FAQ’s

About Flat Planet

Established in 2010 by Chris and Jenny Moriarty, who saw the opportunity to help Aussie businesses solve staffing problems and grow all while taking quality opportunities to a location that needed it. This is why we are called Flat Planet, it’s about leveling the playing field and businesses and staff.

What skill sets can I access?

Anything that is done at a computer! Covid has proven that location isn’t as important as was traditionally thought. From Accounting staff, customer service, technical support and graphic design, there are literally millions of qualified staff in the Philippines. We have over 80,000 CVs on our database alone.

What sort of clients choose Flat Planet?

We are proud to say we still have our first client. Our clients vary from SMEs to publicly listed companies. It doesn’t matter if you need just one person or a team of 50 people. This is not one size fits all, and we tailor the team to suit you. All staff are 100% allocated to you!

How much does Flat Planet cost?

Our transparent fees are the salary, on costs (including health cover for your team), office and Technology kit and the management fee. There are no hidden costs or nasty surprises. We don’t charge a set-up fee or for recruitment – saving you a bundle – and giving you confidence.

Is my information safe?

We take data security extremely seriously. As a boutique provider we work with your IT team to make sure our systems align with yours, that we deeply understand your needs and deliver to that.

How do I get started?

Have a chat with our Client Management teams (link). We will work with you to understand what you need, put in a place a project plan and get you going. Really all you need is a Job Description that will allow us to properly price the role in the market, we do all the pre-screening, you make the final choices about who you want on the team.

What’s the difference between BPO and KPO?

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) traditionally involved outsourcing routine, process-driven tasks such as customer service and data entry. However, with the advent of AI, these tasks are becoming increasingly automated.  

Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), on the other hand, focuses on knowledge-intensive areas where specialised skills and expertise are required. KPO involves tasks that add strategic value to our clients. 

Established in 2010 by Chris and Jenny Moriarty, who saw the opportunity to help Aussie businesses solve staffing problems and grow all while taking quality opportunities to a location that needed it. This is why we are called Flat Planet, it’s about leveling the playing field and businesses and staff.

We are proud to say we still have our first client. Our clients vary from SMEs to publicly listed companies. It doesn’t matter if you need just one person or a team of 50 people. This is not one size fits all, and we tailor the team to suit you. All staff are 100% allocated to you!

We take data security extremely seriously. As a boutique provider we work with your IT team to make sure our systems align with yours, that we deeply understand your needs and deliver to that.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) traditionally involved outsourcing routine, process-driven tasks such as customer service and data entry. However, with the advent of AI, these tasks are becoming increasingly automated.  

Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), on the other hand, focuses on knowledge-intensive areas where specialised skills and expertise are required. KPO involves tasks that add strategic value to our clients. 

Anything that is done at a computer! Covid has proven that location isn’t as important as was traditionally thought. From Accounting staff, customer service, technical support and graphic design, there are literally millions of qualified staff in the Philippines. We have over 80,000 CVs on our database alone.

Our transparent fees are the salary, on costs (including health cover for your team), office and Technology kit and the management fee. There are no hidden costs or nasty surprises. We don’t charge a set-up fee or for recruitment – saving you a bundle – and giving you confidence.

Have a chat with our Client Management teams (link). We will work with you to understand what you need, put in a place a project plan and get you going. Really all you need is a Job Description that will allow us to properly price the role in the market, we do all the pre-screening, you make the final choices about who you want on the team.

Business process outsourcing (BPO) is when a company hires an external provider, usually offshore, to run specific business functions such as accounting, customer service, admin or IT. For American businesses, BPO to the Philippines typically cuts the cost of these roles by 60% to 70% while maintaining quality.

You identify the functions you want to outsource, and a BPO provider recruits, employs and manages the staff who perform the duties offshore. You direct the work and set the standards; the provider handles recruitment, payroll, human resources, compliance and workspace, so you get the output without the overhead.

BPO lets businesses in the United States cut staffing costs by 60% to 70%, scale quickly, and free their onshore teams for higher-value work. The Philippines also offers strong American-English fluency, and with the time difference, the option of overnight or 24/7 coverage.

Almost any process that doesn’t require a U.S.-based physical presence: bookkeeping and accounts payable, customer service, admin and data entry, virtual assistance, IT and software development, and legal or knowledge process work. Companies usually start with admin or finance, then expand.

No. While enterprises use large-scale BPO, U.S. small and mid-sized businesses benefit just as much through providers that offer dedicated staff rather than high-volume seats. A single outsourced role can deliver meaningful savings and free up owner and team time.

The Philippines is the world’s leading outsourcing destination, thanks to a large, highly educated, American-English-speaking workforce with a strong cultural affinity with the U.S. Combined with salaries 60% to 70% below U.S. levels, it offers a rare mix of quality, cultural fit and cost advantage.

For most U.S. businesses, yes. You access a skilled staff at a fraction of domestic cost, without the overhead of benefits, payroll taxes or office space. The key is choosing a provider that gives you dedicated, well-managed team members rather than an anonymous, shared-seat arrangement.

Common roles include virtual assistants and admin, bookkeeping, accounts payable, accountants, customer service, legal process support, and IT or development. If a role can be done well remotely, it can usually be outsourced to the Philippines.

Decide which roles you want to fill, then engage a provider who recruits, employs and manages the staff for you, typically within a few weeks. You interview and approve your hire, direct their work, and the provider handles the rest.

Yes, when you work with an established provider. Reputable providers typically operate secure facilities, use managed devices, sign NDAs and assign intellectual property to your business. Confirm data-handling, security and IP terms in your agreement before starting.

The best fit for most small and mid-sized U.S. businesses is a provider offering dedicated Philippines-based staff, transparent pricing and genuine accountability, rather than a giant enterprise call center. Compare providers on dedicated versus shared staff, pricing transparency, data security, staff welfare and how well they communicate.

Offshore solutions let U.S. businesses build teams overseas, most commonly in the Philippines, to perform roles such as admin, finance and customer service at a lower cost. A provider handles employment, payroll and management while the staff works as a dedicated extension of your American team.

Businesses in the U.S. typically save 60% to 70% on salaries by outsourcing offshore, while also avoiding benefits, payroll taxes and office space. Because U.S. labor costs are high, the dollar savings on skilled roles can be substantial.

Yes. The Philippines is 12 to 16 hours ahead of the U.S., so a Filipino staff commonly works U.S. business hours on a night shift in Manila, giving you real-time daytime coverage, or you can use the time difference for overnight turnaround and 24/7 support.

Look for dedicated (not shared) staff, transparent all-in pricing, careful recruitment you’re involved in, strong data security and IP protection, good staff support and retention, and clear communication. A provider that treats the team as an extension of your business delivers the best results.

A Filipino virtual assistant is a skilled remote worker based in the Philippines who supports your business with tasks such as admin, email and calendar management, data entry, customer service and research. They work as a dedicated part of your team, at a fraction of the U.S. hiring cost.

A Filipino VA can handle admin, inbox and calendar management, data entry, scheduling, bookkeeping support, customer service, social media and research. Most U.S. businesses start with one VA for admin-heavy work, then scale into dedicated roles as they see the value.

The simplest way is through a virtual assistant agency that recruits, employs and manages the VA for you. You describe the role, interview and approve your candidate, and the agency handles payroll, HR and workspace, so you get a dedicated VA without the admin work from your end.

A full-time Filipino virtual assistant costs a fraction of an equivalent U.S. admin salary, plus a management fee when hired through an agency. Overall, American businesses typically save 60% to 70% versus hiring domestically.

Yes. Filipino customer service VAs commonly work U.S. business hours (a night shift in Manila), so they support your U.S. customers in real time.

A Philippines-based virtual secretary manages your diary, appointments, emails, calls, travel and documents remotely, acting as a professional executive assistant from afar. They can work U.S. business hours and cost far less than a domestic secretary, making high-quality support accessible to smaller businesses.

The roles overlap. A virtual secretary typically focuses on executive support, diary, correspondence, calls and document management, while a virtual assistant covers a broader mix of admin and business tasks. Both can be hired from the Philippines as dedicated team members.

A full-time Philippines-based virtual secretary costs a fraction of a U.S. equivalent, generally a 60% to 70% savings, plus a management fee when engaged through a provider. Exact cost depends on experience and scope.

Yes. Philippines-based virtual secretaries commonly work U.S. business hours on a Manila night shift, so they can manage your day in real time, answer calls and respond to your team and clients as though based locally.

Yes, with a reputable provider. Look for signed NDAs, secure managed devices, controlled facilities and clear data handling terms. An established provider treats confidentiality as a standard for executive support roles.

Yes. U.S. businesses widely hire virtual assistants, most commonly from the Philippines, to handle admin, customer service and support tasks remotely at a lower cost. Through a provider, the VA works as a dedicated member of your team and can cover U.S. business hours.

A virtual assistant works remotely as part of your team, taking direction from you while a provider manages their employment, payroll and workspace. They can log on during U.S. business hours and handle the tasks you assign, from admin to customer support.

For many small businesses, yes. A VA frees the owner and team from admin-heavy work at a fraction of a domestic hire’s cost, letting you focus on customers and growth. Starting with one dedicated VA is a low-risk way to test the value.

A Philippines-based virtual assistant typically costs 60% to 70% less than a U.S. equivalent, before you also exclude benefits, payroll taxes and office costs. You pay the VA’s salary plus a management fee through a provider.

Set clear tasks and expectations, use shared tools, and either schedule the VA on US business hours for real-time work or use the overnight gap for turnaround. A good provider supports performance and retention so that day-to-day management stays simple.

Legal process outsourcing (LPO) is when a law firm or legal team hires an external provider to handle legal support work such as document review, drafting, legal research, e-discovery and paralegal tasks. It lets U.S. firms access skilled legal professionals at a lower cost while freeing attorneys for higher-value work.

Commonly outsourced legal tasks include document review and management, contract drafting and review, legal research, e-discovery, transcription, and paralegal support. Higher-judgment work stays with your attorneys; routine and volume tasks move offshore to trained legal staff.

US firms use LPO to reduce costs, clear backlogs, and scale capacity without domestic hiring, while freeing attorneys to focus on advice and client work. Offshore legal staff in the Philippines offer strong English and legal training at 60% to 70% less than U.S. costs.

Yes, with the right provider. LPO providers use secure facilities, managed devices, strict access controls, NDAs and confidentiality protocols suited to legal work. Confirm data-handling, jurisdiction and IP terms in your agreement before starting.

LPO typically costs 60% to 70% less than performing the same work in-house in the U.S. You pay the offshore legal staff’s salary plus a management fee through a provider, with no domestic overhead. Exact cost depends on the LPO staff’s seniority and volume.

Knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) is the outsourcing of higher-level, knowledge-based work such as research, data analysis, accounting, reporting and other specialist tasks. Unlike routine BPO, KPO involves judgment and expertise, and lets U.S. businesses access skilled Philippines-based professionals for analytical work at lower costs.

BPO covers process-driven tasks such as data entry and customer service; KPO covers knowledge-driven work such as analysis, research and accounting that requires expertise and judgment. KPO staff are typically more qualified, and the value is in their skills, not just cost savings.

KPO suits research and market analysis, financial and data analysis, accounting and reporting, business intelligence, and other specialist tasks that need trained professionals. U.S. businesses use KPO to add analytical capacity without the cost of senior domestic hires.

KPO gives American businesses access to skilled analysts and professionals at 60% to 70% below domestic costs, extra analytical capacity on demand, and the ability to scale expertise up or down. It frees senior local staff from routine analysis to focus on decisions.

Choose a KPO provider on the strength and qualifications of its people, its track record in your type of work, data security, and how well it communicates. Dedicated staff, transparent pricing and accountability matter as much for KPO as for any outsourcing.

An offshore accountant based in the Philippines handles your accounting remotely, bookkeeping, reconciliations, management reports, payroll support and more, as a dedicated part of your finance team. They can work U.S. hours and cost far less than a domestic accountant.

Outsourcing accounting to the Philippines gives U.S. businesses qualified finance staff at 60% to 70% below domestic cost, extra capacity at peak times such as tax season, and freedom for owners to focus on the business. The Philippines has a deep pool of trained accountants.

Yes, with a reputable provider. Look for secure systems, managed devices, access controls, NDAs and staff experienced with U.S. accounting standards (GAAP) and software. Your data stays protected while the work is done offshore.

Offshore accountants commonly work in QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite and other platforms U.S. businesses use, integrating into your existing systems rather than replacing them. Confirm software experience when you set up the role.

Outsourced accounting typically costs 60% to 70% less than an equivalent U.S. hire. You pay the offshore accountant’s salary plus a management fee through a provider, with no benefits, payroll taxes or office costs on top.

Outsourced bookkeeping is when a U.S. business hires an offshore bookkeeper, commonly in the Philippines, to manage its day-to-day books: data entry, bank reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, and reporting. The bookkeeper works remotely as part of your team at a fraction of the domestic cost.

US businesses outsource bookkeeping to save 60% to 70% on cost, keep their books consistently current, and free owners from admin. The Philippines’ bookkeepers are trained, English-speaking, and experienced with software like QuickBooks and Xero.

Yes, with a good provider. Dedicated, trained bookkeepers working in your systems produce accurate, timely books, often more consistently than a stretched in-house person. Regular reconciliation and reporting keep everything transparent.

Outsourced bookkeeping usually costs 60% to 70% less than a domestic bookkeeper. You pay the offshore bookkeeper’s salary plus a management fee through a provider, without U.S. on-costs. The exact figure depends on hours and complexity.

Yes. Offshore bookkeepers typically work directly in your existing accounting software and processes rather than changing them, so the transition is smooth. Confirm they have experience with your specific platform when you set up the role.

An outsourced accounts payable officer manages your supplier invoices end to end: processing and coding invoices, matching to purchase orders, preparing payment runs, reconciling vendor statements and resolving queries. Based in the Philippines, they keep your payables accurate and on time at a lower cost.

Outsourcing accounts payable saves 60% to 70% on cost, ensures invoices are processed promptly and accurately, and frees your finance team from high-volume data work. A dedicated AP officer improves vendor relationships and can control cash flow.

Yes. An offshore AP officer works within your existing accounting and invoicing systems and approval workflows, so nothing changes on your side except who does the processing. Confirm software experience at setup.

Accuracy comes from a trained, dedicated officer following your approval workflows, three-way matching, regular reconciliations and clear escalation for exceptions. A good provider builds these controls in and reports regularly so you retain full oversight.

An offshore accounts payable officer typically costs 60 to 70% less than a U.S. equivalent. You pay their salary plus a management fee through a provider, with no benefits, payroll taxes or office costs.

The simplest route is a provider that recruits, employs and manages a Filipino staff for you. You describe the role, the provider sources and shortlists candidates, you interview and approve, and they handle employment, payroll and HR, so you get the right person without navigating Philippine hiring yourself.

A Philippines recruitment agency sources, screens and places skilled Filipino staff into roles, in Flat Planet’s case, for US businesses building offshore teams. A good agency handles sourcing, vetting and shortlisting so you interview only strong, role-ready candidates.

An agency saves you from setting up a Philippine entity and managing local employment law, payroll and tax. It also brings local market knowledge to find and retain the right people, and gives you a single point of accountability for your offshore team.

Typically a few weeks from defining the role to your new team member starting, depending on the role’s seniority and specialism. A provider with an active talent pool can often move faster for common admin and finance roles.

Quality comes from structured sourcing, skills and English testing, background checks and your own interview and approval of the candidate. Good providers also support onboarding and retention so placements succeed long-term.

Average salaries in the Philippines vary widely by role and seniority, but for the office and professional roles U.S. businesses outsource, they are typically 60% to 70% below the US equivalent.

For the same office or professional role, Filipino staff typically earn a fraction of U.S. pay, reflecting the local cost of living rather than lower skill. Exact figures depend on the role, experience and location.

Philippine salaries reflect the local cost of living and labor market, which are much lower than in the US. The cost is what’s lower, therefore, not the skills. This gap lets American businesses access highly qualified, English-speaking professionals at 60% to 70% less, while still paying competitive wages.

Yes, gradually, as demand for skilled, English-speaking talent grows. But they remain well below U.S. levels, so the cost advantage for American businesses is durable rather than a short-term arbitrage.

Beyond salary, employing someone in the Philippines involves statutory benefits, payroll and workspace. Through a provider, you pay the salary plus a single management fee that covers all of this, still typically 60 to 70% below a US hire’s all-in cost.

Remote professionals are skilled staff, such as accountants, admin, marketers or developers, who work for your business from another location, commonly the Philippines. Engaged through a provider, they form a dedicated remote team that integrates with your U.S.-based business at lower costs.

A satellite office is a dedicated offshore team that operates as a branch of your business, without you setting up your own overseas entity. A provider hosts the team, staff, workspace and management in the Philippines, while they work exclusively for you as an extension of your U.S. operation.

Yes. Offshore programming and software development services in the Philippines give U.S. businesses skilled developers at lower cost. As with any offshore role, a dedicated team, clear specifications and a provider handling employment and workspace produce the best results.

A remote Filipino team gives you skilled staff at 60% to 70% below domestic costs, the ability to scale quickly, U.S. hours or overnight coverage, and a dedicated team that grows with you, without the overhead of domestic hiring or your own overseas entity.

Effective management comes from clear roles, shared tools, scheduled communication that bridges the time difference, and a provider who handles HR, payroll and workspace. Treating the team as part of your business, not as a vendor, drives the best results.

To land a VA role with a US business, build strong English communication, admin and software skills (email, spreadsheets, scheduling tools), and be open to U.S.-hour (night) shifts. Apply through reputable providers that place staff with American companies. A clear CV and a professional home-office setup help.

Formal qualifications aren’t always required, but strong English communication skills, reliability, computer literacy and good organization are essential. Experience in admin, customer service or a specialist area increases your options and pay. Many successful VAs start with transferable office skills.

Yes, when you apply through established providers. Legitimate roles come with a proper employment arrangement, regular pay and support, not upfront fees. Be cautious of any “job” that asks you to pay to start.

Yes. Many Philippines-based roles supporting U.S. businesses run on U.S. business hours, which is night shift in the Philippines. Providers typically offer shift allowances and a supportive workplace for staff on these hours.

Flat Planet places Filipino professionals into dedicated roles with U.S. and international businesses. Submit your CV to our APPLY NOW page or send it with an application letter to recruit@flatplanet.com.au