Emails in my profile, let me know if you'd like to be on the announcement list (going to cap the workshop at 25 people)
What steps can someone in my position take while in the middle of (multi-month) projects?
I'd probably also take the opportunity to raise rates.
Of course, that depends on the expense. Generally I'd say if you need to overnight then it is an expense to charge for - if you're driving for an hour then definitely don't :) (in the UK we can get tax relief for mileage in relation to our business, so I generally don't charge for travel if I have to drive less than 3 hours - otherwise I end up being "paid" twice :D). Taking the piss with expenses (one place I worked hired an consultant analyst who literally charged for everything - including the 30p it cost him to use the toilet at the train station) is as bad as not charging them.
If they want you because you bring value they will happily pay this cost. On the other hand if they are put off by this added fee then they are probably not the sort of client you want - especially as those costs are probably a small portion of what they are paying you for a days work!
On the other hand; if you soak up expenses to get that contract you are a) in the mindset of letting them set the rate (even if they never knew about it) and b) eating into your profits. Neither is a good situation to be in (next time they might want you all week, and that can get expensive fast).
However; I don't know about your situation, but if you don't live in the valley why are you trying to compete in the market there? I live in the countryside in the UK and used to believe my main market would always be London (~3 1/2 hours away by car, less by train). I've learned this is nonsense, and even the nearest towns to me have LOTS of developer work available.
You might also think that being out of the hub means less money. I've also found this to be untrue in practice, because no one works out here (they are all focusing on the big cities). Desperation for quality talent means that often, more money is on the table.
I like avoiding two separate sets of price negotiations.
I quoted a project which I (thankfully) didn't get, based on the person I was talking to being in SC (few hours drive or short flight). Turned out the project would be onsite in North Dakota, which was a $1200 flight.
That was a lesson learned :)
Other than that, I still am primarily hourly, because I have multiple ongoing projects that don't lend themselves to 'day rate' work. Newer stuff I take on next year will likely be 'day rate' based, with travel and hotel expenses outside a short driving radius line-itemed.
Also, does this kind of value-driven work also work remotely, or do you always travel to customers?
You make mobile apps for businesses, right? So you're getting their brands carried on the trusted device that their customers hold their entire social selves on, which is carried in their front pocket 24/7, which they caress when in bed and which they can't bear to be separated from even when in the bathroom. And your app. Their brand. With them the entire time.
Or, if you're making apps with a transactional component to them, like say the Chipotle online ordering app, "Um, it's going to make you several hundred million dollars this year. This will be mentioned in your annual report. You're going to look like a hero for greenlighting this project." works, too.
This dovetails quite a bit with the Ramit Sethi interviews earlier, but is largely about the mechanics of businesses as they get away from the solo consultant stage. There is some very important math in there for folks looking to expand by hiring. (Copious hat tips due to Thomas for much of the advice here. Except the bad stuff, that's mine.)