Your Choice or Theirs?  It may seem as if the choice is entirely yours, but not always.  Some trades, and some companies, warmly welcome the private contractor in amidst their work, others requjire the tighter controls that a strictly employee labor force affords.  If you want to go the private contractor route, get prepared.  Visit a few consultants in your field, (don't just view their sites) and learn

  a) their approximate fees; whether flat fee or hourly rate is best accepted.

  b) what items they include in the contract.

   c) how they financialy take care of today's "necessary" benefits, such as healthcare.

   d) what legal and governmental protections they have available.

Finally, note that when negotiating, the private contractor candidate has the advantage of offering more flexability,

but be careful you are not contorting yourself into an impossible work position.