How can I get clients to start paying me on a hourly rate (currently we almost always get asked to quote a fixed price), so that when they drag out meetings and conversations and send 10 e-mails a day, I don't end up working for free?

Give them the right fixed price in the first place, dummy!

Well yes, that's the obvious solution, but:1. We are always under massive pressure to reduce our prices. Boss won't let us cut our daily rate much, so guess what happens...2. If I go to my boss or even the client with a proposal that includes 1 person-week's worth of time just for "replying to e-mails and general admin", he will throw a fit. They sort of expect these things to be done invisibly behind the scenes. Like responding to a constant flood of client e-mails and admin "isn't proper work" or something.3. Our clients are just plain tight. Unless we quote absurdly low, we don't get the work and it goes to some a-hole contractor who doesn't have any overheads.4. Even if you do try and estimate things properly, it always takes longer than expected. I think there's a phrase for this, "something's law".

I think you have just belatedly discovered that you are the poor cnut who gets squeezed between the whopping hourly rates your firm charges which are entirely decoupled from the cost of employing you, and your client's not unreasonable desire to get something fopr his considerable outlay.Welcome to consulting.

Yes, your work is coming my way. As a result, my huge driveway now proudly holds a gleaming audi.Keep smiling.