#25 Booking a Sightseeing Bus Tour｜Useful English Travel Phrases
Izumi English Morning
#61 Follow-Up After a Business Deal｜English Business Phrases
Izumi
Following up after a deal has been finalized is essential for maintaining business relationships and building long-term trust.
When following up in English, three points are particularly important:
- Communicate politely without placing pressure on the other person.
- Clarify the next steps.
- Demonstrate a willingness to share progress.
In this article, I explain practical English expressions you can use when following up after a business transaction.
Contents
Dialogue
I wanted to follow up on the agreement we finalized last week. Have you had a chance to review the documents I sent?
Yes, I went through them yesterday. Everything looks good so far.
Great to hear. Would you like me to prepare the next set of materials, or should we wait for your internal approval first?
Please go ahead and prepare them. It would be helpful if we could receive them by Friday.
Sure, I’ll send everything by then. I’ll keep you updated if anything comes up.
1. Starting a Follow-Up Politely
When following up, it is better not to jump straight to the main point. Adding a brief introduction helps the other person engage more comfortably.
- I wanted to follow up on ～
Using “wanted to” in the past tense is key. The past tense softens the tone and conveys the nuance of “I had been thinking of contacting you,” making it less direct and more polite.
Other useful expressions include:
- Just checking in regarding ～
- I’m reaching out to follow up on ～
Stating your purpose at the beginning helps the other person follow the flow of the conversation.
2. Checking on the Other Party’s Progress
When following up, you often need to ask about the other party’s progress. However, asking directly, such as “Did you review the documents?”, may sound too forceful.
A more polite alternative is:
- Have you had a chance to review the documents?
This expression carries a soft nuance: “Only if you had the time — but were you able to take a look?”
3. Proposing the Next Steps
Clarifying the next steps helps the follow-up process proceed smoothly.
- Would you like me to prepare the next set of materials?
“Would you like me to ～?” is a versatile phrase that allows you to make a polite suggestion while respecting the other person’s intentions.
Providing options makes it even easier for the other party to respond:
- …or should we wait for your internal approval first?
Combining suggestions with questions helps you draw out the other person’s decision.
4. Showing a Willingness to Share Progress
To conclude a follow-up, clearly stating your next actions helps reassure the other person.
- I’ll keep you updated if anything comes up.
The phrase “keep you updated” expresses a proactive attitude toward communication.
Other useful expressions include:
- I’ll let you know as soon as anything changes.
- I’ll keep you posted.
- I’ll follow up again later this week.
These expressions help maintain smooth communication and reinforce trust with clients.
Summary
- I wanted to follow up on ～
→ A polite and appropriate way to begin a follow-up message. - Have you had a chance to ～?
→ A gentle way to check on someone’s progress. - Would you like me to ～?
→ A respectful expression for proposing next steps. - I’ll keep you updated.
→ Shows willingness to share progress and strengthens trust.
