which states do you carry a license?
Here there's a big difference in pay scale, about 25% between licensed and not.  But like you say, they only pay when they need the license, and not if they don't.   I know it its not a cure-all, but at least if it would even the playing field when it comes to bidding against hacks who couldn't care less about a job lasting more than a week.
    
    
 
            