The difference between a customer and a client can be rather confusing, and in some instances, both terms may be used to refer to any type of business patron. When a company has ongoing interaction with someone, that person tends to be referred to as a client rather than a customer. The term "client" tends to suggest the need for long-term care and consideration. There are also some industries in which one term is preferred over the other due to the typical way in which people do business