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- Costa Rica Business Etiquette
Costa Rica Business Etiquette
Dress Code
- Men should wear a conservative dark suit. In warmer climates, a jacket is optional.
- Women can wear a dress or skirt and blouse for formal business meetings, but it is far more common for women to wear pants to work.
Conversation
- Good conversation topics: children, history, art
- Bad topics: any personal criticism, religion
Meetings
- Handshaking the common greeting. Embracing good friends is not as common as in other Latin countries
- Costa Ricans are by far the most punctual people in Central America. North Americans are expected to be on time for appointments
- Since Costa Ricans allow themselves only a limited time for their midday break, everyone is expected to be on time for a business lunch
- Have business cards, proposals, and other material printed in both English and Spanish
- Titles are important and should be included on business cards.
Negotiating
- Keep a spirit of cooperation in your discussion and do not be pushy. Costa Ricans believe in diplomatic negotiation and will be willing to work with you to find a good compromise.
- Talk to the room. Social status and hierarchy are not an issue here, as Costa Ricans are big believers in equality and democratic process. This includes women, who are widely accepted as equals in the business world
Gifts
- If you are invited for dinner to a home, bring flowers, chocolates, scotch, or wine.
- Do not bring calla lilies; they are associated with funerals
Business Entertainment
- Most business entertaining takes place in the evening, since lunch is the main meal of the day. Spouses are welcome at business dinners
Tipping:
- The tip is already included in a 10 % Service Tax that the staff receives at the end of the day.
- However, usually you can still tip extra on that. It depends on whether the service was good or bad.
Content by www.MercaTrade.com
More resources about Costa Rica is available on MercaTrade.com
>>Search for business opportunities in Costa Rica, click here B2B Portal
>>Business Information about Costa Rica, click here Information Costa Rica
>>Get the list of embassies and consulates in Costa Rica, click here Embassy Costa Rica
>>Find the latest Trade Agreements with Costa Rica, click here Trade Agreement Costa Rica
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