Business English for sales calls
- Free
- No card
- 8 phrases
Say these, not just read them
“I'll keep this brief — is now still a good time?”
Respects the prospect's time up front and gives them an easy way to reschedule instead of tuning out.
“What's driving that for you right now?”
Gets past a surface request to the real need behind it, without sounding like an interrogation.
“That's a fair point — here's how we think about it.”
Acknowledges an objection before addressing it, rather than jumping straight to a rebuttal.
“What would need to be true for this to make sense for you?”
Turns a stalled conversation into a concrete, answerable question instead of a vague "let me think about it."
“Would it help if I sent over a couple of examples?”
Offers something concrete rather than pushing for a decision the prospect isn't ready for.
“Where does this rank against your other priorities right now?”
A direct, professional way to gauge real urgency instead of guessing from tone alone.
“Can we put a time on the calendar for next steps?”
Closes by asking directly, rather than ending on "let me know" and hoping they follow up.
“Out of curiosity, what's making you hesitate?”
A direct, non-defensive way to surface a silent objection the prospect hasn't said out loud yet.
More to try
A prospect says your price is too high. Respond, acknowledging the concern and asking a clarifying question.
Read this objection-handling line aloud, at your normal pace.
“That's a fair point, and you're not the first to ask. Here's how we think about it: most of our customers find the time saved in the first month covers the cost. Would it help if I sent over a couple of examples?”
The delivery metrics worth watching
Pace, pauses, and stress
In sales, a calm, unhurried pace signals confidence in the offer itself — rushing through an objection response reads as defensive, while a steady pace on the same words reads as someone who's heard the objection before and isn't worried by it. Read more about how sayit measures pace and clarity on speak-english-clearly.Straight answers
How do I handle an objection in English without freezing up?
Use a fixed opening line for any objection — "That's a fair point — here's how we think about it" — so you're never starting from zero. It buys you a second to think and signals you're not rattled, regardless of what comes next.
What's a natural way to close without sounding pushy?
Ask directly for a small, specific next step — "Can we put a time on the calendar?" — rather than a big ask like "are you ready to buy?" A specific small ask is easier to say yes to and easier for you to deliver confidently.
How do I sound confident with a smaller vocabulary than a native speaker?
Pace matters more than range here. A short, plain sentence delivered steadily ("That's a fair point") lands better than a longer one delivered hesitantly. Practise the handful of core phrases until the pace is automatic.
Say it the way you would in a real sales
Free, no card. Pace, filler words, pauses, and the exact sounds to fix — the same depth a paying member sees.