Well, from personal, non-template, work I can say that I was frequently running work from 2-4 clients easily enough. If a client was more demanding of time then

Well, from personal, non-template, work I can say that I was frequently running work from 2-4 clients easily enough. If a client was more demanding of time then I was more demanding on cost. If contract work is getting paid the same as FTE, then something is messed up. I literally charged double what I make right now as an FTE. And yeah, I even called out the missing benefits, but that's something you pay for out of the income differential. I've been a contract worker several times in my life. I'm currently a FTE and like the people I work for. Going contract is certainly not for everyone and is perhaps a panic inducing decision depending on your current situation.