> Clients will often try to find out how much time was really spent on the project, even if they are officially paying for the outcome and not the effort. That

> Clients will often try to find out how much time was really spent on the project, even if they are officially paying for the outcome and not the effort. That's when you respectfully remind your client that you're not a contractor but a business and that you're dealing business to business. Asking you how the sausage gets made is asking you about how you run your business -- it's none of theirs. If they feel like they aren't getting a fair deal, you are happy for them to shop around. If the client is trying to get a sense of your time then it's a mistake in how the relationship was framed. You want them to think that you're a business with employees, even if you're the only employee. Use more "we can" instead of "I can" language in your deals. They also aren't your only client.