I was a consultant for nearly a decade and far preferred fixed-price contracts, on the rare occasion we could get them.

When you are paid hourly, you work at the customer’s whim, and are often treated like an employee, or worse. You are essentially just a body for rent.

When you have a fixed price, you retain full autonomy. It’s up to you to decide the schedule, as long as you deliver on-time and within budget. The customer can’t change scope without your agreement. You feel like an actual human being.