[ellie]

Umm this is roughly what I do, if a potential client comes to me and says, "I want a website". I will send them a form asking them a list of questions and get them to send it back to me, before I do anything.
What is the website about
Will it have a shopping cart etc

There's more questions...I hand this out, but do not charge for this.

Based on their information I will give them a rough quote and break everything down, but in the quote "I stipulate if there are extra add-ons, or extra time is involved, then I will begin charging an hourly rate", which I will inform them about, before I go ahead with changes.

If after the quote they want to meet-up then I am happy to do this for an hour or so. I'm afraid for me that's part of the process. I do not charge for this, but if I actually do factor it into the quote, under sort of miscellaneous - he he! So If they do go ahead with it, then that money is recouped.

My hourly rate is a standard rate and I stick to it. I'm lucky to work with someone who was kind enough to explain the ins-and-outs of charging and what agencies charge and I what I should charge. Sort of like a mentor. Unfortunately there is not enough people out there that are kind enough to share this information with others, especially in my field.