Fivesquid.com

{{Infobox website | name = Fivesquid | logo = | logocaption = | screenshot = | collapsible = | collapsetext = | caption = | url = {{url|https://fivesquid.uk}} | commercial = Yes | type = Online Marketplace | registration = Required | area_served = Worldwide | language = English | content_license = | owner = | author = | industry = Freelance marketplace, Online outsourcing, Service catalog | launch_date = 2011 | alexa = | revenue = | current_status = Closed | footnotes = }}

'''Fivesquid.uk''' is a British-based freelance marketplace website where people can trade skills and services.<ref name=londonlovesbusiness>{{cite web|last1=Griffith|first1=Gabriella|title=Ten hot business trends born out of recession|url=http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/londons-best/ten-hot-business-trends-born-out-of-recession/1817.article|publisher=London Loves Business|access-date=2014-12-18|archive-date=2014-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222185320/http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/londons-best/ten-hot-business-trends-born-out-of-recession/1817.article|url-status=dead}}</ref> First launched in 2011, the website hosts a variety of services, from tech jobs like SEO specialist advice to bizarre things like having a man with a parrot produce a quick clip advertising a business.<ref name=londonlovesbusiness /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lynch|first1=Gerald|title=Five tech fixes for a fiver with fivesquids.co.uk|url=http://www.techdigest.tv/2012/02/five_tech_fixes.html|publisher=Tech Digest|date=February 28, 2012}}</ref> Buyers of services are mainly start-up companies looking to save on business costs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Austin|first1=Marcus|title=Start your business with a fiver|url=http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/roundup/start-your-business-with-a-fiver-1078896|publisher=Tech Radar|date=May 4, 2012}}</ref>

==History== Fivesquid was originally launched in 2011. Following its release, Theo Paphitis selected the company as a start-up company to watch as part of his Small Business Sunday competition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Small Business Sunday Winner|url=http://www.theopaphitissbs.com/profile/fivesquids|publisher=Theo Paphitis}}</ref>

In March 2012, the website featured in a list of top 10 companies to emerge from the UK recession. Fivesquid featured fifth on the list and was highlighted as the example for selling cheap online services.<ref name=londonlovesbusiness /> Throughout the sites history, it has had some strange services offered. In 2012, a entrepreneurial schoolboy from England offered his services as an online gaming bodyguard, at £5 per 30 minutes of gameplay.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bradford|first1=Kelly Rose|title=Entrepreneur schoolboy paid £5 for every 30 minutes as a 'personal online bodyguard'|url=http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/01/10/entrepreneur-schoolboy-paid-5-pounds-for-every-30-minutes-as-a-personal-online-protector/|publisher=Parent-dish|date=January 10, 2012|access-date=December 18, 2014|archive-date=December 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218164304/http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/01/10/entrepreneur-schoolboy-paid-5-pounds-for-every-30-minutes-as-a-personal-online-protector/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the website had been established a number of years, some began to question the services available on the site. One example used by the ''London Standard'' was services that could manipulate social media popularity.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jeffs|first1=Lotte|title=How to outsource your life|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/how-to-outsource-your-life-8638007.html|publisher=London Standard|date=31 May 2013}}</ref> Others around the same time stated that many of the service providers are simply out to make extra revenue on top of their main income stream.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Commons|first1=Jess|title=Some Easy Ways to Make More Money, When Your Measly Salary Isn't Enough to Live Off|url=http://www.thedebrief.co.uk/2014/08/some-easy-ways-to-make-more-money-when-your-measly-salary-isn-t-enough-to-live-off|publisher=The Debrief|date=12 August 2014}}</ref>

''The Gadget Show'' picked the website as one of their top 3 places to buy gifts online.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fivesquid on the Gadget Show|url=https://vimeo.com/107461292|publisher=The Gadget Show|format=video}}</ref>

Service providers' money is stuck there as the website is not opening anymore.

==Site structure== Services sold via the website are referred to as "micro-jobs", due to the low prices and short completion time typically involved. All micro-jobs fall within 4 payment structures of either £5, £10, £20 or £50.<ref>{{cite web|title=Micro Jobs, Crowdsourcing & Online Gigs|url=http://workathomemoms.about.com/od/Micro-Jobs-Crowdsourcing/ss/Micro-Jobs.htm|publisher=About.com|access-date=2014-12-18|archive-date=2015-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119204426/http://workathomemoms.about.com/od/Micro-Jobs-Crowdsourcing/ss/Micro-Jobs.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Payment for services must be made upfront in order for the work to commence. The money is sent to the sellers account however the buyer's purchase is protected with a service guarantee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fivesquid.com/faq|title=Customer FAQs - fivesquid|website=www.fivesquid.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref>

The service providers range from those practicing a hobby to small companies who are attempting to grow their client base.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hughes|first1=Ian|title=Website of the Day: Five Squids|url=http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/113974-offer-your-services-for-fiver|publisher=Pocket-lint|date=24 January 2012|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210063803/http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/113974-offer-your-services-for-fiver|archive-date=10 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the completion stage of each project, Fivesquid take a 20% commission payment from the total value, before releasing the funds to the service provider.<ref>{{cite web|last1=King|first1=Mark|title=What could you do for £5?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2011/aug/05/flogging-finesse-fiver|publisher=The Guardian|date=5 August 2011}}</ref>

Service providers' earnings are paid out by Fivesquid using PayPal. {{as of|June 2017}}, no other payment methods are available.<ref name="faq">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fivesquid.com/faq |title=Fivesquid FAQ |access-date=2017-06-18}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Online marketplaces of the United Kingdom