Smaller customers are often happy to hire a freelancer directly without the overhead of going through a middleman - as long as they trust the freelancer. Larger organizations tend to prefer hiring consultants through agencies since it is simpler and reduce risk.
I worked as a freelancer for years and liked it, but in the end I decided to get attached to an agency because there is a lot of footwork in finding your own clients and negotiate, and I didn't particularly like this part of my job. Now the agency finds the project and I just say yes or no and start working. I also earn more even after the agency cut because they are better negotiators than I was.
I wouldn't accept a contract which said I should be on-call for support after the project finish. I only accept full-time contracts, and when it is finished, it is finished. Otherwise you go crazy supporting old projects while at the same time working full-time on a new project.
Some level of non-compete is reasonable. Like don't get hired directly by a client which know you through an agency. This would be undercutting the business model of the agency.
I worked as a freelancer for years and liked it, but in the end I decided to get attached to an agency because there is a lot of footwork in finding your own clients and negotiate, and I didn't particularly like this part of my job. Now the agency finds the project and I just say yes or no and start working. I also earn more even after the agency cut because they are better negotiators than I was.
I wouldn't accept a contract which said I should be on-call for support after the project finish. I only accept full-time contracts, and when it is finished, it is finished. Otherwise you go crazy supporting old projects while at the same time working full-time on a new project.
Some level of non-compete is reasonable. Like don't get hired directly by a client which know you through an agency. This would be undercutting the business model of the agency.