Success tips when doing business in Denmark in 2024

1. Hand shaking is the most common greeting in Denmark business negotiations. It is considered polite to stand up to shake hands when first meeting and it is perfectly acceptable to shake hands with women;
2. ‘Heij’ meaning ‘hello’ is the most common greeting in business negotiations. Naming conventions are the same as in the US and the UK and business partners should be referred to by their surname unless asked to do otherwise;
3. Personal space is important to the Danish. Entrepreneurs should take care to not infringe on the personal space of the Danish and avoid being too tactile;
4. Entrepreneurs should dress in a neat and clean fashion, but avoid overly flashy or garish clothing. Ostentation is frowned upon in Denmark, with a more unassuming manner of dress more appropriate;
5. Business appointments should be made at least 2 weeks in advance. Appointments should be avoided in the months of July and August, as most businesses run on a skeleton staff during this period, due to the frequent holidays;
6. As not all local Denmark companies are well-versed with international trade, we encourage our Clients to consistently use and sign contracts of service;
7. Punctuality is an important part of doing business in Denmark and will be expected for all business meetings. When running late, it is pertinent to phone ahead with a valid reason to avoid offending the other party;
8. Punctuality is an important part of doing business in Denmark and will be expected for all business meetings. When running late, it is pertinent to phone ahead with a valid reason to avoid offending the other party;
9. Come well prepared to any business negotiations with Danish business persons, as the Danes are known for their meticulous nature when it comes to analyzing proposals. Any presentations should be well-structured, informative and supported with tangible evidence, to best ensure that negotiations are successful.

Interesting facts about Denmark

1. In its 2015 World Competitiveness Yearbook, the Switzerland-based IMD positively ranks Denmark as the world’s 8^th most competitive economy. The ranking takes into account factors including economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure;
2. Transparency International, a measure of corruption amongst public officials and politicians positively ranks Denmark as the world’s least corrupt country in the 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index;
3. The Forbes magazine best countries for business 2015 survey ranks Denmark as the world’s best jurisdiction for business;
4. It is ranked the world’s 11^th freest economy in the Heritage Foundation’s 2015 Index of Economic Freedom, a measure of freedom enjoyed in business, trade, monetary, financial, investment and labour markets;
5. According to the World Bank’s Doing Business 2015 Survey, Denmark is the world’s 3^rd easiest place to do business. The survey measures factors including company formation procedures, time, cost and minimum capital required to start a business;
6. Denmark has agreed to commit to the standards set by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which help maintain Denmark’s reputable image as a secure and long-term solution for many entrepreneurs;
7. Denmark is one of the world’s most expensive cities, ranking 24^th in Mercer Human Resources Global Cost of Living Survey;
8. The Danish language does not have a word for ‘please’ or ‘thank you’;
9. Multiple separate studies have ranked the Danish as the happiest people on Earth;
10. There are no mountains in Denmark, with the highest hill in Denmark standing just 170 meters tall.