To browse projects:

1. Click on Project Bids.
   
   
2. Click on "more" to see the description
   
   
3. Click on “Send Quote” to send a quote for this Project.

Receiving Invitations to Bid

Buyers may also invite you to bid on their projects.
When this happens, the following will occur:

• You will receive an email notification that you have been invited to bid
• The project will appear in the Invited to Bid tab within MyFP Provider Activity.

1. 1. Click MyFP Provider Activity Invited to Bid.
2. 2. Click the project name to view the project description and any uploads related to the project.

Screening Projects

When you find a project that interests you, FindProfessional.net recommends that you review the buyer’s FindProfessional.net buying history.
To review the buyer’s FindProfessional.net buying history.

1. On the Project Description page, you can:
2. Review the number of FindProfessional.net projects posted by the buyer and the number awarded.

For a buyer to use FP’s Billing and Payment system to pay you, they must first authenticate their credit card. You will know if a buyer has done this if the Billing and Payment System confirmed icon appears near their username.
If a buyer has chosen to pay for a project using "Payment Guarantee", you will see the "Payment Guarantee" icon next to the project title.

Be wary of buyers who have posted many projects but have never awarded them on FP. They may not be serious about hiring a service provider.
View the buyer’s history. View the buyer’s feedback for others. View the buyer’s feedback.

Be wary of buyers who consistently leave negative feedback for many service providers, as their expectations may be unrealistic.

Placing Bids

After you have reviewed the project, you are ready to bid:

To place a bid:

1. Click on the Project Description title
2. Complete the form.

Complete the bidding form, including your bid amount. In determining your bid amount remember to include EP’s Project Fee, which ranges from 7.5% to 15%. In your bid proposal summary, describe your relevant experience, qualifications, and what value you will bring to the project .

Communicating with the Buyer

WORKING WITH THE BUYER

Winning the Bid

    Agreeing on the Terms

     If the buyer selects your bid proposal, the following will occur:

• You will receive an email notification about being selected.
• The project will move to the Bidding Closed tab in Provider Activity.
• The project’s status in Provider Activity will change to “You’re Selected!” You must then accept the project selection on FindProfessional.net before you can begin.
• Click on the Accept Project link. Enter in the key milestones in the appropriate fields, and upload your Statement of Work contract document on the Business Terms page. Your buyer will review and either accept, modify or decline your business terms. Until you submit the business terms and obtain the buyer's approval, the project will not be fully awarded and accepted.

    Accepting the Project

     To accept the project:

The new Final Amount cannot be less than the original bid amount. If your bid amount decreases, you will need to fill out a Transaction Fee and Bid Adjustment Form, available on your FindProfessional.net Account page.

Once both parties accept the Business Terms, the following will occur:

• The buyer will be notified that you accepted the project.
• The project will be fully awarded to you and move to the Accepted Projects tab in MyFP Provider Activity.
• The buyer's email address will appear next to the project name in Provider Activity Accepted Projects.

When you submit your business terms, the buyer will be notified by email and will either modify them, decline with comments or accept them as submitted. You can communicate via the Private Message Board to discuss the changes. If the buyer modifies the business terms, you will be notified by email and can either accept the buyer's changes, make further modifications or decline the project .

Review your business terms on the Preview Business Terms page. Click Submit to send your business terms to the buyer for approval. To upload a Project Agreement, click Upload to find the file on your computer and upload it.

Define key milestones, delivery dates and related payment. The total amount field wil automatically update to reflect the sum of all the milestone amounts. Click Preview when done.

On the Business Terms page, define the project milestones and, if desired, upload a project agreement that specifies the requirements and deliverables.

Communicating with the Buyer privately (after project acceptance)

Once you have accepted the project, you can contact the buyer directly to discuss the project and begin work. You can communicate in the following ways:

• Via FP, through the FindProfessional.net Private Message Board (required in order to keep a written record of communication).
• Directly via email, phone, Instant Messenger, etc. (always transcribe key elements of the discussion to the Private Message Board to maintain a record)

Delivering Your Work

When you have completed the project, you may deliver your files or work product via the FindProfessional.net Private Message Board.
You may also share files up to 50 MB in size with your buyer via the EP Workspace. You may create, copy and download multiple files and folders in the Workspace (one file at at time).

To access the Private Message Board:

1. Click MyFP Provider Activity Accepted Projects.
2. Click the Private Message Board icon next to the appropriate project.
3. Click the Click to Upload Attachments button. Follow the steps in the dialog box to upload your completed work.

FindProfessional.net recommends that you request the buyer to state acceptance and satisfactory completion after every milestone on the Private Message Board. This standard business practice ensures that the service is being delivered to both parties’ expectations and prevents miscommunication.

1. Click MyFP --> Accepted Projects.
2. Click on the Workspace icon.

1. Edit your milestones and click Submit. Your buyer can then accept the changes or submit their own modifications for you to accept.
2. Click MyFP Provider Activity Accepted Projects Modify Business Terms next to your project.
3. Click on the Shared folder.
4. Click Upload.
5. Click the Browse button to locate the file you want to upload.
6. Click the Attach button to save your file to the Workspace.
7. Click the Add Comments button to leave a message.
8. Use the Private Message Board to alert your buyer that you have uploaded a file to the Workspace.

Messages exchanged in the FindProfessional.net Workspace are not archived. EP recommends that you continue to use the Private Message Board for all official communication.

GETTING PAID

Invoicing the Buyer

At key milestones or when you have completed the project, you will need to invoice the buyer through EP’s Billing and Payment system to receive payment. Once the buyer receives your invoice, they will send payment via FP’s Billing and Payment system.

To invoice the buyer:

1. Click MyFP Provider Activity Accepted Projects.
2. Click the Send Invoice icon in the Invoice column.
3. Enter the amount due, then click Continue.

To request a signed copy of the invoice, ask the buyer to print a copy of the FindProfessional.net invoice, annotate with “For services rendered” date and sign at the bottom. Ensure that the buyer either faxes or sends you a PDF or scanned copy of the document for your records.

FindProfessional.net recommends that you request a signed copy of the invoice from the buyer, especially for larger dollar-value projects. This is your proof that you have delivered work that is received by the buyer. It is good business practice and protects you from disputes and payment charge-backs.

To request payment on an "Payment Guarantee" you need to:
Before you being working on an "Payment Guarantee" project, you must request the buyer to fund the "Payment Guarantee" account for the project. To request funding for "Payment Guarantee" project milestones

• Request funding for the project milestone(s)
• Request release of the project milestone(s).

1. Click MyFP Provider Activity Accepted Projects.
2. Click the Manage "Payment Guarantee" Payments icon in the Invoice column.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the Business Terms page to view the milestones. You will see a list of milestones, delivery dates, related payment amounts and the funding and release status of each milestone.
4. Click the checkbox in the Request Release column next to one or more milestones for which you want to request release. Click the Request button under the Request Release column.
5. Review the "Payment Guarantee" Release Request Preview page, enter your password, and click Submit. The buyer will receive an email notification to release the specified milestone(s). When the buyer releases the milestone(s), the Milestone Activity column will change to read "Released.".
6. To withdraw funds, you can go to your Account page. If the buyer does not respond to your release request, contact the buyer through the PMB. If the buyer does not respond to the PMB, click on the Mediation link to request EP mediation on this project.

Withdrawing Funds
You can withdraw funds from your FindProfessional.net Account at any time.

To withdraw funds:

1. Click MyFP Account Withdraw Funds.
2. Enter the amount you want to withdraw.
3. Select a withdrawal method, then click Continue.

Please carefully read the instructions for requesting a wire transfer, check or ACH withdrawal. These instructions are located in the Help link.

• If you are in the United States, you can withdraw by Automated Clearing House (ACH) or check.
• If you are in Canada, you can withdraw via wire transfer or check.
• If you are outside the United States and Canada, you can withdraw by wire transfer.
• Click Account to go to your FindProfessional.net Account and view your transaction history or withdraw funds.

 Receiving Payment
Once the buyer submits payment, the invoice icon will change next to your project in Provider Activity Accepted Projects.
Click the New Payment icon to see payment date, payment amount and any notes from the buyer.

SUPPORT

Getting Help

  Additional information about using FindProfessional.net may be obtained in the following ways :

• FindProfessional.net Online Help.
• FindProfessional.net Customer Service.

FindProfessional.net Help

• Click Help in the navigation bar.
• Click Find Answers.

Browse the top FAQs for answers to the most frequently asked questions.

FindProfessional.net Customer Service

   If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact FindProfessional.net Customer Service as follows:
   E-mail: http://www.findprofessional.net/contactenos.php
   Telephone Numer: (Monday – Friday, 8am - 5pm Eastern Time): (1)-305-914-3776