Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.22

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

1.       Parties

         1.1. This consulting agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into effective as of January 3, 2000 (the "Effective Date") by and between
Peachtree FiberOptics, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, with its
principal office located at 3300 PGA Boulevard, Suite 818, Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida 33410, and Phillip W. Johnston (the "Consultant"), a Turks and Caicos
resident, whose address is PBM ARAWAK House, Front Street, Grand Turk, Turks and
Caicos Islands, British West Indies.

2.       Recitals

         2.1. The Company is a leading Internet "Financial Opportunities
Exchange" that offers visitors to its website a broad complement of financial
services, proprietary business development tools, searchable databases and daily
news in one universally accessible location. The Company is actively seeking to
identify target companies as acquisition candidates and increase its public
awareness worldwide. The Company's current acquisition and marketing efforts
have been directed primarily to the US market, and wishes to increase those
efforts worldwide.

         2.2. The Consultant has developed meaningful contacts with a
significant number of B2B and B2C Internet companies located primarily in
western Europe, and to a lesser extent in eastern Europe and Asia, that offer
financial and business services that may be synergistically compatible with
those the Company offers and proposes to offer.

         2.3. The Company wishes to engage the services of the Consultant as an
independent contractor (i) to identify and evaluate possible acquisition
candidates and marketing opportunities for the Company, primarily in western
Europe, but also in eastern Europe, Asia and other markets worldwide, and (ii)
to consult with the Company on its expansion into those markets, all on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

         2.4. The Consultant is willing to accept this engagement, on the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

3.       Engagement

         3.1. ENGAGEMENT. The Company hereby engages the services of the
Consultant (i) to identify possible acquisition candidates and marketing
opportunities for the Company, primarily in western Europe, but also in eastern
Europe, Asia and other markets worldwide, and (ii) to consult with the Company
on its expansion into those markets, for the Term set forth below.

         3.2. TERM. The term of this engagement shall be for the one year period
beginning on January 3, 2000, and ending on December 31, 2001 (the "Term"),
unless sooner terminated as provided in paragraph 7.1 below.

         3.3. RELATIONSHIP. The relationship between the Company and the
Consultant created by this Agreement is that of independent contractors, and the
Consultant is not and shall not be deemed to be an employee of the Company for
any purpose.

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         3.4. SERVICES. The services that the Consultant shall render to the
Company under this Agreement (the "Services") are and shall be limited to the
following:

              (a) The Consultant shall, from time to time as the Company may
     request, solely for the Company's benefit and not for the benefit of any
     third party, advise and consult with the Company's board of directors (the
     "Board") and executive officers regarding (i) the Company's merger and
     acquisition strategies, including the identification and evaluation of
     targets in Europe, Asia and other non-US markets, and (ii) the Company's
     marketing strategies for increasing user awareness of the Company's
     services in those markets.

              (b) If requested by the Board, the Consultant will prepare and
     deliver to the Board the following documents (collectively, the
     "Opinions"): (i) a formal valuation (the "Valuation") of the target and, if
     requested by the Board, a valuation of any non-cash consideration being
     offered for the target; (ii) an opinion (the ("Fairness Opinion") as to the
     fairness from a financial point of view of the target to the Company's
     minority stockholders. If requested by the Board, the Consultant shall also
     prepare summaries of the Opinions, which the Company may include in any
     circulation regarding its acquisition of the target.

              (c) The Consultant shall prepare the Opinions in accordance with
     his professional judgment, and the Opinions shall comply with applicable
     securities laws requirements. The Consultant and his legal counsel shall
     consult with the Board and its legal counsel at the request of either with
     respect to any legal matters related to a proposed Opinion prior to its
     delivery. Any advice or opinions (including the Opinions) to be delivered
     by the Consultant shall be made subject to and based upon such limitations,
     qualifications and reservations as the Consultant, in his judgment, deems
     necessary or prudent under the circumstances.

              (d) The Company shall not cause, permit or allow any of the
     Opinions or other oral or written opinions or advice rendered by the
     Consultant under this Agreement to be reproduced or published, or furnished
     to or used by any third party, in whole or in part, without the
     Consultant's prior written consent (except as may be required by applicable
     securities laws, and then only after consultation with the Consultant).
     Such consent shall extend only to the disclosure of the specific Opinion in
     the particular document as described in the consent, and will not extend to
     any subsequent disclosure in any other document. Any document prepared by
     or on behalf of the Company or the Board that contains or refers to any
     Opinion or portion thereof shall be provided to the Consultant and his
     legal counsel for review prior to its use, and shall be in form and
     substance satisfactory to the Consultant and his legal counsel. The
     Consultant shall have no responsibility for any such disclosure or
     document, except for his Opinions or summaries thereof prepared by him.

              (e) The Consultant shall be entitled at any time to withdraw,
     amend or supplement any Opinion in the event that he reasonably concludes
     that there has been a material change in the factors upon which that
     Opinion is based and, that, as a result thereof, there has been a material
     change in the Valuation following the dates thereof and prior to the
     completion of the Company's acquisition of the target.

         3.5. NO CAPITAL RAISING SERVICES. The Services do not include
consulting with or advising or assisting the Company, in any manner with in
connection with the offer or sale of securities in any capital-raising
transaction, or to directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for any
of the Company's securities.

         3.6. LOCATION. The Company and the Consultant intend that the Services
shall be rendered primarily from the Consultant's offices, in Turks & Cacios,
and in any event outside of the United States, and that the Services may be

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rendered by telephone and by encrypted, secure e-mail communication. The
Consultant shall not be required to perform any services in the United States,
or in any manner that would subject the Consultant's Fee define in paragraph 4.1
below to US federal or state income taxation. The Consultant shall, if requested
by the Company and at the Company's expense, attend meetings of the Company's
board of directors (the "Board") not more frequently than quarterly, provided
that the Company shall have provided the Consultant with an opinion of tax
counsel satisfactory to the Consultant that doing so will not subject the
Consultant's Fee to US federal income taxation. The Consultant shall be
reasonably available by telephone to consult with the Board at regular and
special meetings thereof.

         3.7. TIME; NON-EXCLUSIVE. The Consultant shall devote as much time to
the performance of the Services as is reasonably necessary, but the Consultant
shall not required to devote any fixed number of hours or days to the
performance of the Services. The Company recognizes that the Consultant has and
will continue to have other clients and business, and agrees that this
engagement is non-exclusive.

         3.8. SUPPORT STAFF AND FACILITIES. The Consultant shall furnish his own
support staff, office, telephone, and other facilities and equipment necessary
to the performance of the Services, and the Company shall not be required to
provide the Consultant with any such staff, facilities or equipment.

4. The Consultant's Fee and Expenses.

         4.1. THE CONSULTANT'S FEE. (a) For the period January 3, 2000 through
April 30, 2000, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Consultant, as a fee
for his Services under this Agreement (the "Consultant's Stock Fee"), 36,250
shares of the Company's common stock ("Common Stock") each calendar month, up to
a total of 145,000 shares (the "Shares"). The Consultant's Stock Fee shall
accrue and be fully earned as of the last calendar day of each month, with any
partial months being prorated in the event of the termination of this Agreement
prior to April 30, 2000. The Company shall file a registration statement with
respect to the Shares on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

              (b) For the period May 1, 2000, through December 31, 2000, the
Company shall pay the Consultant the sum of $350 per hour for his Services under
this Agreement (the "Consultants Cash Fee"), payable monthly, within 30 days
after receipt of the Consultant's invoice therefor.

         4.2. OFFSET; WITHHOLDING; TAXES. The Company shall pay the Consultant's
Stock Fee and Cash Fee to the Consultant without offset, deduction or
withholding of any kind or for any purpose. The Consultant shall pay any
federal, state and local taxes payable by him with respect to the Consultant='
Stock and Cash Fees, and shall indemnify the Company against and hold it
harmless from any such taxes.

         4.3. EXPENSES. Except for expenses incurred in attending meetings of
the Board as set forth in paragraph 3.6 above, the Consultant shall pay all
expenses incurred by him in connection with his performance of the Services
under this Agreement, except for such expenses as the Company shall expressly
agree in writing to pay.

5.       Representations, Warranties and Covenants:

         5.1. The Company represents and warrants to and covenants with the
Consultant that:

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              (a) INCORPORATION, GOOD STANDING, AND DUE QUALIFICATION. The
     Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
     standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation; has the
     corporate power and authority to own its assets and to transact the
     business in which it is now engaged and proposes to be engaged in; and is
     duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing under the laws
     of each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required.

              (b) CORPORATE POWER AND AUTHORITY. The execution, delivery and
     performance by the Company of this Agreement, including the issuance of the
     Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do
     not and will not (i) require any consent or approval of the Company's
     stockholders; (ii) contravene the Company's charter or bylaws; (iii)
     violate any provision of any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment,
     injunction, decree, determination or award presently in effect having
     applicability to the Company; (iv) result in a breach of or constitute a
     default under any agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a
     party.

              (c) LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is, and the
     Option, when delivered under this Agreement will be, legal, valid and
     binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance
     with their respective terms, except to the extent that such enforcement may
     be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws
     affecting creditors' rights generally.

              (d) THE SHARES. The Shares are duly and validly authorized, and
     when issued will be fully paid and nonassessable.

         5.2. The Consultant represents and warrants to and covenants with the
Company that:

              (a) The Consultant is an accredited investor as defined in SEC
Rule 501(a).

              (b) The Consultant has such knowledge and experience in financial
     and business matters that he is capable of evaluating the merits and risks
     of his election to receive the Consultant's Fee in the form of the Shares,
     rather than in cash.

              6.  Conditions Precedent.

              6.1. The Consultant's obligation to perform this Agreement is
     subject to the conditions precedent that the Company shall have filed the
     Registration Statement and issued and delivered the Shares to the
     Consultant pursuant thereto.

     7. Termination.

              7.1. This Agreement may be terminated prior to the expiration of
     the Term:

              (a) By the Company at any time by giving the Consultant written
     notice of its election to do so; or

              (b) By the Consultant by giving the Company written notice of its
     election to do so, if any representation or warranty of the Company
     contained in this Agreement is materially inaccurate as of the Effective
     Date, or if the Company (i) has breached any warranty, covenant or other
     provision of this Agreement in any material respect; or (ii) has committed
     an unlawful act or gross negligence or willful misconduct in the
     performance of this Agreement.

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     8. General Provisions.

         8.1. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATION; WAIVERS. This Agreement contains
the entire agreement of the parties, and supersedes any prior agreements with
respect to its subject matter. There are no agreements, understandings or
arrangements of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement
that are not contained herein. This Agreement shall not be modified except by an
instrument in writing signed by the parties. No waiver of any provision of this
Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the party
making the waiver. The waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall not be
deemed to be a waiver of any other provision or any future waiver of the same
provision.

         8.2. NOTICES. All notices given under this Agreement shall be in
writing, addressed to the parties as set forth below, and shall be effective on
the earliest of (i) the date received, or (ii) on the second business day after
delivery to a major international air delivery or air courier service (such as
Federal Express or Network Couriers):

                 IF TO THE COMPANY:                   IF TO THE CONSULTANT:
                 ------------------                   ---------------------
         vFinance.com, Inc.                          Mr. Phillip W. Johnston
         3300 PGA Boulevard, Suite 810               PMB ARAWAK House
         Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410           Front Street, Grand Turk
         Attention: Mr. Leonard Sokolow, CEO         Turks and Caicos Islands
                                                     British West Indies

         8.3. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Any controversy or claim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement (whether in contract or tort, or both) shall be
determined by binding arbitration at Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, in
accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the International Chamber of
Commerce, by a panel of three arbitrators, one chosen by each of the parties and
the third by the two so chosen. If the two arbitrators cannot agree on a third,
then the third shall be appointed in accordance with such rules. The prevailing
party in any arbitration proceeding shall be awarded reasonable attorneys fees
and costs of the proceeding. The arbitration award shall be final, and may be
entered in and enforced by any court having jurisdiction.

         8.4. LAW GOVERNING. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the Turks & Caicos Islands; provided, however, if
any provision of this Agreement is unenforceable under the laws of the Turks and
Caicos Islands but is enforceable under the laws of the State of Florida, then
the laws of the State of Florida shall govern the construction and enforcement
of that provision.

         8.5. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall
inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors in interest.

         8.6. CONSTRUCTION, COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement shall be construed as a
whole and in favor of the validity and enforceability of each of its provisions,
so as to carry out the intent of the parties as expressed herein. Heading are
for the convenience of reference, and the meaning and interpretation of the text
of any provision shall take precedence over its heading. This Agreement may be
signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original,
but all of which, taken together shall constitute one agreement.

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on May 5,
2000, effective as of the Effective Date.

THE COMPANY:                                          THE CONSULTANT:

vFinance.com, Inc.                                    Phillip W. Johnston

By:  /s/ LEONARD SOKOLOW                              /s/ PHILLIP JOHNSTON
     ---------------------                            ----------------------
     Leonard Sokolow, CEO

                                      -6-<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.23

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

         Consulting Agreement ("Agreement") made as of the 12th day of June,
2000 by and between vFinance.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("VFIN"), and
STEVEN KRAUSE (the "Consultant").

                                   WITNESSETH:

1.       Krause is party to a Consulting and Acquisition Management Agreement
         dated August 16, 1999 pursuant to which Krause was to evaluate and
         structure various acquisition transactions and, at the request of VFIN,
         manage any such acquisitions;

2.       Krause has identified for VFIN First Level Securities, Inc. ("First
         Level") and VFIN has entered into a Letter of Intent with First Level:

3.       VFIN desires to pursue and complete the acquisition of First Level,
         complete its due diligence, undertake such acquisition with the
         continued assistance of Krause and to continue to use the services of
         Krause in connection with the management of the operations of VFIN and
         First Level; and

4.       Krause is willing and desirous of continuing to perform such services
         on behalf of VFIN.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. DUE DILIGENCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES. VFIN has entered into a Letter of
Intent for the acquisition of First Level. In 1999 Krause identified First Level
for VFIN to acquire. Since 1999, VFIN has utilized and desires to continue to
make use of Krause's skills in connection with the due diligence and undertaking
of various marketing, administrative and other executive capacities in order to
advance the corporate goals and interests of First Level and VFIN and the
potential synergies of these companies. In particular, since 1999, Krause has
worked and will continue to work with these companies in performing due
diligence, developing their marketing program for the provision of their
financial services and financial products and will assist these companies in
strategic positioning and formulating a distribution program for their products
and services. In addition, since 1999, Krause has worked and will continue to
work with First Level and VFIN in developing their administrative
infrastructure, and will interface with various organizations outside these
companies relative to their marketing program, the recruitment of key personnel
and the arrangement for services by professional consultants to enhance the
opportunities of consolidating some of the operations of VFIN and First Level.

2.       TIME WORKED FOR VFIN. While no set hours or days had been established
during which Krause has rendered and will continue to render his services on
behalf of First Level and Union Atlantic, it is anticipated that he has spent
and will continue to spend at least 40 hours per month assisting VFIN and First
Level or whatever additional time will be necessary for purposes of
accomplishing their corporate objectives.

         3.       TERM. This Agreement shall terminate December 31, 2000.

         4.       COMPENSATION. In consideration for Krause's services rendered
to VFIN from April 1, 2000 to to the date of this Agreement with respect to
VFIN's proposed acquisition of First Level, VFIN shall pay to Krause as his sole
compensation for such services 50,000 shares of its common stock to be issued
not later than June 30, 2000. For services under this Agreement rendered by
Krause after the date of this Agreement, Krause agrees to accept as his sole
consideration the fees earned pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Consulting and

<PAGE>   2

Acquisition Management Agreement dated August 16, 1999 The fees payable pursuant
to this section shall be in lieu of any other compensation to which Krause may
otherwise be entitled for acting as an officer, director, consultant or any like
capacity with First Level or VFIN.

         5. EXPENSES. Unless otherwise approved by VFIN, Krause shall bear all
expenses incurred by him prior to written acceptance by VFIN.

         6. PURCHASE OF SHARES. The Shares shall be issued solely in exchange
for the services and appropriate investment restrictions shall be noted against
the Shares. Krause agrees to acquire the Shares for investment and will not
dispose of the Shares in the absence of registration thereof or applicable
exemption under the Securities Act of 1933.

         7. REGISTRATION. VFIN agrees to provide Krause with registration rights
at VFIN's cost and expense and include the Shares in a Form S-8 registration
statement to be filed by VFIN with the Securities and Exchange Commission within
the proximate future.

         8. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. Krause, upon the request of VFIN, may serve
as officer and/or director of First Level or VFIN provided, however, that Krause
shall be entitled to be covered by appropriate directors and officers liability
insurance and indemnification by VFIN in amounts and on terms acceptable to
Krause in his sole discretion.

         9. RELEASE. Krause (the "Releasor") does hereby forever release and
discharge VFIN, First Level and each of the shareholders of VFIN and First Level
and each of their partners, officers, directors, members, agents or
representatives (collectively, "Releasee") from all claims, actions, causes of
action, suits, debts, dues, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills,
specialities, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises,
indemnifications, variances, trespasses, damages, judgments, extents, execution,
claims, and demands whatsoever, in law, admiralty or equity, which against the
Releasee the Releasor ever had, now has or hereafter can, shall, or may have
for, upon or by reason of any matter, cause or thing related in whole or part to
the debts, promises, agreements and/or any obligations arising from or relating
to the business, operations, corporate actions or security ownership, in
connection with VFIN or First Level or their wholly-owned or affiliated
subsidiaries or businesses, including without limitation transactions involving
and allocation, ownership or issuance of VFIN or First Level securities.

         10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto.

         11. WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be amended, modified,
superseded, canceled, renewed or extended, and the terms and conditions hereof
may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by the parties or, in the
case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. No delay on the part of any
party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a
waiver thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of any party of any right,
power or privilege hereunder, nor any single or partial exercise of any right,
power or privilege hereunder, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder. The rights and
remedies herein provided are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or
remedies which any party may otherwise have at law or in equity.

         12. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Florida applicable to agreements made
and to be performed entirely within such State.

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<PAGE>   3

         13. NO ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement is not assignable by Krause except to
any entity in which a majority in interest is owned by Krause, but shall be
assignable by VFIN solely upon the consent of Krause.

         14. HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for reference purpose
only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.

         15. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. The invalidity or unenforceability of
any term, phrase, clause, paragraph, restriction, covenant, agreement or other
provision of this Agreement shall in no way affect the validity or enforcement
of any other provision or any part thereof.

         16. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed, shall constitute an original copy
hereof, but all of which together shall consider but one and the same document.

         17. OTHER ACTIVITIES. Nothing contained herein shall prevent Krause
from undertaking work for any other entity. The foregoing shall be subject to
such other activity not interfering with the performance by Krause of the
services to be rendered to VFIN under this Agreement.

         18. DISCLAIMER. Krause acknowledges that he has made a full and
independent inquiry regarding VFIN and has been afforded access to such VFIN
materials as he requested and that, in entering into this Agreement, he has not
in any manner directly or indirectly relied on any warranty or representation by
VFIN, its officers, directors, agents, legal counsel or accountants concerning
VFIN and/or its stock as to matters part, present or future.

         19. NOTICES. All notices to be given hereunder shall be in writing,
with fax notices being an acceptable substitute for mail and/or and delivery:

                  As to Mr. Steven Krause:
                           100 E. Linton Boulevard, Suite 501-A
                           Delray Beach, FL 33483

                  As to VFIN:
                           vFinance.com, Inc.
                           3300 PGA Blvd., Suite 810
                           Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
                           Attention: CEO

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the
date first above written.

                                          VFINANCE.COM, INC.

                                          By: /s/ Leonard Sokolow
                                             -------------------------
                                             Name: Leonard J. Sokolow
                                             Title: CEO

                                             /s/ Steven Krause
                                             -------------------------
                                             STEVEN KRAUSE

                                      -3-

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