Saw this posted on /r/wma but they're swordsmen not historians so I'm posting it here.

How would a man have gone about joining a late Medieval/early Renaissance German mercenary company? What about joining a fencer's guild like the Marxbrudders or Federfechters? Considering Medieval guilds were roughly equivalent to modern unions, was guild membership a requirement to work as a mercenary? Once hired, would he have to purchase his own weapons and armor or were they provided? What about incidentals like travel expenses or food when he's on tour? Any other questions I should have asked but didn't?

Thanks in advance!