Joomla Programmer

Your website is a digital asset — and who works on it matters. Hiring someone who truly understands how Joomla works will save you money, reduce stress, and ensure that your platform continues to grow with your business.

Choosing a dedicated Joomla programmer means:

  • Fewer surprises during upgrades
  • Faster issue resolution
  • Better site performance and security
  • Confidence that your site is future-ready
Author Bio

Abdulgani Tumbi is a CMS expert with over 11 years of experience in website development, upgrades, and custom solutions. As an Upwork Top Rated Plus professional (Top 3%), he has completed 30K+ hours of Joomla projects, helping businesses and agencies build secure, high-performance websites. Passionate about problem-solving and optimizing CMS solutions, he shares insights and expertise to help website owners get the best out of their platforms. Connect with him for expert CMS guidance and solutions. Read more…