USA: Asinta Business Etiquette Insight

December 13, 2016:

Is your company looking to set up a new business in the USA? Here are some useful business etiquette insights to help guide you in the right direction:

a) With the USA being such a huge country, the culture and geographic location of an area will influence how business is done. Traditionally, the East Coast is more conservative and formal in their dress and manners than the West Coast…. not to say that a West Coast meeting carries any less importance; it is just that the climate and lifestyle are more relaxed, which is reflected in the pace and informality. Check on your business location beforehand to learn as much as possible about the area(s) you will be visiting.

b) The 50 states of the USA are governed both on a federal level as well as a state level. Appropriate laws are found at both levels so when you are conducting business in the USA, you must make sure that you meet the requirements mandated by these laws. The country is very litigious so there are plenty of legal resources and specialists to assist you with any transactions.

c) Americans have the work ethic that good, honest hard work is rewarded and ambition is a key driver. To them, time is money and punctuality is extremely important so plan your trips carefully particularly in big cities with the inevitable traffic challenges. If you are running late, always notify the people concerned via a call on your cell phone to keep them informed. Typical business dress is dark-colored suits, white/light blue shirt and tie. Aim to achieve a formal and professional look, taking into account the West/East Coast differences!

d) Americans are known for their forward nature and like to use first names from the start, with titles rarely being used and quite a bit of physical interaction such as backslapping etc. However, politeness and courtesy are also valued as is showing respect to senior figures. Despite the informal greetings and preliminary small talk which take place at meetings, they are usually quite structured. Agendas will be followed throughout and action plans agreed before the meeting is adjourned as Americans like to have a clear conclusion by the end of the meeting. Lively debate is part of their business scenario with everyone at the meeting expected to contribute and ask a lot of questions – so expect to be challenged!

Do you want to start doing business in the USA? Drop a line to Asinta Partner, Alliant, to get all of your questions answered. You can send them a message here.