Everyone has to have their own business plan. We each have different circumstances, goals, needs, and tolerances. What doesn't make much difference to one may make lots of difference to someone else. It could also change from one day to the next for the same person. As someone else indicated, if I get a call that fits into my schedule, meets my fee, is from a company I trust or am willing to take a chance on - and I feel like doing it - I take it. If I've had a very busy day or I'm tired or I have personal plans or was hoping to do something else or whatever... I'm 'unavailable'.
If your base fees are so low that it doesn't seem worth it to take something within 2 - 3 hours, you may want to reevaluate them. Your fees should be significant enough to begin with so that you're not living so close to the edge that if something doesn't go as planned, you're not making anything or it costs you money.
Other variables: How long have you been doing this? How well established are you in this field? How many competitors are there in your area? Bottom line: How badly do you want the work? If you want to be a professional who stays busy, being ready during your working hours is probably a good idea...
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