When self-employed (and I am) never give your SSN to a contractor (kinda had to do though, if you're a real estate agent). They have no need for it. That's why you got an EIN.
If your SSN is stolen/abused, it affects your entire life. If the EIN is abused, it only impacts your business usually. It's much easier to cancel a compromised EIN, and it's darn near impossible to cancel an SSN.
