Vendor vs. Client — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 14, 2024
"Vendor" refers to a party that sells products or services, typically to businesses or consumers, whereas "client" denotes an individual or business that purchases these services or products.
Difference Between Vendor and Client
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A vendor is an entity that supplies goods or services, often involved in manufacturing, wholesale, or service provision. On the other hand, a client is usually the recipient of these goods or services, making them the consumer in the business relationship.
In the business-to-business (B2B) context, vendors provide products or services to other businesses, which may use these in their own business operations or resale. Conversely, clients in this context are businesses that seek out vendors to fulfill a specific need or requirement within their operations.
The relationship dynamics differ notably; vendors are typically proactive, seeking clients and markets to sell their products, whereas clients are more selective, choosing vendors that meet their specific criteria for price, quality, and service.
Vendors often focus on broadening their market reach and enhancing their product offerings to appeal to more clients. In contrast, clients prioritize finding reliable vendors that can provide consistent quality and dependable service to support their own business goals.
Payment flows highlight another key difference: vendors receive payments for their goods and services, making their role revenue-centric. Clients, however, spend money to acquire these goods or services, focusing on expenditure and investment in business assets or operations.
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Comparison Chart
Role in the market
Sells products or services
Buys products or services
Business relationship
Supplier
Consumer
Typical focus
Expanding market reach, enhancing product offerings
Selecting vendors for quality, price, service
Payment flow
Receives payment
Makes payment
Strategic objective
To attract and maintain clients
To secure reliable supply and manage costs
Compare with Definitions
Vendor
Often a manufacturer or distributor.
We need to check the vendor's product quality before placing a large order.
Client
Buys goods or services from vendors.
As a regular client of the coffee shop, he receives discounts.
Vendor
Integral to B2B transactions.
The company signed a contract with a new office supplies vendor.
Client
A customer, especially in professional services.
The architect discussed the building plans with her client.
Vendor
A party that sells goods or services.
The vendor at the street fair offered a variety of handmade crafts.
Client
Focuses on receiving value for expenditures.
The client reviewed several proposals before choosing a vendor.
Vendor
Plays a key role in supply chains.
Our main software vendor is updating their pricing structure.
Client
Invests in services or products for personal or business use.
The client allocated a significant budget for IT upgrades.
Vendor
Focuses on customer acquisition and retention.
The vendor launched a new marketing campaign to attract more clients.
Client
Can be an individual or a business.
The advertising agency welcomed its newest client today.
Vendor
In a supply chain, a vendor, or a seller, is an enterprise that contributes goods or services. Generally, a supply chain vendor manufactures inventory/stock items and sells them to the next link in the chain.
Client
A person or organization using the services of a lawyer or other professional person or company
Insurance tailor-made to a client's specific requirements
Vendor
A person or company offering something for sale, especially a trader in the street
An Italian ice-cream vendor
Client
(in a network) a desktop computer or workstation that is capable of obtaining information and applications from a server
Workstation clients are going to be easy to install
Vendor
One that sells or vends something
A street vendor.
A vendor of software products on the Web.
Client
(in ancient Rome) a plebeian under the protection of a patrician.
Vendor
One that provides products or services to a business for a fee.
Client
The party for which professional services are rendered, as by an attorney.
Vendor
A vending machine.
Client
A customer or patron
Clients of the hotel.
Vendor
A person or a company that vends or sells.
Client
A person using the services of a social services agency.
Vendor
A vending machine.
Client
One that depends on the protection of another.
Vendor
To bundle third-party dependencies with the source code for one's own program.
I distributed my application with a vendored copy of Perl so that it wouldn't use the system copies of Perl where it is installed.
Client
A client state.
Vendor
As the software vendor, to bundle one's own, possibly modified version of dependencies with a standard program.
Strawberry Perl contains vendored copies of some CPAN modules, designed to allow them to run on Windows.
Client
(Computers) A computer or program that can download files for manipulation, run applications, or request application-based services from a file server.
Vendor
A vender; a seller; the correlative of vendee.
Client
A customer, a buyer or receiver of goods or services.
Vendor
Someone who promotes or exchanges goods or services for money
Client
(computing) The role of a computer application or system that requests and/or consumes the services provided by another having the role of server.
Client
A person who receives help or services from a professional such as a lawyer or accountant.
Client
(legal) A person who employs or retains an attorney to represent him or her in any legal matter, or one who merely divulges confidential matters to an attorney while pursuing professional assistance without subsequently retaining the attorney.
Client
A citizen who put himself under the protection of a man of distinction and influence, who was called his patron.
Client
A dependent; one under the protection of another.
I do think they are your friends and clients,And fearful to disturb you.
Client
One who consults a legal adviser, or submits his cause to his management.
Client
A person who seeks the advice of a lawyer
Client
Someone who pays for goods or services
Client
(computer science) any computer that is hooked up to a computer network
Common Curiosities
How does a client differ from a customer?
A client often implies a longer-term, service-oriented relationship, whereas a customer can be a one-time buyer.
Can a business be both a vendor and a client?
Yes, many businesses act as vendors to some parties while being clients to others.
What responsibilities does a vendor have?
Vendors are responsible for delivering quality products or services as agreed upon.
What defines a vendor in business?
A vendor is defined as a party that sells goods or services, primarily in a business or commercial setting.
What is the role of a vendor in supply chain management?
Vendors are crucial as they provide the necessary goods or services that keep the supply chain functioning.
Are vendors always organizations?
While often businesses, vendors can also be individuals offering specific goods or services.
Do clients have power over vendors?
In many markets, clients have significant power due to their ability to choose among multiple vendors.
How do clients choose vendors?
Clients often choose vendors based on price, quality, reliability, and service.
How important are clients to a vendor's business?
Clients are essential as their purchases generate the vendor's revenue.
What kind of relationship do vendors and clients have?
It's typically a professional, transactional relationship focused on mutual benefit.
What strategies do clients use to manage vendor relationships?
Clients may use strategies such as contracts, regular reviews, and performance metrics.
How do vendors attract new clients?
Vendors attract clients through marketing, competitive pricing, and superior product offerings.
Can a vendor also be a consumer?
Yes, when vendors purchase goods or services from other businesses, they act as consumers.
How can a vendor improve its relationship with clients?
By ensuring reliable, high-quality products or services and excellent customer support.
What is a vendor-client agreement?
It's a formal document that outlines the terms of the relationship, including services, payments, and obligations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
