[chiefalchemist]

> "Take your finely-calculated estimate and 3x it, both in time and money.

You should get really comfortable with “no”; Both saying “no” to bad fits, and hearing “no” from clients who can’t afford you."

Two quick thoughts:

1) "It always costs twice as much and takes twice as long" is a benchmark that has never failed me. 3x? Probably could have helped 25% of the time.

2) The key to freelancing or even being an agency is...avoid the time sucks, the bad clients. It's not finding grand slams or hat tricks. Sure those are good to have. But the killer is the bad ones, the really bad ones.