How to answer "do you work with businesses like mine?"
"Do you work with small charities?" "Have you worked with restaurants before?" "Is this just for big companies?" When someone asks whether you work with businesses like theirs, they are not asking for your client list. They are asking whether you will understand them: their budget, their pace, their language and their problems. A confident, specific answer can win the conversation in one message. A generic "we work with all kinds of businesses" usually loses it. This guide gives you replies for a clear yes, a partial fit and an honest no, the questions that help you find out whether you really are a fit, a worked LinkedIn conversation and a note to give your AI agent.
The short answer
Answer yes, partly or no in the first sentence. If yes, back it up with one specific example and one thing you know about businesses like theirs. If partly, say what carries over and what would be new. If no, say so kindly and point them to someone better suited. Then ask one question about their situation, so the conversation moves forward.
Replies you can adapt
Change the details to match your business. Names, prices and times are examples.
| When | Reply |
|---|---|
| A clear yes | Yes, about half our clients are independent restaurants and cafés. We know the busy seasons and how tight margins can be, so we keep our plans simple and monthly. What would you like help with? |
| Yes, with an example | Yes. We recently helped a 20-person architecture practice in Bath move all their files to the cloud without losing a day of work. Is your team about that size? |
| Partly | We have not worked with a charity yet, but most of our clients are small organisations with a board to report to and a tight budget, which sounds similar. What is the main thing you would like to change? |
| Yes, but at a different size | We usually work with businesses of 10 to 50 people. With a team of three, our smaller plan would suit you better. Would you like to hear how that works? |
| No, and a referral | Honestly, no. We focus on professional services firms, and I do not think we would serve a manufacturing business as well as a specialist would. You might try Fieldline Consulting, who work with manufacturers. |
| They are very large | Most of our clients are smaller than you, so I want to be honest about that. We could take on one team or one project as a start, so you can see whether we suit you. |
| A regulated sector | Yes, we work with several financial advice firms. We are used to compliance teams reviewing our work, and we build that time into every project. |
| They ask on LinkedIn | Thanks for asking, Helen. Yes, we work with a number of nurseries and early years settings. Would a short call help, or would you prefer some examples by email first? |
What to avoid
- Saying "we work with businesses of all sizes and sectors". It sounds like you have no particular experience with anyone.
- Claiming experience you do not have. It comes out quickly, usually at the worst moment.
- Naming clients without their permission as proof.
- Answering a fit question with a sales pitch. Answer the question first.
- Letting an AI agent claim sector experience that is not in your notes.
What to tell your AI agent
- Give it your fit note: the sectors and sizes you serve well, the ones you serve partly and the ones you do not.
- Give it one approved example for each sector, without client names unless they have agreed.
- Tell it to answer yes, partly or no in the first sentence and never to overstate experience.
- Tell it to ask one question about the person's situation at the end of each reply.
- Give it the names of businesses you are happy to refer people to, and tell it to pass unusual cases to you.
When a person should take over
- Prospects in sectors or sizes you have not worked with before.
- Large or regulated organisations where the details of fit really matter.
- Any decision about whether to take on a new kind of client.
What the question really means
A business owner who asks "do you work with businesses like mine?" has usually had a bad experience with a supplier who did not understand them. Perhaps an agency built for large companies sent them a huge proposal, or a consultant used words they did not follow. They want to avoid that again.
So the best answer shows understanding, not just experience. Mentioning something specific about their world, such as a busy season, a regulator or the way decisions get made, tells them you know what they are dealing with.
Write a simple fit note
It helps to be clear, for yourself first, about who you serve well. A short note also gives your AI agent what it needs to answer honestly.
| Fit | Who | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| Strong | Independent restaurants, cafés, small hotels | Yes, with an example and one thing you know about them. |
| Partial | Charities, membership bodies | What carries over, what would be new, and a question. |
| Size mismatch | Teams under 5 or over 200 | Suggest the plan that fits, or a smaller first project. |
| Not a fit | Manufacturing, large retail chains | Say so kindly and refer them to someone better suited. |
Questions that show whether you fit
After your first answer, one good question keeps the conversation going and tells you whether the fit is real. Choose the one that matters most for your service.
- How big is your team, or how many locations do you have?
- What would you most like to change in the next three months?
- Have you worked with someone on this before, and how did it go?
- Who else is involved in the decision?
- Is there a deadline or a busy period we should plan around?
Ask one at a time. A list of five questions in a first reply feels like a form; a single good question feels like a conversation.
A worked example
Here is a LinkedIn conversation for a small HR consultancy. The AI agent answers from the fit note and hands the prospect to the owner once there is a real fit. Names and details are examples.
| Who | Message |
|---|---|
| Prospect | Hi, do you work with small nurseries? We have 3 sites and about 40 staff. |
| Business | Hi Helen, yes. Several of our clients are nurseries and early years groups of a similar size, so we are used to shift patterns, ratios and the paperwork that comes with inspections. What would you most like help with? |
| Prospect | Mainly contracts and a proper staff handbook. Ours are years out of date. |
| Business | That is one of the most common things we help with. I have passed this to Kate, who leads our early years work, and she will message you today to suggest a short call. |
| Owner | Hi Helen, Kate here. Happy to help with this. Would Thursday at 10am or Friday at 2pm suit you for a 20-minute call? |
The first answer was specific enough to show understanding without naming any client. The agent asked one question, then passed a qualified prospect to the right person.
A note for your AI agent
Who we work with, updated 1 November
Strong fit: nurseries and early years groups, care homes, independent schools. 10 to 150 staff.
Partial fit: charities. Say we know small organisations with boards and tight budgets, but have not worked with a charity yet.
Not a fit: large retailers, manufacturers. Refer to Fieldline Consulting.
Rules:
- Answer yes, partly or no in the first sentence.
- Never name a client. Use "several of our clients are..." instead.
- Never claim experience that is not in this note.
- End with one question about their situation.
- Strong fit and they answer your question: hand to Kate.How Spaces fits in
Spaces connects your own LinkedIn account and mailbox to the AI agent you already use, so it can answer fit questions from your note in the thread the person started. LinkedIn restricts automation on personal accounts, so read the caveat box above before you connect it, and keep the agent to people who wrote to you. Replies to people who wrote in have no daily limit in Spaces; new conversations are capped at 100 a day.
If you want to approve every reply first, ask your AI agent to hold replies as drafts, and nothing goes out until you approve it.
Sum up and next step
Say yes, partly or no first, back it with one specific detail, and ask one question. Be honest about gaps and refer people when someone else would serve them better.
Write your fit note once. It will sharpen your own answers and keep your AI agent from claiming experience you do not have.
Pricing
FAQ
Should I say yes even if I have not worked with their sector?
Only if what you do carries over well, and say so honestly. "We have not worked with a charity yet, but most of our clients face the same problems" is believable. Claiming experience you lack usually comes out later and costs you the client.
Can I mention client names as proof?
Only with their permission. Without it, describe the client instead, such as "a 20-person practice in Bath". That is usually just as convincing and protects your clients.
Is it bad for business to say no?
Saying no to a poor fit saves you a difficult project and often earns goodwill. People remember the business that pointed them to the right place, and they may come back or recommend you.
How much detail should my first answer have?
Two or three sentences: the answer, one specific detail and one question. Save the full story for a call or a follow-up email if they want it.
Can an AI agent answer fit questions?
Yes, from a fit note that lists who you serve well, partly and not at all. Tell it never to claim experience outside the note and to hand new or unusual prospects to you.
What if they are much bigger than my usual clients?
Be open about it and suggest a smaller first project, such as one team or one site. Some larger organisations prefer a small supplier for that very reason, but they want to know you can cope.
Should I list my sectors on LinkedIn and my website?
Yes. Naming the kinds of businesses you serve best helps the right people find you and makes this question easier to answer. Keep the list short and true.