Raising an 'independent company of foot' is an army thing. Goes way back to medieval times when lords and barons did just that. And 'raising' the company generally means that you paid for all the expenses of same -- muskets, uniforms, equipment, etc. and then generally got to ponce around as the commander of same.

It's actually a pretty complicated premise because it depends on time and circumstance as to how an independent company would function. Sometimes they are used as local militia or they function outside of the general army hierarchy and chain of command. And sometimes they are absorbed into another regiment as a levies.

But bottom line -- to raise one of these companies took $$$$$