DOING BUSINESS WITH GERMANY

German is the most widely-spoken language in Europe. German is spoken not only in Germany but also in Austria and Switzerland. German is also a popular language in Central European countries. It is naturally the language used in German business, even by foreigners. However, there are, of course, subtle differences between doing business in Germany and in your own country. We have put together a few tips for you in order to give you an added advantage.

Tip 1: Not addressing people by their first names

Germans prefer to be more formal and use surnames in the first instance. Addressing German people by their first names is a common mistake. If you are speaking German, follow your counterparts’ example and do not immediately use ‘du’. When you know each other well enough, the offer of ‘sollen wir duzen’ will soon follow.

Tip 2: Background knowledge

Around the negotiation table or during a presentation, a German business partner will look for specifics. Why do you think your company has the right skills to be able to produce a product or provide a service? Your references and client portfolio are also important. German business people will also want to know what qualifications your specialists have, whether your company holds a patent for your inventions, what make of machinery you use to produce your products and, of course, your delivery terms and conditions. If you have carried out thorough research prior to a meeting or a presentation with your potential German business partner, you will be seen as understanding the German way of doing business.

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Doing business in Germany

Tip 3: Hire our services

We are a translation agency which was founded in 2001. After a successful start, we decided to expand, and in 2006 we opened our first German office. Since then, we have opened several more offices in Germany and have established ourselves all over the world. We therefore have native German project managers and a close working relationship with our German translators.

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If you prepare a meeting or a presentation in German, this will certainly be appreciated by your German business partner. If you want to finally close the deal, it is time to put all your contracts, terms and conditions, and delivery terms and conditions down on paper. We can help you with this by translating your documents as well as offering proofreading for your documents in order to check on their style, spelling, and grammar. We have professional translators at your disposal in all subject areas. We also have specialists in legal or technical texts, as well as specialists for your sales and marketing texts. Above all, our translators are always native speakers of the target language. If you would like a quote or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Our project managers will be delighted to help you.