This would be a good idea.
As to being stitched there are business practices you can employ that may limit that.
1, I don't work for any company who are unwilling or evasive when asked to disclose there company details when first asked.
2, PO Box company addresses are NOT exceptable as a business address .
3, Check the
whois for the companies site.
4, You can ask for a deposit form new clients if they are above board then they may just see it as confirmation of contract.
5, for larger works create a schedule of payments if they don't pay on time continually for works then put the project on hold and move to another then they may have to wait until you complete the project you moved to (you can include that in an agreement when the client employs you for any works).
a lot of companies don't like using the above as they think it will scare clients away but my answer to that is if the client is a professional company they will be used to those sort of terms within contracts and may even give you a few extra brownie points as using contracts/Agreements correctly laid out can give both parties peace of mind.