You really need a better class of client. A couple of things that I have learned: 1) you are more likely to get paid by big companies because the person writing

You really need a better class of client. A couple of things that I have learned: 1) you are more likely to get paid by big companies because the person writing the cheque isn't spending their own money, 2) you are more likely to get paid by people you meet face-to-face because its easier to be an asshole over the internet, 3) bizarrely you are more likely to get paid if you charge more because it weeds out all the penny pinchers. The last one is really important. Just by charging more you put yourself in a different market, one which is generally more professional.