DOING BUSINESS IN MEXICO:

Understanding Mexican Business & Etiquette

If you think doing business at
home is difficult, try
expanding your company to
another country.
Mexican people do business
with whom they like at a
personal level, so developing
solid relationships is key.

To build professional
friendships, you must know
how to speak and behave
properly when interacting with
Mexican business people.
TIMING AND SCHEDULING
• Make sure you are punctual and
one time for any meeting, but do
not be surprised if you Mexican
counterpart is 30 minutes late. It is
common in a lot of Latino cultures,
so just be patient!
• Mexican punctuality is not rigid
because of a cultural emphasis on
personal life.
• It is not uncommon for Mexican
business people to cancel meetings,
and many may consider meetings
with Americans as tentative until
they receive confirmation that the
person is in Mexico. Therefore, it is a
good idea to confirm meetings
schedules weeks or months ahead
of several times as the date
approaches, including the night
before.
• Mexicans often say “mañana”
(“tomorrow” in English), when
referencing the “next couple of
days” or “sometime in the near
future”. If in doubt, be sure to clarify
when talking about schedules or
delivery times.
• Use words when writing dates. In
Mexico, the first number in a
numeric date represents the day of
the month. As a result, 3/5/17
(March 5, 2017, in the U.S.) means
May 3, 2017, in Mexico.
 LANGUAGE AND
COMMUNICATIONS
• Good manners and politeness go a
long way in Mexico.
• While most Mexican business people
speak English, you should learn basic
phrases in Spanish such as “por favor”
(please), “gracias” (thank you), “adios”
(goodbye) and “disculpe” (excuse
me).
• If you do not have a fully bilingual
member in your member in your
team, you should consider hiring an
interpreter, preferably a native
speaker.
• Avoid using first names unless invited
to do so.
• Address people using “Senor” (Mr.),
“Senora” (Mrs.) or “Senorita” (Miss)
and their last name.
• Mexicans respect titles. You may
address someone by his or her title
only.
• When leaving voicemail, keep in mind
that most Mexican people will expect
you to call again and therefore, are
unlikely to return your call.
BODY LANGUAGE
• Strangers shake hands when
meeting and leaving each other,
Mexicans usually hold the gesture
longer than we do.
• Friends may hug or kiss each other
on the cheek. Men often touch
shoulders or pat each other on the
back.
• Standing with hands on the hips
may be considered aggressive.
 BUSINESS
RELATIONSHIPS
• Mexicans do business with friends.
If they feel uneasy around you,
chances are you won’t be closing
any deals.
• To develop relationships, be warm
and friendly. Ask your Mexican
counterparts about their family,
friends, customs, hobbies, etc.
• Use intermediaries when necessary
to make personal connections.
CORPORATE CULTURE
• Business in Mexico is done in
person, not over the phone or
email.
• Meetings usually start with small
talk about family, the weather, etc.
• Do not refuse drinks (usually
coffee) offered to you during the
meeting.
• Being direct and to the point may
be perceived as rude or
aggressive. Be gracious and polite.
• Because relationships come first,
negotiations tend to move slowly.
• Meetings typically are slow-paced,
often going off topic.
• Hierarchy is important. Big
decisions are made by top
executives, and they expect to do
business with same-level
executives not with low-level
representatives.
• Appearances matter—your clothes,
jewelry, hotel accommodations, etc.
WHAT TO WEAR
• Dress conservatively in the city.
Dark suits never fail.
• Men should wear ties. Women
should wear formal business attire.
• Jeans are not appropriate. Avoid
low-cut shirts and very short or
tight skirts.
• When in doubt, it is better to be
overdressed.
RELIGION
• Around 82 percent of Mexicans
identify themselves as Catholic,
according to CIA, although many
incorporated pre-Hispanic Mayan
elements as part of their faith.
Christian denominations represented
include Presbyterians, Jehovah’s
Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists,
Mormons, Lutherans, Methodists,
Baptists, and Anglicans. There are also
small communities of Muslims, Jews,
and Buddhists.
FOOD
• Mexico is
known for its
tequila, which is
made from
agave cactus
that is well
suited to the
climate of
central Mexico.
Soda is a very
popular drink
in Mexico, as
the country has
a well-
developed
beverage
industry.
VALUES
• Family is one of the most important
elements in Mexican society.
Especially outside of cities, families
are very conscious of their
responsibilities to immediate family
members and extended family such
as cousins and even close friends.
• “Family units are usually large,
with traditional gender roles and
extensive family involvement from
the external members who assist
one another in day to day life.
Parents are treated with a high
degree of respect, as if the family
in general and there may be
constant struggle, especially for
the growing children between
individual wants and needs and
those wants and needs of the
family.”