I did the usual thing and wound up working for a former employer at a much higher rate. It took two months to set up, including getting insurance. I bill hourly because that's what their A/P department requires.
My problem is that their chosen technology is not mainstream. I'm currently at a dangerous local maxima: they pay me very well for what I'm doing, but it's not very transferrable.
As I understand it, one of them gives my clients assurance that they can collect from me if I mess up; the other protects them from lawsuits arising from stuff I wrote. And I'm buggered if I know which is which -- just that I needed both.
My problem is that their chosen technology is not mainstream. I'm currently at a dangerous local maxima: they pay me very well for what I'm doing, but it's not very transferrable.