Frequently Asked Questions
GETTING STARTED
How do I get started?
Getting started is as easy as 1-2-3!
Step 1: Click on Sign up
Step 2: Provide your information
Step 3: We’ll reach out to you
And that’s it!
SIGNING UP
Q: Does it cost anything to create an account?
A: No, it doesn’t cost anything to create an account. Signing up is 100% free.
Q: How do I get matched to a Virtual Professional?
A: Once you sign up, our Client Success Manager will reach out to learn more about your needs. From there, we’ll search for a Virtual Professional who fits your requirements and let you know once we’ve found the right match.
PLANS AND PRICING
Q: What plans are available?
A: Here at FIDE5, we offer both fixed and flexible plans to suit the varying needs of our business partners. Here are the plans we offer:
Our Fixed plans – Ideal for business partners who prefer ready-made options and want to select a plan that fits their needs—no overthinking required.
1. Essential – For business partners who need support with the fundamentals.
2. Plus – For those who need more than the basics—structured, accurate, and timely financial tracking using the accrual method.
3. Premier – Designed for businesses with growing complexity that require detailed financial oversight, customized reporting, and streamlined processes.
Premier Plus – Perfect for business partners ready to level up with premium financial strategy, forecasting, and decision-making support.
The Freedom Formula – Our flexible, customizable plan—perfect for business partners who need a little bit of everything or a tailored solution based on their specific requirements.
PLANS AND PRICING
Q: Why aren’t the prices for each plan listed?
A: Since each plan includes Virtual Professionals with different skill sets tailored to your specific needs, pricing can vary. We also offer a flexible plan that’s fully customized—so instead of one-size-fits-all pricing, we provide a quote based on what you actually need.
Q: Can I see a comparison of what each plan offers?
A: Absolutely! At FIDE5, we offer two main types of plans to suit different business needs.
1. Fixed Plans – Great for business partners who want ready-made options they can simply choose from.
2. Flexible Plan – Perfect for those who need something more customized to their unique setup.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what each plan includes:
1. Our Fixed plans – Ideal for business partners who prefer ready-made options and want to select a plan that fits their needs—no overthinking required.
A) The Essential Plan offers dependable, day-to-day support for your business operations. Ideal for partners who need help with the basics, this plan includes bookkeeping, billing, admin support, and data entry—everything you need to stay organized and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
B) The Plus Plan is designed for businesses that need more than just the basics. It offers structured, accurate, and timely financial tracking using the accrual method. With support from a Junior Accountant and specialized staff for Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Payroll, this plan helps ensure your financial processes are organized, compliant, and on point.
C) The Premier Plan is built for growing businesses with more complex financial needs. It offers detailed financial oversight, customized reporting, and process optimization. With access to a Senior Accountant, FP&A Specialists, a Tax Accountant, and support for audit and compliance, this plan helps you stay ahead as your business scales and evolves.
D) The Premier Plus Plan is ideal for business partners ready to level up with high-level financial leadership and strategy. This plan provides premium support in forecasting, financial planning, and decision-making. Gain access to experienced professionals such as an Accounting Manager, FP&A Manager, Senior Manager, or Director to guide your business with expert insight and forward-thinking financial direction.
2. The Freedom Formula Plan is our most flexible and customizable offering. It’s perfect for business partners who need a tailored solution or a little bit of everything. With this plan, you can mix and match services from our available fixed plans—Essential, Plus, Premier, and Premier+—to create a combination that best fits your unique business needs. No one-size-fits-all—just a plan built around you.
Q: How is the pricing calculated?
A: Pricing is calculated based on your specific needs — including the type and number of Virtual Professionals required, their skill sets, and the level of expertise involved. It also factors in our operational costs related to hiring, training, and compensating our Virtual Professionals, among other considerations.
PAYMENTS
Q: When do I need to make a payment?
A: You’ll only need to make a payment once we’ve found a Virtual Professional that fits your needs and you’ve approved the quote.
Q: Which payment methods are accepted?
A: We’ll go over the payment method and other details once we’ve found a Virtual Professional that matches your needs.
Q: Do I get a receipt or invoice after I pay?
A: Yes, you’ll get a receipt or invoice as soon as your payment goes through!
OTHER INQUIRIES
Q: How do you protect both clients and workers from fraud?
A: For clients – We verify every Virtual Professional through a multi-step process, including government-issued ID checks and a video interview to confirm their identity. We also track productivity through a time-tracking tool to ensure accountability and transparency.
For Virtual Professionals – We verify that a client has completed their payment before assigning them to a Virtual Professional. This ensures that FIDE5 does not provide services to non-committed clients, protecting our Virtual Professionals from unpaid work.
Q: Is tax included in the payment, or do I need to handle that separately?
A: Taxes are not included in the payment. Our Virtual Professionals work as independent contractors and are required to submit a W-8BEN form (or an equivalent form for Australian and European clients) to ensure they are not taxed under your country’s tax system.
As a business partner, you may or may not have tax obligations depending on your local regulations. We recommend consulting a local tax advisor or reviewing your country’s tax rules to determine if you need to handle anything separately.
Q: Where do your Virtual Professionals work?
A: Our Virtual Professionals work remotely—usually right from the comfort of their homes. This setup keeps things flexible and efficient for both them and our clients.
Q: Are the Virtual Professionals able to accommodate our time zone, or will we need to adjust to theirs?
A: Yes! Our Virtual Professionals are selected with time zone flexibility in mind. We make sure they’re able to work within your time zone, so you won’t need to adjust to theirs.
Q: How do timezones work?
A: Here’s a quick guide to how time zones work in some Western countries and regions, especially in relation to the Philippines:
United States
The U.S. has four main time zones: Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern. During Standard Time, the Philippines is:
– 16 hours ahead of Pacific Time
– 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time
When Daylight Saving Time (DST) starts in the U.S., clocks move forward by an hour. This shortens the time difference by one hour:
– The Philippines becomes 15 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
– And 12 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Australia
– Unlike the U.S., not all parts of Australia observe Daylight Saving Time.
For states that don’t observe DST, here’s how they compare to Philippine time:
– Western Australia is in the same time zone as the Philippines (UTC+8)
– Northern Territory is 1 hour and 30 minutes ahead
– Queensland is 2 hours ahead
For states that do observe DST, the time difference depends on the time of year:
– When DST is not in effect, they’re usually 1.5 to 2 hours ahead
– When DST is active, that increases to 2.5 to 3 hours ahead