SUPPORT TOPICS

Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us
About Us

Registering
How to Bid
How To Advertise
Getting Started - Advertiser
Getting Started - Contractor
Writing a Contract
My Office
Scuttlebutt Feedback Forum
Contract Tracking
Contract Scout
Independent Contractor Overview
Benefits of Hiring a Contractor
Handling Disputes

How To Bid

If you spotted a contract you would like to place a bid on, you can do so quickly and easily by following these steps:

1. Login to your account. If you have not registered, you can do so within 2 minutes

2. Visit the contract page

3. Towards the bottom of the contract description page, you will see a "bidding box."

4. Enter in your bid. Note that you must bid below the maximum bid.

5. Click on the "Place bid" button

6. You will then be asked to confirm your bid. Once you have done so, your bid will be entered. If successful, you will receive a confirmation message. If your bid fails to outbid the current lowest bidder, you will be offered the option to place a lower bid.
   
   Proxy bidding can aid your chances of winning a contract and help avoid being outbid at the last moment. To place a proxy bid, enter in the minimum price you are willing to be paid to complete the contract. If another user places a bid on the same contract, automatic bids will be placed on your behalf in accordance with your minimum bid amount. With proxy bidding, you will be paid the maximum price until someone else places a lower bid.

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Getting Started - Advertiser

Posting a contract on Up4Contract.com is an easy and affordable way to get services completed for you. Follow these steps to advertise your contract today!

1. Register. Or log-in if you are a registered member.
   Membership is free so you have nothing to lose. After you register, you will receive an email from Up4Contract.com. Click on the link provided in the email to activate your account. Now log in to begin advertising what you need done.

2. Advertise your contract
   Post a contract by clicking on the "Advertise" button located on the main navigation bar. Select the category and sub-category that best fits your service needs. Be sure to select the most appropriate category, as service providers that fit your needs are automatically notified when contracts are posted.

3. Write your contract
   Describe the details of your project very thoroughly and the ideal candidate to complete your contract. Include your requirements, e.g. licenses, certifications, bonded, insured, experience, etc. Upload any necessary images to further explain the services you need rendered. For more information, go to writing a contract support topic.

4. Set the maximum price you're willing to pay
   Enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the services. Up4Contract.com members will bid down your maximum price so you get services done at the most affordable price.

5. Submit your contract
   After completing the details of your contract, submit your contract advertisement for posting on the web so other members can competitively bid on it.

6. Track your advertisement and receive bids
   You can track the progress of your contract advertisement in your personalized Up4Contract.com office called "My Office." Members continue to bid lower for the opportunity to fulfill your request exactly as you specified. When the contract advertisement period ends, you and the winning bidder (the lowest bidder) will be notified.

7. Consult with the winning bidder
   When your contract advertisement period ends, contact the winning bidder (your Contractor) to award the project and confirm the contract details including, but not limited to, time frame, payment terms, deliverables, references, requirements of your Contractor and stipulations. You should also create a formal written contract and obtain a signature from the Contractor. It is also your responsibility to verify the Contractor's licneses and references when applicable.

8. Pay the Contractor
   Upon completion of the contract, pay the Contractor according to your contract terms.

9. Leave Feedback
   Using our Scuttlebutt feedback forum, leave detailed feedback about the Contractor regarding your experience and the quality of work.

For more information, visit our Advertiser FAQs.

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How To Advertise

Once you have registered and activated your account, you will be able to advertise contracts for whatever your service or labor needs may be.

In order to do that, you will have to click on the "Advertise" button, and you will be redirected to a new page. You can then select the main category of the service or project you want to advertise.

The second step is entering the contract name and the contract details, which should include location of work, length of contract, terms of agreement, detailed project description, whether a face-to-face meeting will be required, payment terms, legal restrictions (i.e. driver's license required, proof of insurance, bonded, occupational license) and whether references are required. On that same page, be sure to select your contract's subcategory. No contracts can be offered by choosing only the main category; you will have to choose a subcategory for your contract.

Next, you can add an image to your contract to help explain your needs further. Adding an image is free of charge. On the Contract Advertisement Settings tab, you can choose the maximum price you are willing to pay to have your contract fulfilled. Other members will bid down you maximum amount. You can also elect to use Up4Contract.com features to promote and increase visibility of your contract advertisement. These features include home page listing, bold and highlighting enhancements, and featured category listing. Then select the duration of the contract posting - from 1 day to 2 weeks.

Enter the location where the project will take place and click on the "Next Step" button. Now you will be redirected to Step Three, where you can review your contract before submitting. If everything is in order, click on the "Submit" button. The contract is activated and made available on the website for members to bid on. If your contract did not receive bids after the the advertisement closed, you can relist it to try again.

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Registering

Registration is currently free and only takes a matter of minutes. To start the signup process, click on the "Register" link at the top of this page. Only users over 18 years are able to register.

The next step is to fill in all of your information. Failure to supply all the required information will result in an error.

By clicking on the "Register" button from the bottom of the page, you will be redirected to a confirmation page. You will immediately receive an email. Click on the link provided in the email to activate your account.

Congratulations! You are now an Up4Contract.com member.

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My Office

Once you have successfully logged in to Up4Contract.com (click on the "Login" button from the page header), you will be redirected to your personalized member's area page, called "My Office." This page is divided into five tabs:

1. My Bidding & Tracking
   
   On this page, you will be able to see the contracts you are currently bidding on, as well as the status of the bids, contracts you have won, and your "Contract Scout" results. Contract Scout will notify you of newly listed contracts which contain keywords you have chosen. To set up this feature, click on "Contract Scout," and add keywords that fit your profile, interests and qualifications. Contract Scout will automatically notify you via email when a new contract is posted that matches your keywords.
   
   By clicking on the "View Details" link from the "Contracts I've Won" area, you will be able to see information for the Contract Advertiser, and make contact with him/her in order to discuss the details of the contract.

2. My Advertising
   
   There are three areas available on this page.
   
   In the "Opened Contract Advertisements" area, you will see details of contracts you currently have open; if no bids were submitted on an open contract, you are able to edit the contract.
   
   In the "Closed Contract Advertisements" area, you will see the contracts you posted and that were closed. You can choose to edit, delete or re-list a closed contract.
   
   In the "Active Contracts" area, you will see the contracts that you have successfully secured a service provider/contractor. By clicking on the "View Details" link, you will be redirected to a page where you will see the Contractor's contact information.

3. Scuttlebutt
   
   From this page, you will be able to see the "Scuttlebutt," or feedback, you have received, and leave "Scuttlebutt," or feedback, to other users.

4. My Web Pages
   
   My Web Pages allows you to create an "About Me" or "Shop Front" page to give other users more information about you or your business. Your web page can include text, photos, and logos, but you cannot include contact information.

5. My Account
   
   You can edit your personal information using this page, except for your username. You can also change your password. If the password and confirm password fields are empty, your password will remain the same.

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Scuttlebutt Feedback Forum

After a contract has been fulfilled, both the Advertiser and the Contractor will be able to leave feedback, or what we call Scuttlebutt, for each other in the Scuttlebutt feedback forum. The Scuttlebutt rating is from one star to five stars, and includes comments as well. To leave Scuttlebutt, click on the "Scuttlebutt" tab from the "My Office" section. Under the "Leave Scuttlebutt" section, locate the project, and click "Proceed" to leave feedback for that user. Scuttlebutt can only be left once for each transaction, and it cannot be edited afterwards.

Scuttlebutt feedback is comprehensive and integral to Up4Contract.com, as it reinforces the value of an individual's word. Up4Contract.com uses the Scuttlebutt feedback forum to help provide safe and effective contracting and to encourage honest transactions. All members of the site are given a member rating, formulated from the amount and extent of positive and negative feedback they have received from other members. We enforce a strict rating policy, where members must maintain a 97% integrity rating, which means members can carry a maximum of three negative ratings per 100 contracts. Up4Contract.com will suspend or remove members with Scuttlebutt lower than a 97% rating.

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Contract Tracking

The Contract Tracking feature lets you keep a close eye on any contract without having to place a bid on it. This feature means you can be kept up-to-date on how a contract is doing and prepares you to place a winning, last minute bid. You can watch any contract by clicking on the "Track this contract" link on any contract page. Contracts you are tracking will appear on your My Office page in the My Bidding & Tracking section.

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Contract Scout

The Contract Scout feature notifies you of newly listed contracts which contain "keywords" you have chosen. Simply input your preferences for contracts, and Up4Contract.com will email you when new contracts are posted that fit your criteria.

To set up Contract Scout, go to your "My Office" area. Under the "My Bidding & Tracking" tab, you will see a section called "Go To," and click on the "My Contract Scout." In the "insert keywords" field, enter keywords including specific skills (e.g. C++, Microsoft Word, BMW), job titles (e.g. handyman, auto technician, web designer) and location preferences (e.g. Palm Beach, Georgia, Florida). Each time a new contract is listed containing your specified terms, you will be notified via email. You can enter as many keywords as you like.

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Writing a Contract

When a Contract Advertiser procures a Contractor, it is advised that a written, formal contract is prepared. Both parties should sign the contract. Below are suggested questions and topics to consider when writing a contract:

1. When will the contract become effective?

2. Who will be receiving the services?

3. Who will be providing the services?

4. What are the services to be provided?

5. How will the service provider be paid (lump sum, installment payments)?

6. How much will the service provider be paid?

7. When will the service provider be paid (bi-weekly, incrementally, upon completion)?

8. Is it understood that the service provider is a contractor and not an employee?
   Include a statement that you and the Contractor agree to an independent contractor relationship. It is very important to make this distinction in your contract because the IRS penalties for misclassification can be severe. The IRS uses a 20-factor test to evaluate whether a person is an independent contractor. To avoid having an independent contractor reclassified as an employee, refer to the IRS website.

9. Who will be responsible for expenses (true independent contractors are usually responsible for their own expenses)?

10. Will the ownership of any copyrightable works, ideas or products remain with the Contract Advertiser?

11. When will the contract terminate (on specific date, with written notice, upon project completion)?

12. Do you want the service provider to be prohibited from disclosing confidential information?

13. Will the service provider be required to return equipment or property upon termination of the contract?

14. Will the service provider be responsible for obtaining insurance in case of injury or providing proof of insurance?
    * You will want to include a statement that the Contractor has all of the permits and licenses that the state requires to legally do the work.

15. Will the service provider guarantee quality of work performed?

16. How many days after receiving notice of default (the failure to carry out service obligations) will the service provider have to remedy the situation?

17. Which state laws will apply to your contract?

18. Who will sign the contract?
    
    Other items to include in a contract may include:

• A statement that the Contractor will pay state and federal income taxes
• An acknowledgment by the Contractor that he/she is not entitled to any of the benefits you provide employees

Note that the information contained on this site is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended or provided as legal advice or counsel. You should contact appropriate legal counsel for advice on writing contracts or hiring independent contractors.

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Getting Started - Contractor

Start finding work or customers on Up4Contract.com. It's easy and fast. Follow these steps to contract your services today!

1. Register. Or log-in if you are a registered member.
   Membership is free so you have nothing to lose. After you register, you will receive an email from Up4Contract.com. Click on the link provided in the email to activate your account. Now log in to begin bidding. As an Up4Contract.com member, you will be able to bid on and advertise an unlimited number of contracts.

2. Find contracts
   Find contracts you would be interested in by clicking on the "Search" button located on the main navigation bar. Or browse through the categories and sub-categories using the navigation bar on the left side.
   
   Up4Contract.com will keep you informed of new contracts posted that fit your profile. Sign-up for Contract Scout in "My Office" of your account information, and we will send you emails when a new project is posted that fits under your expertise. Learn more about Contract Scout.

3. Watch contracts
   If you find a contract that interests you but you are not ready to bid, use the "Contract Tracking" feature. This features lets you keep a close eye on any contract without having to place a bid on it. You can be kept up-to-date on how a contract is doing and prepares you to place a winning, last minute bid. You can watch any contract by clicking on the "Track this contract" link on any contract page.

4. Bid on contracts
   When you find a contract that you can fulfill, make a bid lower than the current "going price." Up4Contract.com uses proxy bidding, which can aid your chances of winning a contract and help avoid being outbid at the last moment. To place a proxy bid, enter in the minimum price you are willing to be paid for the contract. If another user places a bid on the same contract, automatic bids will be placed on your behalf in accordance with your minimum bid amount. With proxy bidding, you will be paid the maximum possible price until someone else places a lower bid.
   
   Be sure to read the contract thoroughly to make sure you have ALL the qualifications necessary to fulfill the advertiser's requests. If you have any questions or concerns, email the advertiser PRIOR to bidding. DO NOT BID ON A CONTRACT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE REQUIRMENTS.

5. Win a contract
   When you are the winning bidder--that is, the lowest bidder on a contract, you will be notified via email when the contract advertisement closes. The Contract Advertiser will also contact you to award the project and confirm the contract details. Be sure to review time frame for project completion, project details, payment terms and other requirements and stipulations. The Contract Advertiser should give you a written contract to sign. Keep a copy for your records.

6. Fulfill the contract & get paid!
   After you and the Contract Advertiser have discussed all terms of the contract, you are ready to fulfill the contract. Once completed, the Contract Advertiser will pay you according to the contract terms.

7. Leave Feedback
   Using our Scuttlebutt feedback forum, leave detailed feedback about the contract advertiser regarding your experience.

For more information, visit our Bidder/Contractor FAQs.

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Handling Disputes

Up4Contract.com recognizes that disputes may arise due to miscommunication or misunderstanding, and we will provide you an outline of steps to take to resolve your issues. First, we recommend that you attempt to clarify issues with the other party through open communication. Try calling or contacting the other member and talking through the problem. If the issue cannot be resolved through communication, you can use a certified dispute resolution service or mediator to help you reach an agreement. As a final attempt to resolve the issue, you can submit an email to the Up4Contract.com support team (support@Up4Contract.com) detailing your claim. We will investigate the claim and determine appropriate actions. If an involved member does not respond to our communications, we will suspend his/her membership.

If you wish to dispute feedback left by another member, you can submit a Feedback Dispute Claim by emailing support@Up4Contract.com. An Up4Contract.com representative or qualified Up4Contract.com member will review the claim and determine appropriate action.

Up4Contract.com cannot and does not confirm the identity of users, because verifying the identity of a user on the Internet is difficult. Up4Contract.com is not responsible nor liable for the outcome of its members transactions. Up4Contract.com is a venue for finding and procuring services, and thus, we have no control over the outcome of service transactions or the work performed by service providers.

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Benefits of Hiring a Contractor

Many business owners find there are great benefits in using independent contractors, especially when their work tends to be on a project-by-project basis. They can hire people with different specialties according to the demands of each job. Using contractors also allows small businesses to save on overhead, because unlike employees, contractors aren't paid benefits. There are significant advantages in hiring independent contractors rather than employees to work for your business including:

• Reduce employment costs
• Achieve payroll tax savings (no FICA, FUTA, or state unemployment tax to pay)
• Do not have to offer employee benefits to contractors
• Do not have to cover them in your retirement plan or other employee fringe benefit plans
• Reduced exposure to some types of lawsuits, such as those alleging job discrimination or wrongful termination.
• Provides a level of flexibility that can't be obtained with employees. You can pay an independent contractor to accomplish only a specific task, allowing your business to get specialized expertise for a short period.
• Eliminates the time and expense involved in training employees
• Fill staffing needs during periods of growth or to meet specialized project needs

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Independent Contractor Overview

Independent contractors work for themselves, and they are treated as if they are running their own business. Independent Contractors may call themselves by a variety of names - freelancers, consultants, contractors, self-employed, entrepreneurs or business owners. Thus, businesses/persons are not the employer of an independent contractor, and aren't liable for payroll taxes or benefits for them, nor are they protected by workers' compensation or most labor laws.

The independent contractor provides the knowledge, experience, and labor to perform the job or provides other individuals to perform the job contracted. Independent contractors are usually paid based on their results (e.g. a flat rate per job, or a per-unit-completed rate) rather than the time they put in.

Tight labor markets, downsizing and heavy competition have created more opportunities for independent contractors. There can be many advantages to being an independent contractor:

• You are your own boss
• Work when you want
• You can earn more than employees
• No federal or state tax is withheld from your pay
• Ordinarily you pay lower income taxes
• You can take increased business deductions

When working with independent contractors, it is a good idea to develop a written contract relinquishing the right to control and specifying that the worker will not be treated as an employee for federal tax purposes. Employers should also file informational returns (1099 MISCs) for their independent contractors and comply with state laws for workers' compensation and unemployment compensation. A contract with an independent contractor should also include terms on terminating the relationship. Because independent contractors are not employees, "termination" would be done according to the provisions of the contract.

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