How Young Entrepreneurs Can Master Negotiation in Business and Life
I watched a video recently that made me smile. A boy asked his mum if he could play a game on his tablet, but she brushed him off—"I'm tired," she said.
A few moments later, he switched things up.
"Can I help you fold the laundry?" he asked.
They folded together, and once they were done, he tried again:
"Mum, can I play on my tablet now?"
This time, she said, "Sure."
That, right there, is negotiation. Simple, but smart.
Many young people think negotiation is only for grown-ups in suits talking about big contracts. But the truth is, young entrepreneurs—yes, even kids—use negotiation more often than they realize.
That’s why learning to negotiate early is such a powerful skill. It helps you save money, avoid confusion, and build better relationships with the people you do business with—whether it's your friend, your mum, or a customer at school.
In this post, we’ll walk through simple steps you can take to start building your negotiation skills—right now. But first, let’s understand what negotiation is about.
What Is Negotiation?
Negotiation is simply a conversation where two or more people try to reach an agreement that works for everyone involved.
As a young entrepreneur, you’ll come across situations where negotiation is really useful, even if it doesn’t look like the kind you see in movies. Here are some real-life examples:
Buying supplies: Let’s say you want to buy 10 packs of cupcake wrappers for your baking business. You find a shop that sells them, but the price is a little high. You could politely ask if there’s a discount for buying in bulk or if they’d give you a better price since you’re a returning customer. That’s negotiation.
Partnering with a friend: Maybe you and a friend want to sell snacks together at church or school. You’ll need to talk about who brings what, who handles the money, and how profits will be shared. You might not agree at first, but through negotiation, you can come up with a plan that feels fair to both of you.
Dealing with parents or adults: Want to use your home oven for baking orders or ask your parents to help fund your first set of materials? That’s another chance to negotiate. You explain your idea, what you need, and what you plan to do in return—like managing your time better or cleaning up after every baking session.
Talking to customers: Maybe someone wants to buy a bunch of your bracelets but asks for a lower price. Instead of saying yes or no immediately, you can suggest a small discount if they buy more than five instead. That’s negotiation, too.
The goal isn’t just to “get your way”—it’s to make sure both sides feel good about the deal. Here are a few tips to help you negotiate better:
1. Be Clear on What You Want and Why
Before you go into any negotiation—whether it’s with a supplier, a friend, or even your parent—you need to be sure about what you're asking for and why.
Let’s say you want to ask a vendor to lower the price of packaging for your products. If you walk up and just say, “Can I get it cheaper?”—they might not take you seriously. But if you say, “I’m buying 30 packs instead of 10, so I was wondering if there’s a discount for bulk,” you’re giving a clear reason for your request.
Being clear also helps you stay confident. If you know exactly what you want, it’s easier to explain and defend it. Here are a few tips:
Write down what you want before the conversation.
Ask yourself why it matters—does it help you save money? Make your work easier? Improve your product?
Think about your best and worst outcomes—what are you willing to accept, and what won’t work for you?
Even if you don’t get exactly what you want, being prepared helps you find the next best option without feeling confused or taken advantage of.
2. Know Who You’re Talking To
Every negotiation is a conversation, and how you talk depends on who you’re talking to.
If you’re negotiating with your parents, you might need to be more patient and respectful. They’ll probably want to see that you’ve thought things through and are being responsible.
If you’re talking to a vendor or supplier, they may care more about business details—how much you’re buying, how often you’ll come back, or whether you’ll refer other people.
And if you’re working with a friend or classmate as a partner, it’s important to keep things honest and fair. You don’t want anyone feeling like one person is doing all the work while the other just collects the money.
Understanding the other person helps you frame your request in a way that makes sense to them. For example:
With parents: “If I earn some money from selling cookies, I’ll use part of it to pay for my own school supplies.”
With a supplier: “If your prices help me stay within budget, I can keep buying from you every month.”
With a friend: “Let’s write down who does what, so we’re both clear and no one feels left out.”
3. Use Friendly Confidence, Not Demands
Negotiation isn’t about being bossy or trying to win at all costs—it’s about finding an agreement that works for both sides. That’s why your tone matters.
When you’re asking for something—maybe a discount on supplies or a better sharing of duties with a business partner—it helps to be confident but kind. People are more likely to say yes when they feel respected, not pressured.
Let’s compare:
Demand: “You have to give me a discount. I’m your customer.”
Friendly confidence: “I’m just starting out, and I really love your products. If I buy in bulk, is there any chance of a discount?”
One sounds pushy. The other is polite, clear, and shows you’ve thought things through.
Being confident means knowing the value you bring—but being friendly shows that you care about the relationship, not just the result. Whether you’re talking to adults or other kids, this balance makes you more persuasive and trustworthy.
4. Listen First, Then Talk
A great negotiator isn’t just good at speaking—they’re great at listening.
When you take the time to listen to the other person, you get useful clues about what matters to them. Maybe the person you’re talking to isn’t saying “no” because of the price but because they’re unsure about your experience or worried about delivery time.
Let’s say you’re trying to get a church member to buy your cupcakes. If they say, “I’m not sure my kids will like the flavor,” and you jump straight into a sales pitch, you might lose them. But if you pause and ask, “What kind of flavors do they like?” You now have a better chance of offering something they’ll actually buy.
Listening first helps you:
Understand what the other person needs or cares about
Spot problems early and solve them before they grow
Show that you’re mature, thoughtful, and respectful
So before you talk, ask questions and really listen to the answers. It’ll make your pitch stronger—and the other person more willing to work with you.
5. Look for Win-Win Solutions
A negotiation is a conversation where both sides try to find an outcome that works for them. The best deals aren’t when one person “wins” and the other loses. The best deals are win-win.
For example, if you’re buying supplies for your small business and the vendor won’t drop the price, think of what else they might offer:
Can they throw in some extra items?
Can you help promote their business in return?
Can you agree on a longer-term partnership for better prices?
If you’re splitting duties with a friend in a joint business, and they don’t want to do the packaging, maybe you can swap tasks—you handle packaging, and they take care of social media or sales. That way, both of you are playing to your strengths.
Win-win solutions make people feel good—and when people feel good doing business with you, they’re more likely to support your business in the future.
6. Know When to Say No and Walk Away Kindly
Not every deal is a good deal—and that’s okay.
Sometimes, even after talking and trying your best, the other person might not agree to something fair. Maybe the price is too high. Maybe they want too much of your time. Or maybe the offer just doesn’t feel right. It’s important to learn that saying “no” is also part of being a good negotiator.
Saying no doesn’t have to be rude. You can say:
“Thanks for the offer, but that doesn’t quite work for me right now.”
“I’ll think about it and get back to you.”
“I really appreciate your time, but I think I’ll pass on this one.”
Walking away kindly shows confidence and maturity. And sometimes, once people see that you’re willing to say no, they may even come back with a better deal!
Start Small, Grow Big
Great kidpreneurs aren’t just full of ideas—they also know how to communicate, collaborate, and stand their ground when needed. So don’t be afraid to ask, to listen, and to walk away when the deal isn’t right.
The more you practice, the stronger your voice becomes and the better you become.