50 Useful Phrases in English for Business Negotiations

Effective negotiation skills are critical in business. After all, successful businesses are built on successful deals. Whether it’s haggling with a vendor over the price of supplies or hammering out the terms of a contract with a new client, knowing effective English for business negotiations can mean the difference between success and failure.

Of course, not everyone is born a natural negotiator. However, with a little practice, anyone can learn the basics of successful negotiation. The key is to remember that effective negotiation is about finding common ground and building relationships. It’s not about winning or losing; it’s about finding a mutually beneficial solution that everyone can live with. With that in mind, here are 6 tips for negotiating like a pro:

1. Ask for what you want.

2. Be clear about what you want.

3. Don’t give up too much.

4. Give yourself room to manoeuvre.

5. Know what you’re willing to accept.

6. Listen carefully.

While there are many different strategies that can be employed during a negotiation, the use of certain words and phrases can be especially effective. In this blog, we will discuss the 50 best words and phrases for business negotiations. These words will be in business English, a more formalized version of the English language.

50 General Words and Phrases in English for Business Negotiations

Expressing Agreement

When you agree with something, it gives you a chance to show that you understand what they’re saying. You might even feel like you’ve just won an argument. But expressing agreement isn’t always easy – there are lots of different ways to do it. Which one is best depends on how you feel about the thing being agreed upon. The following English vocabulary is an excellent place to start:

1. “That sounds fair.”

2. “I’m willing to agree to that.”

3. “I think we can work with that.”

4. “That’s acceptable.”

5. “Let’s go with that.”

These phrases convey a willingness to compromise and reach an agreement. By using them, you can show that you’re open to negotiation and willing to find a middle ground.

Alternative Solutions

Discussing alternative solutions before making important business deals helps to avoid conflict. Being able to think outside the box often leads to creative solutions. This is especially true in the workplace where creativity is essential. If you are stuck on a problem, it might be helpful to consider alternatives. By having an open mind, you will be able to find solutions that work well for everyone involved.

For example, if you are facing a difficult decision about how to handle a situation, ask yourself what could go wrong if you make one choice over another. You might discover there are several ways to approach the issue. Try the following phrases when negotiating alternatives with your business partners:

6. “Let’s try something else.”

7. “What if we did it this way?”

8. “I’m open to suggestions.”

9. “What do you think about this?”

10. “Let me think about that.”

Using these phrases will help to create a more positive and productive atmosphere in your business negotiations.

Preventing Deadlock

Deadlock occurs when there isn’t enough information or different opinions about what needs to happen next. This leads to frustration and confusion because no one knows how to move forward.

In order to prevent deadlocks, it is essential to communicate clearly and frequently throughout the negotiation process. If you’re stuck in a deadlock, try asking yourself why you are stalled. Is there something missing? Or maybe you’ve misinterpreted someone else’s position?

11. “Let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.”

12. “What would be a win-win solution?”

13. “What are your bottom line requirements?”

14. “What are your bottom line requirements?”

15. “I’m open to new ideas.”

By using these phrases, you can help to keep your negotiating skills moving forward and avoid deadlock with your negotiating partner. 

Highball / Lowball

When it comes to negotiating, people often make mistakes because they don’t know how to start. You might think that starting off with a lower offer makes sense since you don’t want to lose the sale. But remember, the other party doesn’t care about making money. He wants his needs met. So, even though you’re offering him less than he asked for, he may accept anyway.

So, the next time you find yourself in a negotiation, try starting off by asking for the lowest prices. If the other party accepts, you can always go ahead and raise the offer. The following list will help you stand firm during the negotiation process:

16. “I’m not sure if that’s fair”

17. “I’m sorry, but that’s our final offer”

18. “I’m afraid we can’t go any lower”

19. “I’m sorry, but that’s the best we can do.”

20. “I’m sorry, but I’m not going to budge on this.”

By using these key phrases, you’ll be able to effectively communicate your position and come out on top in your next English business negotiation.

Leveraging

Leverage is something that gives people power in negotiations. When you are negotiating with another person, it helps if you know what you can do to give yourself some extra leverage over them. For example, if you want to negotiate a better deal for a car purchase, you might ask for a lower price because you have a trade-in value for your old car. You could also offer to pay cash and take out a loan against your home equity. These things add up quickly and can help you reach your goal faster.

21. “We have other options.”

22. “This is our final offer.”

23. “We’re not afraid to walk away”

24. “I’m not sure that’s in our best interests.”

25. “I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible.”

These phrases communicate a willingness to end the negotiation proposal if a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached. By using these phrases, or similar ones, negotiators can signal their leverage and increase their chances of success.

Disagreeing with a Suggestion

It can be satisfying to be right, especially when you’ve been trying to convince someone of your point of view for a while. However, it’s important to be careful about how you express your victory. No one likes a know-it-all, and coming across as an “I told you so” type of person will only make people resent you. Instead, try fair suggestions and agreeable terms like:

26. “Let me think about it.”

27. “I’m not sure.”

28. “I’d like to hear more about your idea.”

29. “I understand where you’re coming from.”

30. “I see how you could make an argument for that.”

These diplomatic phrases will show that you’re unhappy with the situation without being fully agreeing or disagreeing.

Delaying

Negotiating is an essential part of doing business. Whether you’re negotiating a salary raise with your boss or the price of a product with a supplier, the ability to delay can give you an advantage. By delaying, you create the illusion of scarcity and increase the perceived value of what you’re selling. Here are five phrases for delaying future negotiations:

31. “Let me check with my manager.”

32. “I’m not sure if we have that in stock.”

33. “Can you give me a few minutes to think about it?”

34. “I need to consult with my team before I can make a decision.”

35. “Why don’t we take a break and reconvene in an hour?”

By using these phrases, you can buy yourself time to think about the offer on the table and formulate a counteroffer. This can ultimately lead to a better outcome for both parties involved in the business agreement.

Compromising

During any negotiation with business associates, it is important to be mindful of the language you use. The words and phrases you choose can help to create an atmosphere of cooperation or confrontation. When trying to reach a compromise, it is often helpful to use language that encourages the other party to see you as an ally. Here are five phrases that can be useful in compromising during business negotiations:

36. “I’m open to hearing your ideas.”

37. “Let’s brainstorm some possible solutions.”

38. “What do you think would be a fair compromise?”

39. “I’m willing to consider your proposal.”

40. “I’m sure we can come to an agreement if we’re both flexible.”

Using phrases like these can help to create a more productive atmosphere and pave the way for a successful compromise.

Expressing Priorities

Priorities are one of the most important aspects of communication. They tell people what we want, how we feel about something, and why we do things. To make sure our business goals are clear, it’s helpful to express them to others. This way, everyone knows exactly where we stand and what we want.

41. “This is our top priority.”

42. “We’re willing to compromise on this issue.”

43. “This is a keystone of our proposal.”

44. “We’re open to suggestions on how to proceed.”

45. “Let’s focus on what’s most important here.”

These basic phrases will help you stay on task. People think that expressing your priorities means telling someone else what you want. But this isn’t true. When you express your priorities, you’re simply letting others know what matters most to you. You don’t have to explain yourself; just let them know what you care about.

Concluding and Closing

When you’re closing a business negotiation, it’s important to choose your words carefully. The right communication tools can help to seal the deal, while the wrong ones could jeopardize everything you’ve worked for. Here are five phrases to use when you’re ready to close the deal:

46. “I think we’re agreed.”

47. “I think that’s fair.”

48. “Shall we sign the papers?”

49. “I’ll just need your signature here.”

50. “Thank you for your time.”

These English expressions signal that you’re close to agreeing on terms and encourage the other party to keep working towards a resolution. 

Conclusion

This blog has given you the 50 best English business negotiation phrases in English. With these phrases, you will be able to improve your negotiation skills and increase your chances of success. With practice, you will become a more confident and effective negotiator. Remember, the key to successful negotiation is understanding the other party’s interests and objectives, and finding common ground. With these phrases, you will be well on your way to becoming a master negotiator. Thanks for reading!

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