Business
A handshake is the standard form of greeting when doing
business in Hungary and in mixed company it is usually women who
initiate. Conservative suits and ties are standard business dress
and business people should be addressed by their title and surname.
Business cards are often exchanged; Hungarians usually list their
surnames first. It is useful to have a local representative when
doing business in Hungary who can set up meetings and act as an
interpreter. It is important to invest time on building
relationships; socialising is a key element of this and
face-to-face meetings are vital. Punctuality is vital to all
occasions, and cancelling a meeting at the last minute may be
detrimental to a business relationship. Due to the communist legacy
there is an aversion to risk and plenty of red tape and therefore
negotiations can be slow-moving and patience is required. Although
Hungary remains male-orientated, being female is not a disadvantage
to doing business. Business hours are usually from 8am to 4pm
Monday to Friday, though summer hours tend to be
shorter.
