oDesk allows clients to interview, hire and work with freelancers and agencies through the company's platform.[9] Prospective clients[10] can post jobs for free, and freelancers may create profiles and bid on jobs, also for free.[11] The company collects 10 percent of the payment.[12] Payments are made through oDesk, which handles many bookkeeping tasks for the transaction. The transactions are transferred into the contractors' accounts after a 6-day safety period. The company's site is entirely in English, and all transactions are made in U.S. dollars.[13] As of December 2012, oDesk had 2.7 million freelancers and 540,000 clients worldwide.[14] In January 29, 2012, the company reported that its top 5 countries (in terms of dollars spent for oDesk contractor services) were (in rank order): (1) US, (2) Australia, (3) Canada, (4) UK, and (5) United Arab Emirates.[15] oDesk reported that services paid by clients hiring through the site for the year totaled $360 million in 2012.[15] The specific areas of expertise supported by the site include web development and a wide variety of programming/software development skills, graphic design, writing and administrative support. The company provides voluntary skills tests in various disciplines from English aptitude to specific programming skills, and profiles include a feedback mechanism.