>I'm looking at the independent idea a lot lately. This is for independent consultants who have been on their own for two or more years. Just a couple of questions:
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>1) What's the population of your metro area?

About 1,000,000

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>2) What's your primary method of developing new business: word of mouth, ads, luck?
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A web site is really great. The web is the first place people look these days. Word of mouth is also important. I've recieved a lot of leads through the local user group, too.

>3) Do you find yourself working for a lot of the companies you used to work for as an employee?
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I did at first. It's a nice way to ease into it.

>4) How do you deal with things like insurance, etc?
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For the first 18 months you can stay on your employer's health plan, but you have to pay the full premium. I think you have to have been with the employer for 6 months or something like that to qualify. You'll probably need workman's comp. (your clients may demand it since otherwise they'll be liable for anything that happens to you at their site) which is pretty cheap, liability which might be tricky with all the Y2K paranoia and disability. The best advice here is to shop around.