Becoming a Provider Company: FAQs for Independent Contractors
Overview
oDesk providers who start out as Independent Contractors may want to expand their service offerings by creating Provider Companies. This way you sell the services of Affiliated Contractors in addition to the work you can do on your own.
What is a Provider Company?
A Provider Company oversees a team of individual providers ("Affiliated Contractors", or "ACs") who work on oDesk. When a Buyer hires an AC, the money goes into the Provider Company's account. In addition, any feedback earned accrues to both the AC's profile and the Provider Company.
How does payment work?
Your Company has one financial account for both your Buyer spending and your Provider earnings. All of the earnings of your ACs go into your account, and you are then responsible for paying your ACs outside the system (yes, this can be inconvenient, and we will be enabling team payroll soon).
Who will work for me?
You can invite existing oDesk providers to join your Company as an AC, or you can bring your own friends and colleagues onto oDesk. You invite them using the Team Admin -> Invite a New User link.
Reminder: You will receive ALL payments for their work - and must make arrangements outside of oDesk to pay your ACs (team payroll coming soon).
For friends and colleagues, enter in the email address. The recipient will get an email invitation to join oDesk. After he/she signs up, they will be added to your team as an AC.
For existing oDesk users, enter in their oDesk User ID. They will get an email invitation to join your team. If they accept, they will become an AC of your company.
How do I get started?
Go to My oDesk -> Get Hired and press the Create a new Team button at the far right under the Message Center. Click here to learn more. If you select Provider Company, you will become a Staffing Manager and you can start inviting ACs and apply to jobs! You will also become an Affiliated Contractor in your own company. Please note that if you have any active assignments, you will become a non-exclusive Affiliated Contractor. Click here to learn more.
Do I get a Company Profile?
Yes! Your Company name and logo will appear on the profiles of your ACs. If you click on your name/logo, you will see a limited profile including your logo, tag line, description, and your Provider Company work history here on oDesk (e.g. hours worked, feedback, recent assignment history). Buyers can invite you to interview directly from your Company profile.
How do I find jobs?
You can look for available jobs by clicking on Find Jobs. When you apply for the job, you will have the opportunity to apply as yourself, or you can enter in the User ID of one of your ACs.
Can I also buy services on oDesk?
Yes. To do so, you all need to do is give yourself hiring manager privileges and then can post a job.