I'm sure it's best to gauge the employer, but unless commuting or meeting sessions are part of your offer I usually wouldn't start the clock until I've actually

I'm sure it's best to gauge the employer, but unless commuting or meeting sessions are part of your offer I usually wouldn't start the clock until I've actually started working. That's how I run things, maybe I'm too honest buy the win/win aspect of freelancing is that employer only pays for one specific thing and employee does one specific thing and thus commands higher rates.