Payload CMS Consultant
The Payload CMS Specialist for Teams Who Build Seriously
Principal-led Payload CMS development and architecture advisory for companies building on Next.js. I design the system, model the content, and build it end to end — or guide your team while they do.
Maximum 3 active engagements. No handoffs. No juniors.
What Does a Payload CMS Consultant Actually Do?
Payload CMS is code-first and TypeScript-native — which means the quality of your implementation depends almost entirely on the person who designs and builds it. Unlike drag-and-drop platforms, Payload gives you full control over content modeling, access control, database schema, admin UI, and integrations. That control is the point. But it requires someone who understands both the framework's architecture and how your business actually works.
A Payload CMS consultant designs and implements the system correctly from the start: the right collections, the right relationships, the right access control model, the right database adapter, and the right integrations with your existing tools. The work happens at the architecture level — not just configuration.
This is different from a generic “headless CMS developer.” Payload-specific expertise means knowing how to structure content models that won't break at scale, how to use hooks without causing recursion, how to implement jobs and queues for background tasks, how to build multi-tenant architectures correctly, and how to migrate from legacy CMSes without losing data or SEO equity.
I work with companies building on Next.js + Payload CMS — either taking full ownership of the build, or providing architecture direction while your team executes.
Experience
6+ years
Next.js + Payload CMS
Engagements
Max 3
Active at any time
Starting at
$15K+
Website builds
When Companies Hire a Payload CMS Specialist
Not every project needs a Payload specialist. But for the right problem, trying to figure it out in-house is expensive. Here are the situations where hiring a consultant pays for itself quickly.
You’re building on Payload for the first time
The architecture decisions you make in week one determine how maintainable the system is in year two. Getting the content model, database adapter, and access control right from the start prevents expensive rework.
You’re migrating off WordPress, Contentful, or another CMS
Migrations are not just data exports. They require content model redesign, SEO preservation, admin workflow redesign, and integration remapping. A specialist does this without disruption to your live site.
You need multi-tenant, multi-language, or enterprise-grade architecture
Multi-tenancy, localization, and complex access control patterns require deep framework knowledge. These aren’t features you configure — they’re architectural decisions that affect every other part of the system.
Your in-house team is building with Payload but needs direction
If your developers are competent but new to Payload, senior advisory prevents the most expensive mistakes — wrong data models, broken hooks, scale-breaking query patterns — before they get built into production.
You’re building a website that needs to work as business infrastructure
If your website needs to serve customers, internal teams, and AI simultaneously — with automation, semantic search, and operational workflows — that’s a system design problem, not a CMS configuration problem.
Working through a migration from an existing CMS? See the migration guide for the full process, platform-specific challenges, and cost drivers.
What a Payload CMS Engagement Covers
Every engagement is scoped to what the project actually needs. Below is what I cover across build and advisory engagements — not as a menu to pick from, but as areas of expertise I bring fully into every project.
Architecture & Content Modeling
Designing the right collection structure, globals, fields, and relationships for your specific data model. Choosing and configuring the database adapter (PostgreSQL or MongoDB). Defining the schema strategy — push mode for development, migration-only for production. Setting up multi-tenant, multi-language, or multi-site architectures where required.
Build & Integration
Frontend integration with Next.js — App Router, ISR, live preview, and draft mode. Payload hooks, custom endpoints, and background jobs for operational workflows. Admin UI customization with custom components and field types. Integration with CRMs, Shopify, analytics platforms, email systems, and AI layers including MCP server implementation.
Migration & Advisory
Full CMS migrations from WordPress, Contentful, Sanity, Strapi, or other platforms — including content, SEO, and workflow preservation. Architecture reviews and risk assessments for teams building in-house. Weekly decision sessions, async code review, and go/no-go guidance on critical technical paths.
This is principal-led work. I don't subcontract and I don't hand off architecture decisions to junior developers. You work directly with the person who designs and builds the system.
Choose the Model That Fits Your Situation
I design and build it end to end
For companies that want a Payload CMS website built correctly — from content model and architecture through to frontend, automation, and launch. Principal-led. No handoffs.
Learn moreYour team builds. I make sure they build it right.
For companies with existing developers who need senior architecture direction on Next.js + Payload CMS. Weekly decision sessions, async code review, and risk reduction.
Learn moreNot sure which fits? Read about how I work — or get in touch and we'll figure it out in the first conversation.
What to Expect on Cost
I don't publish fixed pricing because scope determines cost — and scope is defined during the initial conversation, not before it. What I do provide are clear entry points so you can self-qualify before reaching out.
| Engagement Type | Starting Point |
|---|---|
| Payload CMS Website Build | From $15,000 |
| CMS Migration to Payload | From $10,000 |
| Next.js + Payload Advisory | Cadence-based |
Final pricing is scoped after the first conversation. Larger system builds with multi-tenant architecture, AI layers, or complex integrations extend beyond the entry points above. Advisory pricing depends on cadence and scope.
This is not the right engagement if you're optimizing for the lowest possible price. The entry point reflects the senior involvement and end-to-end ownership model — not an hourly rate you can negotiate down.
For a complete breakdown of what drives scope and investment across engagement types, see the Payload CMS pricing guide.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring Any Payload CMS Specialist
Payload CMS expertise is genuinely scarce. Generic CMS experience and TypeScript familiarity are not substitutes for real Payload production experience. Before committing to any consultant or agency, these questions will surface whether the experience is real.
01“Can you walk me through the content model you designed for a recent Payload project?”
A real specialist can describe their collections, globals, field types, and relationship structure in detail. Vague answers here indicate implementation-only experience, not architecture ownership.
02“How do you handle database migrations in a production Payload project?”
Push mode is for development. Production requires a proper migration strategy using payload migrate. Anyone defaulting to push in production doesn’t understand the risk.
03“Have you built multi-tenant or multi-language systems in Payload? How did you structure them?”
These are non-trivial architectural decisions. Payload’s multi-tenant plugin has real gotchas. Experience here separates senior specialists from developers who’ve only worked on simple content sites.
04“How do you implement access control for complex permission structures?”
Field-level access control and collection-level access are handled differently in Payload. The answer should be specific, not generic.
05“What happens when a Payload hook causes recursion? How do you prevent it?”
This is a common production issue with real consequences. A specialist should know exactly how to avoid it and how to debug it when it happens.
06“Can you show me a real payload.config.ts or a collection file from a past project?”
Real Payload work produces real code. If they can’t show a sanitized code sample, the experience may be shallower than described.
If you're evaluating whether I'm the right fit, I welcome these questions directly. I'd rather spend 30 minutes qualifying a good fit than start an engagement that isn't right for either side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with companies outside Europe?
Yes. My current clients are in Germany, Austria, the UK, and the US. Engagements run asynchronously with scheduled calls for decisions, so timezone differences are manageable. I’ve successfully run projects across a 9-hour timezone gap.
Can you work with our existing Payload CMS codebase?
Yes, though I conduct an architecture review before committing to scope. Existing Payload codebases sometimes have structural issues that affect what’s possible and how long it takes. The review surfaces these before we define the engagement.
Do you only do builds, or can you help with a specific problem?
For discrete, well-scoped problems — a specific migration, a specific architecture decision, or an advisory session — I can engage in a narrower scope. Get in touch with a description of the problem and I’ll tell you whether it fits the advisory model or needs a full engagement.
We’re considering Payload CMS but haven’t committed yet. Can you help us evaluate whether it’s the right choice?
Yes. Part of what I do is help companies decide whether Payload is the right tool for their situation — and if it is, how to structure the project. If Payload isn’t the right fit, I’ll tell you that directly rather than starting a build.
What’s the difference between hiring you versus a Payload CMS agency?
With me, you work directly with the person doing the architecture and the build. There’s no account manager translating requirements to a junior team. I limit active engagements to three at a time specifically to ensure direct involvement throughout. Agencies scale through people; I scale through scope limits.
How long does a typical Payload CMS build take?
A straightforward Payload CMS website with standard content modeling typically takes 8–12 weeks from system definition to launch. Projects involving multi-tenant architecture, complex migrations, AI layers, or extensive integrations run longer. Timeline is scoped in the first conversation once requirements are clear.
Do you offer support or maintenance after the build?
After the initial build, common paths include a second build phase, incremental iteration as the business evolves, or transition into a lighter advisory role. I don’t offer traditional retainer maintenance contracts — the path forward is defined based on what the system actually needs, not a preset model.
If Payload CMS Is the Right Tool for Your Project, Let's Talk.
Start the ConversationPrincipal-led. Maximum 3 active clients. Direct access throughout.