As an instructor at the college, I often have students come to me, asking if they can "challenge" the web graphics class because after tinkering with Photoshp a bit they think they know it all. One woman told me she knew "all of the phhotoshop tools" but then looked at me blankly when I asked her about the extract tool, dpi, slicing, rollovers, layers, etc. Seriously, this person thought because she could modify a picture in photoshop she knew it all. She had even been charging clients for doing graphics work.
I've found that clients that balk at the cost of project never really had any confidence in their project. If they think it's going to be successful and make money they are willing to invest in whatever it takes to get it off the ground. If they have any doubts about it or don't see the success in the long run, then they are usually the type that says "I just need something simple....." Simple always equals Cheap. To that person, I say I'm too busy at the moment and you'll need to find someone else to do the work. If you, as a designer, take on this client, you can bet that you will be dealing with scope creep in the near future.
The client owes it to him/herself to do some research. If the project is important to them they will do it.
The designer owes it to him/herself to always be the consumate professional and business person. Web design is not a hobby. It's work and good design has no shortcuts.
I would suggest this book for anyone that is serious about building sites (mainstream and adult) and needs help with dealing with clients. Kelly Goto's Web Redesign: Workflow that works
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
I agree with dasexi1 about portfolios. This the same advice I've given to my students. Do a few portfolio sites and then get on with it.
Something else I tell my students when they ask me about all any joe blow building websites.. I tell them "anyone can build a website, it takes a professional to create a web presence." You designers will know exactly what I mean.....