Communication/negotiations with the customer take a lot of time, what should I do?

Question

Freelance

Hello. I have little experience of remote independent work, so I would like to ask more experienced how to be in such a situation.
I started working with some guys. Everything is cool, the project is interesting, the pay is normal, the guys are adequate. The project is not one-time, large, not for one month. We agreed to pay by the hour for completed tasks. I take out the work itself and tasks directly in tasks.
But here's the point - the discussion of current issues takes a lot of time. I have nothing against chatting or calling for detailed discussion, but calls are every 3 days, and sometimes last for 3-4 hours. Chat discussions also last for hours every day.
Initially, I planned to use my free unpaid time for my tasks, personal projects, and other side jobs.
How do you act in such situations and how to do it right?

Answer 1

All the time you spend on a customer's project should be paid for by the customer.
All lengthy negotiations, of course, too.

Answer 2

I track all work chats as work.

Answer 3

Solution:
1) Discuss this with the customer 1. Offer him to either reduce negotiations to 1-2 hours a week, or include all the time spent on negotiations in his account.
2) In parallel, look for and find another customer 2 (or many customers) with whom (and) discuss this issue before the start of the project, so as not to go into the red.
3) If the customer 1 rests and does not want to either reduce the time of negotiations or pay for it, then, to the extent of his own financial ability, end the relationship with him. If there is money, then you can immediately set a condition: either you pay, or you go through the forest. If there is nothing to eat, then you will have to drag it until better times.

Answer 4

We agreed to pay by the hour for completed tasks .
But here's the point - the discussion of current issues takes a very long time .

That's all
Initially , I planned to use my free unpaid time for my tasks, personal projects, and other side jobs.
Um.

Answer 5

I highly recommend Gavin Kennedy's book "Anything Can Be Negotiated". Very practical. Learn to negotiate on such issues and it will become much easier for you to work with clients.