Business etiquette

When greeting both men and women, handshakes are appropriate, but wait until a woman extends her hand before offering to shake hands. If appropriate, use a title such as doctor or professor. You should even address lawyers by their title, abogado in Spanish. People with no professional titles should be addressed as senor, senora, or senorita. During introductions, use business cards with the Spanish side facing the other person. As a sign of respect, carefully examine the cards handed to you.

Attend meetings on time, even if your hosts may keep you waiting. Meetings typically include informal conversation and do not adhere to strict agendas. According to the US Department of Commerce, expect meetings to last longer than expected, with the overall feel of a social activity rather than a business meeting.

During meetings, the most powerful personalities and business people with the most authority tend to dominate the conversation and make the final decisions in the sales process. Hondurans, on the other hand, expect negotiations to be friendly and do not appreciate hard sells or pressure tactics. They prioritize relationship building and avoid confrontations and conflicts. While negotiations may end with a handshake, a formal written contract is also required.

Businessmen and women in Honduras, like their counterparts in the United States, dress conservatively for meetings, with men wearing a dark suit and tie and women wearing a conservative skirt or slacks with a blouse. However, because security is a major issue in Latin American countries, American businesspeople should avoid wearing expensive jewelry. Pickpocketing and armed robberies are common forms of street crime in urban areas. This is considered as one of the Unique Cultural Characteristics In Honduras.