diff --git a/start-dev.sh b/start-dev.sh
index be6cb6b..f2e0e0c 100755
--- a/start-dev.sh
+++ b/start-dev.sh
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ if [ ! -d "node_modules" ]; then
 fi
 
 # Start backend in background
-HOST=0.0.0.0 PORT=3020 API_PORT=3020 npm run start:dev > /tmp/backend-dev.log 2>&1 &
+npm run start:dev > /tmp/backend-dev.log 2>&1 &
 BACKEND_PID=$!
 echo $BACKEND_PID > /tmp/backend-dev.pid
 success "Backend API started (PID: $BACKEND_PID)"
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ EOF
     log "Created .env.local for frontend"
 fi
 
-# Start frontend in background (override the port in package.json)
-npx next dev -p 3030 -H 0.0.0.0 > /tmp/frontend-dev.log 2>&1 &
+# Start frontend in background using full path to next
+node_modules/next/dist/bin/next dev -p 3030 -H 0.0.0.0 > /tmp/frontend-dev.log 2>&1 &
 FRONTEND_PID=$!
 echo $FRONTEND_PID > /tmp/frontend-dev.pid
 success "Frontend started (PID: $FRONTEND_PID)"
@@ -179,8 +179,8 @@ EOF
     log "Created .env.local for admin dashboard"
 fi
 
-# Start admin dashboard in background (use npx to ensure correct port)
-npx next dev -p 3335 -H 0.0.0.0 > /tmp/admin-dev.log 2>&1 &
+# Start admin dashboard in background using full path to next
+node_modules/next/dist/bin/next dev -p 3335 -H 0.0.0.0 > /tmp/admin-dev.log 2>&1 &
 ADMIN_PID=$!
 echo $ADMIN_PID > /tmp/admin-dev.pid
 success "Admin Dashboard started (PID: $ADMIN_PID)"
@@ -188,25 +188,33 @@ log "Admin accessible at: http://pfadmin.noru1.ro (0.0.0.0:3335)"
 
 # Step 4: Verify all services are running
 log "${CYAN}Step 4: Verifying services...${NC}"
-sleep 5
+log "Waiting 30 seconds for services to start..."
+sleep 30
 
 verify_service() {
     local SERVICE=$1
     local PORT=$2
     local PID_FILE=$3
 
-    if [ -f "$PID_FILE" ]; then
-        PID=$(cat $PID_FILE)
-        if kill -0 $PID 2>/dev/null; then
-            success "$SERVICE is running (PID: $PID)"
-            return 0
+    # Check if port is listening
+    if ss -tulpn | grep -q ":$PORT.*LISTEN"; then
+        success "$SERVICE is listening on port $PORT"
+        return 0
+    else
+        # Check if process is still starting
+        if [ -f "$PID_FILE" ]; then
+            PID=$(cat $PID_FILE)
+            if kill -0 $PID 2>/dev/null; then
+                warning "$SERVICE is running (PID: $PID) but not yet listening on port $PORT"
+                return 1
+            else
+                error "$SERVICE process (PID: $PID) died. Check logs: tail -50 /tmp/${SERVICE,,}-dev.log"
+                return 1
+            fi
         else
-            warning "$SERVICE process died"
+            warning "$SERVICE PID file not found"
             return 1
         fi
-    else
-        warning "$SERVICE PID file not found"
-        return 1
     fi
 }