The Art of the Deal: Key English Negotiation Phrases

Negotiation is a fundamental skill in business, whether you're closing a sale, discussing a partnership, or agreeing on project timelines. For non-native English speakers, the pressure can be intense. Using the right language not only ensures clarity but also projects confidence and professionalism, helping you achieve a win-win outcome.

This guide provides essential English phrases for every stage of a negotiation. To master the vocabulary, check out the specialized Sales and negotiation decks in the BizVoc app.

1. Opening the Negotiation

A strong start sets the tone. Be clear about your objectives while maintaining a collaborative spirit.

• Stating your goal: "Our primary objective today is to reach an agreement on..."
• Setting the agenda: "I'd like to suggest we first discuss [Point A], then move on to [Point B]."
• Expressing collaboration: "We're confident that we can find a mutually beneficial solution."

2. Making Proposals and Stating Your Position

When it's your turn to present your offer, be clear, confident, and direct.

• Making an opening offer: "We'd like to propose..." or "Our initial offer is..."
• Stating your position clearly: "From our perspective, the key issue is..."
• Explaining your needs: "For this to be viable for us, we would need..."

3. Bargaining and Making Concessions

This is the heart of the negotiation. Use conditional sentences ('if... then') to trade concessions effectively.

• Making a concession: "We might be able to be flexible on the price, provided that you can extend the contract term."
• Conditional offers: "If you agree to a larger order, then we can offer a 10% discount."
• Exploring options: "What if we were to...?" or "Would you consider...?"
• Stating your limits: "Unfortunately, our bottom line is..." or "I'm afraid we can't go any lower than that."

4. Responding to Offers and Handling Disagreements

It's crucial to disagree politely while holding your ground. Acknowledge their point before presenting your counter-argument.

• Acknowledging their position: "I understand your point of view, however..."
• Politely disagreeing: "I see what you mean, but I have some concerns about..."
• Asking for clarification: "Could you help me understand your reasoning behind that?"
• Rejecting an offer: "I'm afraid that proposal doesn't meet our requirements at this time."

5. Closing the Deal

Once you've reached an agreement, summarize the key points to ensure both parties are aligned before concluding.

• Summarizing and confirming: "So, to recap, we've agreed on [Point A], [Point B], and [Point C]. Is that correct?"
• Expressing agreement: "I think we have a deal." or "We're happy to move forward on that basis."
• Discussing next steps: "Excellent. Our legal team will draft the contract and send it over for your review by Friday."

Master the Language of Negotiation with BizVoc

Successful negotiation in English depends on knowing the right phrases for the right moment. The BizVoc app provides dedicated vocabulary and phrase lists for sales, negotiation, and other critical business scenarios. Use our smart flashcards to practice these phrases until they become second nature.

Ready to negotiate with confidence? Join the BizVoc waitlist to get started!