Refuse to quote by the hour. Day rate is like a law firm rate. Contract per client or project. I stage the work, each deliverable is clearly specified, priced

Refuse to quote by the hour. Day rate is like a law firm rate. Contract per client or project. I stage the work, each deliverable is clearly specified, priced and delivery date. Client has to pay in full before next stage is commenced. Stages are 2-4 weeks. Small variations and meetings are pro-rata the day rate. Billed monthly, due 7 days. Large variations negotiated to be a staged unit of work, with spec, etc. No special admin software. Just templated letters, a couple of spreadsheets. Typically have 2-3 concurrent clients. Refuse to commit full-time. I manage my time and deliverables. The hardest part is resisting pleas for more time to pay. Have been burnt in the past by clients who demand extra work while not paying past-due invoices. If they need credit for their cash-flow, then they can talk to their bank. I'm not licensed as a bank.