Implementing a site similar to Elance - can anyone suggest services needed?

Business
1

I am implementing a service similar to Elance.

There will be service providers and purchasers. Purchasers and service providers may be from all parts of the world but will mainly reside in the US, China, and India.

The purchaser needs to be able to make a payment to the service provider where my company will help facilitate this transaction (using services you recommend), and will in turn take a cut off the transaction. For example:

If the purchaser is paying $100 to the service provider, and my company earns a 3% fee, then the purchaser will pay $100, my company will earn $3, and the service provider will be paid $97.

Anyone know what services I will need to get this setup? Thank you!

2

This is a really tough business model that requires
deep pockets to get moving.

It’s a “chicken and egg” problem to overcome i.e.
you need developers to attract customers and
vice versa … so it’s really hard to attract 1
when the other is not already on board.

Do you have a business plan to get past this?

3

Elance charges the card of the end user
and then pays the service provider.

It’s really not much different than running
an affiliate program.

4

Hi William,

Yes - I do have a plan for this. But assuming this were up and running - I am not sure how to implement the ecommerce side of things. Do you know how I could do this/what’s needed?

Thx.