Negotiation is the principal tool of the entrepreneur, but none of us in trained in it and most of us – let us be honest – are not naturally talented at it.

We usually pick up some skills through trial and error, but still lack that elusive something to make the best of them.

It might help a little to bear these thoughts in mind when haggling:-

1   Never accept the first offer;

2   Always remember you have the absolute right to walk away at any point;

3   Do not despise the social small talk that precedes business – it is a good opportunity to find out how the other person thinks;

4   Never let anyone put you under pressure to make a deal within a specific time period – better to walk away when they try setting deadlines;

5   Do not feel obliged to make a deal just because the other person seems like a nice guy;

6   Never make an offer until you must; and

7   Above all, the real point of negotiation is mutual assessment – do not a deal with anyone unless you are comfortable with both the deal and the person.