In 38 years of full time self-employment, I have never had a written contract with my clients. Most of the time, I have worked on verbal agreements, without even a purchase order. I trust them; they trust me. Once I was established, virtually all of my assignments have come to me as repeat business or referrals; I have never had to advertise.
Most paid employees cut corners at some time or another - gaming sick leave, showing up late, stretching lunch time, ducking out early, fiddling the expenses, hanging around the water cooler, watching the clock, trying to look busy, pretending to work. The cynics among them excuse themselves by imagining that everyone else does the same.
When you are self employed, you only get paid for the work you do.
