Buyer FAQs

General FAQs | Seller FAQs

Why become a Buyer?

Buyers on people4business.com can take advantage of a huge database of contractors and consultants with skills in all industries and sectors. Instead of using several agencies to manage your contracts for different areas of your business, people4business.com can supply all your contractors on one easy-to-use website.

All the rates you see on people4business include our low 10% management fee, which is added on to Sellers’ chosen rates. As a result, people4business is very competitive with any other source of contractors in the market.

We’ve also given you the flexibility to set your own criteria for selecting your Sellers. If you need someone in a hurry, you can search by availability. If you’re more interested in price or location, you can search by those too.

How do I become a Buyer?

Any business can be a Buyer on people4business.com. You simply provide us with a few details about you and your company and you can then begin to search through our database of Sellers offering skills in all industries.

I’m a sole trader, can I still be a Buyer?

Yes!

people4business has a commitment to pay Sellers for every day that they work on contracts gained through the website. As a consequence of this, a credit-checking process takes place, for all our registered Buyers, before we are able to offer payment in arrears. Where we are not able to offer payment terms to Buyers, up front payments will be required.

How do I find a Seller?

Please see our how to find a Seller page, for full details of our four-step process:

Describe assignment: provide brief details of the task you want the Seller to do and the dates you need them.

Search for Sellers: search our database to find Sellers with the skills you need.

Contact Sellers: once you have chosen a final shortlist of 5 Sellers, you can access their contact details to set up interviews.

Award contract: you agree the final contract terms with your chosen Seller and the work can begin.

Can I have more than one assignment at a time?

Yes! You can manage as many assignments as you want at one time. All your assignments are listed on your homepage, from where you can easily continue to the next stage of the process of finding a Seller.

How can Sellers see my assignment?

Any assignment for which you have not chosen a final shortlist of Sellers can be posted on our new ‘job board'. Sellers with the relevant skills are invited to express their interest in the assignment. Note that people4business reviews all Buyer assignments before placing them on the job board.

Is the hourly rate fixed?

Sellers set their own hourly rates, to which we add our 10% management fee: so the price you see on people4business is the price you will pay (unless you negotiate a different rate with the Seller).

You are free to negotiate rates with the Seller, but you need to remember to include our management fee.

The price you enter on the contract is the Buyer price (including our fee); so the Seller will receive this sum less 10%.

For ease of use, when you enter the contract price on people4business, the Seller rate is automatically calculated: so that you are always aware of the Buyer price and Seller rate.

How can I find out where the Sellers are?

Once you have registered as a Buyer, you are able to use our location facility.

You will be able to sort your chosen Sellers by location, to see a list of Sellers from the closest to the farthest away from you.

I want to contact more than 5 Sellers?

We set a limit of 5 Sellers per assignment. However, if you have contacted a Seller on your shortlist and decided that they are not suitable, you can remove them from your shortlist. After 24 hours you are then able to add another Seller to your shortlist – and access their contact details.

You can also add another Seller to your final shortlist immediately if a Seller removes themselves from your shortlist.

No one on my shortlist has responded?

Remember that it is up to you to get in touch with the Sellers on your shortlist. The shortlisted Sellers have seen details of the Assignment but they do not have your contact details.

Can I extend the assignment for a longer period?

Yes! You can edit the existing assignment contract to reflect the extended time. This generates an amended contract, to which the Seller must agree in the usual way.

How do I use the same Seller again?

If some time has elapsed since the Seller finished the previous contract, you will have to set up a new assignment.

Remember that if you already know the Seller you want to use, the process is quick and easy, as you only have to provide sufficient detail to create the new contract.

Who do I pay? You or the Seller?

people4business will invoice you for your Seller’s time. You pay people4business and we then pay your Seller.

Can I negotiate a fixed price for an assignment?

Yes. Please contact the Buyer Support team who will help you to draw up the contract:

0870 389 3244 | buyer@people4business.com

Can I employ Sellers on a commission-only basis?

No. Sellers need to be paid an hourly or daily rate that is equivalent to at least the minimum wage: currently £5.35 per hour.

How do you make your money?

All our Sellers’ rates include our 10% management fee. This is far leaner than most agency margins, and ensures that you are still paying the most competitive rates for your Sellers on people4business.

My question hasn’t been answered?

Please call or e-mail us with your question and we’ll answer it, and add it to our FAQs list:

0870 389 3244 | buyer@people4business.com

 

This page last updated 04.08.08