Counter Offer Calculator

A reasonable counter offer typically sits 10-20% above the initial offer, depending on your leverage. Key factors include: (1) Market research - use sites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and Levels.fyi to understand market rates, (2) Your experience and unique skills, (3) The company's budget constraints and urgency to hire, (4) Competing offers you may have, and (5) The total compensation package including benefits, equity, and bonuses. A good strategy is to counter slightly above your actual target to leave room for negotiation while still seeming reasonable.

BATNA stands for "Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement" - essentially your plan B if this negotiation fails. Your BATNA determines your minimum acceptable offer and negotiating power. Strong BATNAs include: another job offer, current employment you're happy with, savings that let you wait, or in-demand skills. To strengthen your BATNA: apply to multiple opportunities, develop marketable skills, maintain your network, and never negotiate from desperation. The party with the better BATNA has more leverage because they can walk away more easily.

While countering is usually advisable, there are exceptions: (1) The offer significantly exceeds market rate and your expectations, (2) You've been explicitly told this is a final, non-negotiable offer (though verify this), (3) The company has a strict policy (government jobs, union positions), (4) You have no leverage and need the job urgently, or (5) The relationship matters more than the money. Even in these cases, you can negotiate non-monetary terms like start date, remote work, or vacation days. Generally, employers expect negotiation and may even respect you more for advocating for yourself professionally.

When buying (where lower is better): (1) Research thoroughly - check comparable sales, market trends, and time on market, (2) Start lower than your target to give room to negotiate up, (3) Point out legitimate concerns - repairs needed, market conditions, timing pressures, (4) Don't show too much enthusiasm - the seller shouldn't know you love it, (5) Use silence strategically - let them respond to your offer, (6) Be prepared to walk away - this gives you power. For cars, negotiate based on invoice price not MSRP. For houses, consider contingencies, closing costs, and timing as negotiable elements beyond just price.

After countering: (1) Stay silent - don't fill uncomfortable pauses or negotiate against yourself, (2) Be patient - quick acceptance might mean you could have gotten more, (3) Use collaborative language - "I'm excited about this opportunity" not "I demand", (4) Justify your number with data and value - "Based on my research and experience...", (5) Consider the full package if they can't meet salary, (6) Get it in writing before celebrating, (7) Don't burn bridges - even if declined, be gracious. Avoid: ultimatums (unless you mean it), lying about other offers, emotional arguments, or accepting immediately without consideration.

When faced with "non-negotiable" offers: (1) Verify if it's truly final - sometimes it's a negotiation tactic, (2) Ask what IS negotiable - sign-on bonus, start date, title, review timeline, remote work, (3) Request a performance review with raise potential in 6 months, (4) Negotiate benefits - extra PTO, professional development budget, flexible hours, (5) Ask for a one-time sign-on bonus instead of higher base, (6) Get the offer in writing to buy time, (7) Consider if the opportunity still makes sense for your career. Sometimes the "non-negotiable" softens after you demonstrate your value or express genuine hesitation.

Aggressive: Counter 20-30%+ above the offer. Use when you have strong leverage (multiple offers, rare skills, below-market offer), but risks appearing unrealistic or ending negotiations. Moderate: Counter 10-15% above. Balanced approach for most situations, shows confidence while remaining reasonable, leaves room for compromise. Conservative: Counter 5-10% above or at your target. Use when leverage is weak, you need the deal, or the offer is already fair. The right approach depends on your BATNA, market conditions, and relationship importance. When in doubt, moderate is safest.

Freelance rate negotiation differs from salary: (1) Calculate your minimum viable rate (expenses + desired income ÷ billable hours), (2) Research industry rates on platforms like Upwork, Glassdoor, or industry surveys, (3) Consider value-based pricing for well-defined projects, (4) Offer tiered options (basic, standard, premium), (5) Discuss scope before price - limit what's included to justify rate, (6) Build in project complexity or rush fees, (7) Consider retainer discounts for ongoing work, (8) Never undercut just to get work - it's hard to raise rates later. Always have a contract specifying scope, payment terms, and revision limits.