app/Actions/Projects/CreateProject.php

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 class CreateProject
 {
     public function __construct(
+        private readonly CreateProjectBaseTemplate $createProjectBaseTemplate,
         private readonly DuplicateProjectConfiguration $duplicateProjectConfiguration,
         private readonly InitializeProjectTicketMetadata $initializeProjectTicketMetadata,
         private readonly PermissionService $permissionService,
@@ -49,6 +50,18 @@ class CreateProject
                     $project,
                     $template->configuration_snapshot ?? [],
                 );
+
+                $project->forceFill([
+                    'project_template_id' => $template->id,
+                ])->save();
+            }
+
+            if ($project->project_template_id === null) {
+                $baseTemplate = $this->createProjectBaseTemplate->handle($project->fresh() ?? $project);
+
+                $project->forceFill([
+                    'project_template_id' => $baseTemplate->id,
+                ])->save();
             }
 
             return $project->fresh() ?? $project;

app/Actions/Projects/CreateProjectBaseTemplate.php

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Actions\Projects;
+
+use App\Models\Project;
+use App\Models\ProjectTemplate;
+
+class CreateProjectBaseTemplate
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        private readonly DuplicateProjectConfiguration $duplicateProjectConfiguration,
+    ) {}
+
+    public function handle(Project $project): ProjectTemplate
+    {
+        $copyAreas = DuplicateProjectConfiguration::copyableAreas();
+
+        return ProjectTemplate::query()->create([
+            'project_id' => $project->id,
+            'source_project_id' => $project->id,
+            'name' => "{$project->name} base template",
+            'slug' => strtolower($project->key).'-base-template',
+            'is_published' => false,
+            'copy_areas' => $copyAreas,
+            'configuration_snapshot' => $this->duplicateProjectConfiguration->export($project, $copyAreas),
+        ]);
+    }
+}

app/Actions/Projects/CreateProjectTemplate.php

@@ -20,9 +20,11 @@ class CreateProjectTemplate
         $copyAreas = array_values(Arr::get($attributes, 'copy_areas', []));
 
         return ProjectTemplate::query()->create([
+            'project_id' => null,
             'source_project_id' => $sourceProject->id,
             'name' => $attributes['name'],
             'slug' => $attributes['slug'],
+            'is_published' => true,
             'copy_areas' => $this->duplicateProjectConfiguration->normalizeCopyAreas($copyAreas),
             'configuration_snapshot' => $this->duplicateProjectConfiguration->export($sourceProject, $copyAreas),
         ]);

app/Http/Controllers/ProjectController.php

@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ class ProjectController extends Controller
             403,
         );
 
-        $sourceTemplates = ProjectTemplate::query()->with('sourceProject')->orderBy('name')->get();
+        $sourceTemplates = ProjectTemplate::query()
+            ->published()
+            ->with('sourceProject')
+            ->orderBy('name')
+            ->get();
         $selectedTemplateId = $request->integer('template');
 
         return Inertia::render('projects/Create', [

app/Http/Controllers/ProjectTemplateController.php

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class ProjectTemplateController extends Controller
             'status' => session('status'),
             'templates' => ProjectTemplateResource::collection(
                 ProjectTemplate::query()
+                    ->published()
                     ->with('sourceProject')
                     ->orderBy('name')
                     ->get(),
@@ -51,6 +52,8 @@ class ProjectTemplateController extends Controller
 
     public function destroy(ProjectTemplate $projectTemplate): RedirectResponse
     {
+        abort_if(! $projectTemplate->is_published, 404);
+
         $templateName = $projectTemplate->name;
         $projectTemplate->delete();
 

app/Http/Requests/StoreProjectRequest.php

@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class StoreProjectRequest extends FormRequest
                 Rule::requiredIf(fn (): bool => $this->input('creation_mode') === 'template'),
                 'nullable',
                 'integer',
-                Rule::exists('project_templates', 'id'),
+                Rule::exists('project_templates', 'id')->where(fn ($query) => $query->where('is_published', true)),
             ],
             'copy_areas' => ['nullable', 'array'],
             'copy_areas.*' => [

app/Http/Resources/ProjectResource.php

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ class ProjectResource extends JsonResource
             'id' => $this->id,
             'name' => $this->name,
             'key' => $this->key,
+            'project_template_id' => $this->project_template_id,
             'show_author' => $this->show_author,
             'show_story_points' => $this->show_story_points,
             'created_at' => $this->created_at?->toISOString(),

app/Http/Resources/ProjectTemplateResource.php

@@ -19,12 +19,14 @@ class ProjectTemplateResource extends JsonResource
         if ($this->resource instanceof ProjectTemplate) {
             return [
                 'id' => $this->id,
+                'project_id' => $this->project_id,
                 'source_project_id' => $this->source_project_id,
                 'source_project' => $this->relationLoaded('sourceProject') && $this->sourceProject !== null
                     ? ProjectResource::make($this->sourceProject)->resolve()
                     : null,
                 'name' => $this->name,
                 'slug' => $this->slug,
+                'is_published' => $this->is_published,
                 'copy_areas' => $this->copy_areas ?? [],
                 'created_at' => $this->created_at?->toISOString(),
                 'updated_at' => $this->updated_at?->toISOString(),
@@ -33,10 +35,12 @@ class ProjectTemplateResource extends JsonResource
 
         return [
             'id' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'id'),
+            'project_id' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'project_id'),
             'source_project_id' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'source_project_id'),
             'source_project' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'source_project'),
             'name' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'name'),
             'slug' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'slug'),
+            'is_published' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'is_published', true),
             'copy_areas' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'copy_areas', []),
             'created_at' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'created_at'),
             'updated_at' => Arr::get($this->resource, 'updated_at'),

app/Models/Project.php

@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@ use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Attributes\Fillable;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Casts\Attribute;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\HasFactory;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
+use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\BelongsTo;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\HasMany;
+use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\HasOne;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\MorphMany;
 use Illuminate\Support\Str;
 
-#[Fillable(['name', 'key', 'show_author', 'show_story_points'])]
+#[Fillable(['name', 'key', 'project_template_id', 'show_author', 'show_story_points'])]
 class Project extends Model
 {
     /** @use HasFactory<ProjectFactory> */
@@ -44,6 +46,17 @@ class Project extends Model
         return $this->morphMany(PermissionAssignment::class, 'scope');
     }
 
+    public function projectTemplate(): BelongsTo
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(ProjectTemplate::class, 'project_template_id');
+    }
+
+    public function baseTemplate(): HasOne
+    {
+        return $this->hasOne(ProjectTemplate::class)
+            ->where('is_published', false);
+    }
+
     public function boardColumns(): HasMany
     {
         return $this->hasMany(BoardColumn::class)

app/Models/ProjectTemplate.php

@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Attributes\Fillable;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\HasFactory;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\BelongsTo;
+use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Builder;
 
-#[Fillable(['source_project_id', 'name', 'slug', 'copy_areas', 'configuration_snapshot'])]
+#[Fillable(['project_id', 'source_project_id', 'name', 'slug', 'is_published', 'copy_areas', 'configuration_snapshot'])]
 class ProjectTemplate extends Model
 {
     /** @use HasFactory<ProjectTemplateFactory> */
@@ -19,9 +20,20 @@ class ProjectTemplate extends Model
         return [
             'copy_areas' => 'array',
             'configuration_snapshot' => 'array',
+            'is_published' => 'boolean',
         ];
     }
 
+    public function scopePublished(Builder $query): Builder
+    {
+        return $query->where('is_published', true);
+    }
+
+    public function project(): BelongsTo
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(Project::class);
+    }
+
     public function sourceProject(): BelongsTo
     {
         return $this->belongsTo(Project::class, 'source_project_id');

database/migrations/2026_05_25_013000_project_templates_as_project_baselines.php

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+<?php
+
+use App\Actions\Projects\CreateProjectBaseTemplate;
+use App\Models\Project;
+use App\Models\ProjectTemplate;
+use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
+use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
+
+return new class extends Migration
+{
+    public function up(): void
+    {
+        Schema::table('project_templates', function (Blueprint $table): void {
+            $table->foreignId('project_id')->nullable()->after('id')->constrained('projects')->nullOnDelete();
+            $table->boolean('is_published')->default(true)->after('slug');
+        });
+
+        Schema::table('projects', function (Blueprint $table): void {
+            $table->foreignId('project_template_id')->nullable()->after('key')->constrained('project_templates')->nullOnDelete();
+        });
+
+        $projects = Project::query()->whereNull('project_template_id')->get();
+        $createProjectBaseTemplate = app(CreateProjectBaseTemplate::class);
+
+        foreach ($projects as $project) {
+            $baseTemplate = $createProjectBaseTemplate->handle($project);
+
+            $project->forceFill([
+                'project_template_id' => $baseTemplate->id,
+            ])->save();
+        }
+
+        ProjectTemplate::query()
+            ->whereNull('project_id')
+            ->update(['is_published' => true]);
+    }
+
+    public function down(): void
+    {
+        Project::query()->update(['project_template_id' => null]);
+
+        ProjectTemplate::query()->where('is_published', false)->delete();
+
+        Schema::table('projects', function (Blueprint $table): void {
+            $table->dropConstrainedForeignId('project_template_id');
+        });
+
+        Schema::table('project_templates', function (Blueprint $table): void {
+            $table->dropConstrainedForeignId('project_id');
+            $table->dropColumn('is_published');
+        });
+    }
+};

resources/js/pages/project-templates/Create.vue

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const breadcrumbs: BreadcrumbItem[] = [
         href: projectShow(props.project.id),
     },
     {
-        title: 'Save as template',
+        title: 'Save as new template',
         href: `/projects/${props.project.id}/templates/create`,
     },
 ];
@@ -58,13 +58,13 @@ const submit = (): void => {
 
 <template>
     <AppLayout :breadcrumbs="breadcrumbs">
-        <Head :title="`Save ${project.name} as template`" />
+        <Head :title="`Save ${project.name} as new template`" />
 
         <div class="mx-auto flex w-full max-w-3xl flex-1 flex-col gap-6 p-4">
             <div class="space-y-3">
                 <Badge variant="outline" class="px-3 py-1">{{ project.key }}</Badge>
                 <Heading
-                    :title="`Save ${project.name} as template`"
+                    :title="`Save ${project.name} as new template`"
                     description="Capture reusable project configuration without copying operational ticket data."
                 />
             </div>
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ const submit = (): void => {
 
                         <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
                             <Button type="submit" :disabled="form.processing">
-                                Save template
+                                Save new template
                             </Button>
 
                             <Button as-child variant="outline">

resources/js/pages/project-templates/Index.vue

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ const removeTemplate = (templateId: number): void => {
             <div class="flex flex-col gap-4 sm:flex-row sm:items-start sm:justify-between">
                 <Heading
                     title="Project templates"
-                    description="Reusable project configuration templates saved from existing projects."
+                    description="Reusable published project templates. Internal project base templates stay hidden here by default."
                 />
 
                 <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-3">
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ const removeTemplate = (templateId: number): void => {
             </div>
 
             <div v-if="templates.length === 0" class="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
-                No project templates have been saved yet.
+                No published project templates have been saved yet.
             </div>
 
             <div v-else class="grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-3">

resources/js/pages/projects/Show.vue

@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ const projectAreas = [
                         variant="outline"
                     >
                         <Link :href="`/projects/${project.id}/templates/create`">
-                            Save as template
+                            Save as new template
                         </Link>
                     </Button>
 

resources/js/types/models/project-template-model.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import type { ProjectModel } from '@/types/models/project-model';
 
 export type ProjectTemplateModel = {
     id: number;
+    is_published: boolean;
+    project_id: number | null;
     source_project_id: number | null;
     source_project: ProjectModel | null;
     name: string;

tests/Feature/Api/ProjectApiTest.php

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ class ProjectApiTest extends TestCase
 
         $this->withApplicationKey($user)
             ->postJson(route('api.projects.store'), [
+                'creation_mode' => 'scratch',
                 'key' => 'api',
                 'name' => 'API Project',
             ])
@@ -52,8 +53,11 @@ class ProjectApiTest extends TestCase
             ->assertJsonPath('meta.message', 'API Project was created.');
 
         $project = Project::query()->where('key', 'API')->firstOrFail();
+        $project->refresh();
+
         $this->assertSame(2, $project->ticketTypes()->count());
         $this->assertSame(1, $project->ticketStatuses()->count());
+        $this->assertNotNull($project->project_template_id);
     }
 
     public function test_users_can_create_projects_from_templates_via_api(): void
@@ -96,6 +100,9 @@ class ProjectApiTest extends TestCase
 
         $project = Project::query()->where('key', 'TPL1')->firstOrFail();
 
+        $project->refresh();
+
+        $this->assertSame($template->id, $project->project_template_id);
         $this->assertFalse($project->show_author);
         $this->assertFalse($project->show_story_points);
         $this->assertSame(['Spike'], $project->ticketTypes()->pluck('name')->all());

tests/Feature/Database/ProjectTemplateBaselineMigrationTest.php

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Tests\Feature\Database;
+
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Artisan;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
+use Tests\TestCase;
+
+class ProjectTemplateBaselineMigrationTest extends TestCase
+{
+    public function test_migration_backfills_hidden_base_templates_for_existing_projects(): void
+    {
+        Artisan::call('migrate:fresh', [
+            '--path' => [
+                'database/migrations/0001_01_01_000000_create_users_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/0001_01_01_000001_create_cache_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/0001_01_01_000002_create_jobs_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2025_08_14_170933_add_two_factor_columns_to_users_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_24_234007_create_projects_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_24_234734_create_teams_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_24_234735_create_team_user_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_002100_create_board_columns_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_003100_create_ticket_types_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_003101_create_ticket_priorities_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_003102_create_ticket_field_definitions_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_004098_create_ticket_statuses_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_004099_create_ticket_statuses_transitionstable.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_004100_create_tickets_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_065302_create_ticket_worklog_entries_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_070706_create_ticket_field_values_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_073715_create_ticket_links_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_25_073715_create_ticket_link_types_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_26_074522_create_user_git_connections_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_03_26_075849_create_repository_connections_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_04_12_120000_create_permission_assignments_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_04_20_174556_create_user_applications_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_04_20_194646_create_notification_actions_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_04_20_194646_create_notification_delivery_logs_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_04_24_194800_add_filters_to_notification_actions_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_04_24_203500_create_acceptance_criteria_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_05_19_230500_drop_acceptance_criteria_from_tickets_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_05_22_124700_add_must_change_password_on_next_login_to_users_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_05_23_101900_add_counterpart_label_to_ticket_link_types_table.php',
+                'database/migrations/2026_05_25_011500_create_project_templates_table.php',
+            ],
+        ]);
+
+        DB::table('projects')->insert([
+            'name' => 'Legacy Project',
+            'key' => 'LGCY',
+            'show_author' => 0,
+            'show_story_points' => 1,
+            'created_at' => now(),
+            'updated_at' => now(),
+        ]);
+
+        $projectId = (int) DB::table('projects')->where('key', 'LGCY')->value('id');
+
+        Artisan::call('migrate', [
+            '--path' => 'database/migrations/2026_05_25_013000_project_templates_as_project_baselines.php',
+        ]);
+
+        $project = DB::table('projects')->where('id', $projectId)->first();
+        $template = DB::table('project_templates')->where('id', $project->project_template_id)->first();
+
+        $this->assertNotNull($project->project_template_id);
+        $this->assertNotNull($template);
+        $this->assertSame($projectId, $template->project_id);
+        $this->assertSame($projectId, $template->source_project_id);
+        $this->assertSame(0, $template->is_published);
+        $this->assertSame('lgcy-base-template', $template->slug);
+    }
+}

tests/Feature/Projects/ProjectControllerTest.php

@@ -121,6 +121,13 @@ class ProjectControllerTest extends TestCase
             'slug' => 'reusable-setup',
             'source_project_id' => $visibleProject->id,
         ]);
+        ProjectTemplate::factory()->create([
+            'name' => 'Hidden Base',
+            'slug' => 'hidden-base',
+            'project_id' => $visibleProject->id,
+            'source_project_id' => $visibleProject->id,
+            'is_published' => false,
+        ]);
         $this->syncProjectPermissions($visibleProject, $user, ['view']);
 
         $this->actingAs($user)
@@ -160,6 +167,7 @@ class ProjectControllerTest extends TestCase
 
         $response = $this->actingAs($user)
             ->post(route('projects.store'), [
+                'creation_mode' => 'scratch',
                 'name' => 'Kanban Foundation',
                 'key' => 'core',
             ]);
@@ -173,6 +181,18 @@ class ProjectControllerTest extends TestCase
             'key' => 'CORE',
         ]);
 
+        $project->refresh();
+
+        $this->assertNotNull($project->project_template_id);
+
+        $this->assertDatabaseHas('project_templates', [
+            'id' => $project->project_template_id,
+            'project_id' => $project->id,
+            'source_project_id' => $project->id,
+            'is_published' => false,
+            'slug' => 'core-base-template',
+        ]);
+
         $this->assertDatabaseHas('permission_assignments', [
             'assignee_id' => $user->id,
             'assignee_type' => $user->getMorphClass(),
@@ -263,8 +283,11 @@ class ProjectControllerTest extends TestCase
 
         $response->assertRedirect(route('projects.show', $project));
 
-        $this->assertSame(false, $project->fresh()->show_author);
-        $this->assertSame(false, $project->fresh()->show_story_points);
+        $project->refresh();
+
+        $this->assertSame($template->id, $project->project_template_id);
+        $this->assertSame(false, $project->show_author);
+        $this->assertSame(false, $project->show_story_points);
         $this->assertDatabaseHas('ticket_types', [
             'project_id' => $project->id,
             'name' => 'Bug',

tests/Feature/Projects/ProjectTemplateControllerTest.php

@@ -29,6 +29,13 @@ class ProjectTemplateControllerTest extends TestCase
             'slug' => 'foundation-template',
             'source_project_id' => $project->id,
         ]);
+        ProjectTemplate::factory()->create([
+            'name' => 'Hidden Base Template',
+            'slug' => 'hidden-base-template',
+            'project_id' => $project->id,
+            'source_project_id' => $project->id,
+            'is_published' => false,
+        ]);
 
         $this->syncGlobalPermissions($user, ['project:create']);
         $this->syncProjectPermissions($project, $user, ['view']);
@@ -40,7 +47,8 @@ class ProjectTemplateControllerTest extends TestCase
                 ->component('project-templates/Index')
                 ->has('templates', 1)
                 ->where('templates.0.id', $template->id)
-                ->where('templates.0.slug', 'foundation-template'));
+                ->where('templates.0.slug', 'foundation-template')
+                ->where('templates.0.is_published', true));
 
         $this->actingAs($user)
             ->get(route('projects.templates.create', $project))
@@ -99,6 +107,9 @@ class ProjectTemplateControllerTest extends TestCase
 
         $template = ProjectTemplate::query()->where('slug', 'core-reusable')->firstOrFail();
 
+        $this->assertTrue($template->is_published);
+        $this->assertNull($template->project_id);
+
         $this->assertSame([
             DuplicateProjectConfiguration::COPY_PROJECT_SETTINGS => [
                 'show_author' => false,
@@ -121,4 +132,21 @@ class ProjectTemplateControllerTest extends TestCase
             'id' => $template->id,
         ]);
     }
+
+    public function test_hidden_base_templates_cannot_be_deleted_from_the_management_flow(): void
+    {
+        $user = User::factory()->create();
+        $project = Project::factory()->create();
+        $template = ProjectTemplate::factory()->create([
+            'project_id' => $project->id,
+            'source_project_id' => $project->id,
+            'is_published' => false,
+        ]);
+
+        $this->syncGlobalPermissions($user, ['project:create']);
+
+        $this->actingAs($user)
+            ->delete(route('project-templates.destroy', $template))
+            ->assertNotFound();
+    }
 }