Do you work for yourself as a consultant to companies or in a freelance/short term type of role focusing on your personal expertise? Have you opened an LLC for yourself or how have you set yourself up as a business? Have you found it a need to hire on anyone (even if temporary) to handle any part of your legal or financial/tax organization needs?

Thinking of my options beyond my current career and would love to know how people become self employed in this way (recognizing all risks). I am gathering information elsewhere but would love any first hand experiences, or DOs vrs DONTs