My web app is slow

The truth is that no website is ever finished. They need to constantly evolve, improve, respond to needs and user needs.

Ideally you would find someone close to you, that you can visit, that can take some responsibility for your site, and within a budget, solve your issues and offer improvements etc.

Finding this person can be a pain, it's true, with lots of false starts. A distant freelancer might work for you, but can often produce work aimed at getting the job done minimally to get paid, rather than producing the results or standards of work you need.

It all depends on your budget, your ROI expected from the site, and your ambitions for the site.

Alternatively, you can roll your sleeves up, and start coding. PHP is a pleasure to learn but it might just not be your cup of tea and it can take a real commitment in time and effort.

Wish you luck with the site though, seems like a good idea,

Best wishes,

Paul.