I agree, it is very hard to get anything close to a fair wage for your time.
I am usually on the other end, handquilting other people's tops. That is a little easier as I can estimate how many yards of quilting will be in it, and I know how many yards I can do an hour.
Not sure how you would do it with piecing.

Hey maybe we should team up. Aside from Linus quilts and gifts I have to make I don't get much done these days in the way of piecing or applique. The part I like the best is the handquilting. If you are interested PM me.

I don't because I spent YEARS and YEARS doing what other people wanted me to do. I retired so that I could do what I want to do. Selfish? Probably but oh well.

I do piecing and quilting for others - I make sure before starting that they and I agree on fabric and pattern. So far everyone has been ok with what I've done... often I tell them how many hours it has taken me and they can pay me accordingly - alot of times they offer to pay more than I would've charged - simply because I want to be able to have them come back the next time they want something made... I get to do what I love and make some money to supply my fabric needs! :)

Not at all. As I posted quilting is MY passion. I do only what I want to do when it comes to fabric :D
If I don't take the time to do things that please me I'd get suckered into spending all my time doing things I don't want to do. Been there............

Unless the person is willing to pay you a decent hourly wage I'd pass. If the top is only going to take you four 8 hour days to make from cutting to having it together even at minimum wage it's going to be 232.00. And that's at a minimum wage of 7.25 an hour.

I only do that for family.