The business lunch can provide an effective opportunity to network in a different environment. When you want to initiate a working relationship or conduct business over a midday meal, invite a business person to lunch. Follow standard protocol and etiquette rules with both the invitation and the lunch itself to ensure that you have a positive impression on your lunch partner.
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Plan the business lunch date in advance, for best results. Because many people's schedules fill up quickly, you may give the wrong impression if you try to extend an invitation at the last minute. Instead, pick a date about a week in advance before you issue the invitation.
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Send an email to issue the invitation. Keep the email brief and friendly, simply greeting your contact and asking if she is free for lunch next Tuesday to discuss a new product. By mentioning the purpose of the lunch, you ensure that your contact knows what to expect. Ask the contact to email you back to let you know if that day works for her.
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Call your contact to issue the invitation. This invitation method is slightly more risky, but if you know the business contact well, calling to invite him to lunch would be appropriate. After choosing a date in advance, make a brief telephone call to invite your contact to lunch. You might say, "I'm excited about this new product launch and I really want to share this information with you. Can you have lunch with me next Tuesday?"
