Mastering Multi-Tenancy: How to Build a Scalable SaaS App Using Laravel 12 with Breeze or Jetstream

Building a scalable SaaS application that supports multiple tenants efficiently is a challenge many developers face. With the release of Laravel 12, developers now have modern tools like Breeze and Jetstream to simplify authentication and starter scaffolding. But how do you leverage these tools to create a robust multi-tenant SaaS platform? This article dives deep into mastering multi-tenancy in Laravel 12, offering practical guidance, examples, and best practices to help you build scalable SaaS applications with Breeze or Jetstream.

Understanding Multi-Tenancy

Multi-tenancy allows a single instance of software to serve multiple customers, or tenants, while keeping their data isolated and secure. This architecture is perfect for SaaS products where each client requires a customized but efficient experience without spinning up separate app instances.

There are several multi-tenancy models:

• ✓ Single database, shared schema - All tenants share tables but are distinguished by a tenant identifier.
• ✓ Single database, separate schema - Each tenant has its own set of tables within the same database.
• ✓ Multiple databases - Each tenant has a fully separate database instance.

Choosing the appropriate model depends on scalability, security, and maintenance considerations. For most Laravel SaaS apps, the single database, shared schema approach with proper tenant scoping offers a good balance between complexity and efficiency.

Laravel 12 Overview

Laravel 12 builds on the framework’s reputation for elegant syntax and developer productivity. It introduces enhancements in routing, model management, and improved support for modern PHP features, making it an excellent choice for SaaS development.

With built-in support for authentication scaffolding, Laravel 12’s Breeze and Jetstream packages accelerate the setup of user login, registration, two-factor authentication, and team management—key features for a SaaS platform.

Choosing Breeze or Jetstream

Breeze is a minimal and simple authentication starter kit. It provides basic login, registration, and password reset views using Blade templates. Breeze is perfect if you want complete control over your frontend and prefer a lightweight starting point.

Jetstream, on the other hand, is a more feature-rich starter kit. It includes team management, API support via Laravel Sanctum, session management, and two-factor authentication. Jetstream supports both Livewire and Inertia.js for reactive, modern frontend experiences.

For multi-tenant SaaS apps, Jetstream’s built-in team management can be leveraged to represent tenants or organizations, simplifying tenant isolation and user roles.

Consider your project’s scope and frontend preferences when choosing:

• ✓ Use Breeze if you want simplicity and plan to build your own multi-tenancy logic.
• ✓ Use Jetstream if you want out-of-the-box features like teams and advanced security.

Building Multi-Tenant SaaS App with Laravel 12

1. Tenant Identification

Start by deciding how your app will identify tenants. Common approaches include:

• ✓ Subdomain-based tenancy (e.g., tenant1.yourapp.com)
• ✓ Domain mapping (custom tenant domains)
• ✓ URL path prefix (e.g., yourapp.com/tenant1)

Laravel’s middleware can intercept requests and determine the current tenant. For example, a TenantMiddleware can parse the subdomain and set the tenant context.

2. Database Scoping

Using a single database with a shared schema, add a tenant_id column to all tables that store tenant-specific data. Use Laravel's global scopes to automatically apply tenant filters:

protected static function booted()
{
    static::addGlobalScope('tenant', function (Builder $builder) {
        $builder->where('tenant_id', auth()->user()->tenant_id);
    });
}

This ensures users only access data belonging to their tenant.

3. User and Role Management

Leverage Jetstream’s team features or build custom roles to assign users to tenants and define permissions. For example, an admin user might manage all tenant users, while tenant users have scoped access.

4. Authentication Integration

With Breeze or Jetstream installed, customize the registration process to create tenants. For instance, when a user signs up, create a tenant record, associate the user, and initialize default settings.

5. Handling Tenant-Specific Settings

Store tenant preferences in a dedicated table linked by tenant_id. Use caching to improve performance when loading settings frequently.

6. Scaling Considerations

• ✓ Use database indexing on tenant_id for query performance
• ✓ Separate long-running tenant jobs using queues
• ✓ Monitor tenant resource usage to prevent noisy neighbor issues

For example, Laravel Horizon can help monitor queue performance per tenant.

If you’re new to launching or scaling your SaaS product, you might also find our guide on How to Launch a Business Website That Actually Gets You Customers invaluable. It offers practical strategies to ensure your SaaS website attracts and converts users effectively.

Best Practices for Multi-Tenant SaaS Apps in Laravel

• ✓ Isolate tenant data strictly with global scopes and middleware
• ✓ Automate tenant provisioning at signup to streamline onboarding
• ✓ Implement role-based access control to secure tenant boundaries
• ✓ Use feature flags to enable tenant-specific functionalities
• ✓ Optimize database queries to maintain performance at scale
• ✓ Log tenant-specific events for auditing and troubleshooting

Moreover, if you plan to hire external help for your SaaS project, our comprehensive article How to Choose the Best Freelance Web Development Company guides you through selecting the right freelance partner with technical expertise and communication skills aligned to your needs.

Conclusion

Mastering multi-tenancy in Laravel 12 using Breeze or Jetstream empowers you to build scalable, secure, and efficient SaaS applications. By understanding tenancy models, leveraging Laravel’s authentication scaffolding, and following best practices like data isolation and role management, you can create products that scale with your customers’ needs.

Remember to consider your SaaS platform’s growth when designing tenancy, and utilize Laravel’s rich ecosystem of tools to streamline development and maintenance. With patience and the right approach, your multi-tenant SaaS app can thrive in a competitive market.

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