Custom plugins built to WordPress.org coding standards — including the ones powering this very site.
When does a business need a custom WordPress plugin instead of an off-the-shelf one?
A custom plugin makes sense when your workflow is specific enough that no combination of existing plugins covers it cleanly, or when stacking 4-5 plugins to approximate one feature is creating conflicts and slowdowns. Dotance builds single-purpose plugins that do one job well, instead of bloated all-in-one suites.
This isn't theoretical for us — we build and maintain our own WordPress.org plugin, Elemance, and several internal tools that power client sites, including this one. That means when we build a custom plugin for you, it's held to the same bar we hold our own products to: proper activation/deactivation hooks, no orphaned database tables, clean uninstall, and security basics (nonces, capability checks, sanitized input) done by default, not bolted on after a security review.
What's included: requirements scoping, custom plugin build (Elementor widget, admin tool, or backend logic), WordPress coding standards compliance, and a maintenance option post-launch.
Common Problems We Fix
I'm running 5 plugins that each do a small piece of what I actually need.
Stacked plugins mean stacked conflicts, stacked page-load cost, and 5x the update-breakage risk. Fix: one purpose-built plugin replacing the stack, doing exactly your workflow, nothing more.
My site broke after a WordPress core update and the plugin author never fixed it.
Common with abandoned or hobby-maintained plugins. Fix: for custom builds, we test against WordPress betas ahead of major releases so breakage is caught before it ships, not after a client reports it.
A plugin I bought stopped being updated / the company disappeared.
A real risk with third-party marketplace plugins. Fix: custom-built plugins are yours — no dependency on an external company staying in business.
I need an Elementor widget that doesn't exist in any addon pack.
Off-the-shelf addon packs (PowerPack, Essential Addons, etc.) cover generic use cases, not a specific workflow. Fix: this is literally how Elemance's own widgets got built — starting from a gap, not a template.
My developer left undocumented, unmaintainable custom code behind.
Fix: we follow WordPress coding standards and document activation/deactivation/uninstall behavior so a plugin doesn't become unmaintainable the day we're not available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you build a custom Elementor widget?
Yes — this is exactly what Elemance is, and we can build private, client-specific widgets the same way.
Will the plugin still work after a WordPress core update?
We test against WordPress betas ahead of major releases and patch proactively rather than waiting for a client to report breakage.
Do I own the plugin code?
Yes, unless we agree otherwise — for a fully custom build, the code is yours.
Can you take over/fix a plugin someone else built?
Yes — this is a common request; scoping starts with a code audit before quoting a fix vs. rebuild.
Do you build for WordPress.org public release, or private client plugins only?
Both — Elemance is our public WordPress.org release; client plugins are typically private, client-only builds.
What's the difference between a "custom plugin" and a "custom Elementor widget"?
A widget extends Elementor specifically (only useful with Elementor active); a plugin can add backend logic, custom post types, or admin tools independent of any page builder.