Help me prepare negotiation questions for the conversation described below. [COUNTERPART AND CONTEXT] [OFFER AND COMMERCIAL TERMS] [THEIR STATED POSITION] [MY OBJECTIVES AND LIMITS] [MEETING FORMAT] Create 12-16 questions, grouped into four sections: priorities and decision criteria; constraints and approval process; tradeoffs and package design; and commitment and next step. Tailor every question to the stated position and commercial facts. Use neutral, open wording that invites information rather than cornering the other side. Include at least two questions that test whether the stated objection is price, budget timing, risk, scope, authority, or an internal alternative. For each question, provide a one-line note explaining what information it is intended to reveal. Mark the 3-4 highest-value questions to ask first. Include a short call sequence: opening question, diagnostic questions, tradeoff question, and a specific close that seeks an agreed next action, owner, and date. Do not write manipulative tactics, false deadlines, threats, or questions that imply concessions I have not authorized. Do not assume the counterparty has authority to sign. Where my limits rule out a requested term, give a question that explores an approved alternative rather than pretending the request is possible. Before answering, check that each question can be answered without revealing confidential information from my side. Flag any missing walk-away point, decision maker, or approval constraint that could make the negotiation plan unsafe. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [COUNTERPART AND CONTEXT] | Enter who you are negotiating with, their role, relationship stage, and relevant business context. | Maya Chen, VP Operations at a 400-person logistics company, negotiating a first annual software contract after a two-week pilot. |
| [OFFER AND COMMERCIAL TERMS] | Enter the product or service, price, term, scope, and any proposed commercial terms. | Workflow platform at $42,000 annually for 75 users, 12-month term, implementation included, annual payment due at signature. |
| [THEIR STATED POSITION] | Enter the objections, requests, alternatives, and priorities the counterparty has expressed. | Maya says the pilot worked but finance wants $30,000, monthly billing, and a 60-day termination right. She mentioned an incumbent tool but has not named it. |
| [MY OBJECTIVES AND LIMITS] | Enter your desired outcome, approved concessions, non-negotiables, and walk-away conditions. | Target: $42,000 annual prepaid. Can offer $38,000 for a two-year term or quarterly billing at list price. Cannot offer a termination for convenience right. Walk away below $36,000 annual value. |
| [MEETING FORMAT] | Enter whether this is a call, live meeting, or email exchange and how much time you have. | Thirty-minute video call with Maya and a procurement manager. |
How to use
- Paste the prompt with the actual offer, their stated requests, and only concessions you are authorized to make.
- Put the highest-value questions at the top of your call notes and remove questions you already know the answer to.
- Listen for decision criteria and approval constraints before proposing a package tradeoff.
- Follow up with: “Turn these into a 30-minute call agenda with exact transitions and a recap email outline.”
Variations
Renewal discovery
Use this before a renewal conversation where price pressure may hide usage or value concerns.
Prepare 10 renewal negotiation questions for [CUSTOMER AND RENEWAL DATE]. Their current plan is [CURRENT TERMS], usage and outcomes are [USAGE EVIDENCE], and they have raised [CONCERNS]. My approved options are [RENEWAL OPTIONS]. Group questions into value realized, adoption gaps, budget and procurement, and renewal commitment. Add one note per question explaining what it reveals. Do not claim ROI not supported by the evidence. End with two questions that secure an owner, process, and date for the renewal decision.
Email questions
Use this when you need a concise written reply instead of a meeting script.
Write a negotiation email to [RECIPIENT] about [DEAL OR ISSUE]. Their latest request is [REQUEST], and my approved range is [AUTHORIZED OPTIONS]. Ask no more than five concise questions that clarify priority, decision authority, timing, and acceptable tradeoffs. Use a [TONE] tone and finish by proposing [NEXT STEP]. Do not negotiate against myself or promise a concession. Before answering, flag any question that might sound accusatory or disclose an internal limit.
Vendor negotiation
Use this when your company is buying rather than selling.
Create 12 questions for negotiating with [VENDOR] on [PURCHASE]. The quoted terms are [QUOTE AND TERMS], and our requirements are [REQUIREMENTS]. We can trade [APPROVED TRADEOFFS] but cannot accept [NONNEGOTIABLES]. Cover price basis, term, implementation, service levels, renewal, data or security obligations, liability, and approval timing. For each question, state the purpose. Avoid unsupported claims about competing quotes. End with a question that confirms the vendor's authority and the document needed for a revised proposal.
Tips
- Prepare questions that distinguish list price from cash-flow timing, term length, scope, risk allocation, and implementation work; each can support a different trade.
- Ask who must approve a change and what paper they need before treating a verbal agreement as progress.
- Use package questions such as “If annual prepayment is required, what scope would make that workable?” instead of asking only for a discount.
- Record answers in the counterparty’s own words, especially decision criteria and deadlines, so your next proposal addresses documented concerns.
FAQ
How many negotiation questions should I bring to a call?
Bring more than you expect to ask, but prioritize three or four that reveal the decision process and the real obstacle to agreement.
Should I ask about competing offers directly?
Yes, neutrally. Ask how the alternative is being evaluated and which criteria matter, rather than demanding names or attacking another provider.
Can AI tell me what concession to make?
It can help frame tradeoffs, but only use concessions that an authorized decision maker has approved.