Maybe a really easy solution is to incorporate yourself and then just say you started a software company.

That's if you're like me, and you find this question really annoying to explain, and it gets asked constantly.

"Self-employed" sets off a lot of bullshit detectors, because...well, lots of bullshitters use that one.

Or maybe just keep saying programmer, if that's what you're doing. No need to explain in detail how the compensation works (or doesn't exist).

"I retired from corporate, doing my own thing."?