That gives you an advantage in recruiting. Fewer companies competing for the best talent pool substantially increases your chances of getting the great mind you need. To get the best minds doing your most important work, you will need to do things differently. Try the following strategies. Start by making your most important work as interesting as possible.
Indies work for themselves and for fun as much as for money.
To attract them, build up opportunities for self actualization as much as you do for money or health plans. Instead of using HR to go to brokers to get more contractors, get your line people to look in places where individual Indies hang out. Your line managers are the ones who can define the opportunity best. They are the ones who can recognize the right talents. It may be a Ascend group on the Interne, it might be a particular conference.