Master the Top 9 Cold Calling Objections of 2025: Your Definitive Guide
What to avoid & what to say instead
Read time: 26 min
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Cold calling is still the best outbound channel (outside of in-person). And if you think otherwise, the numbers say you’re wrong.
Here’s what’s actually happening in top outbound teams:
Rippling SDRs book 650 demos a month through cold calls (50% of their total of outbound meetings) calling to HR leaders, CFOs, and business owners.
Nooks SDRs: 75% of meetings come from the phone calling to sales leaders.
Owner’s BDRs bring in $72K ARR/month/ rep, 95% from calls. 40+ meetings/day calling to restaurant owner.
Talkdesk: it's their top-performing channel calling to CX Leaders and IT leaders.
Hockeystack SDR team booked 90% of their meetings via the phone since they launched outbound in Q3 of 2024 calling to GTM leaders.
Yet most reps struggle.
Why?
Because 99% of reps are too pushy and too sales-centric.
No wonder prospects shut down or hang up. When salespeople focus only on pushing for a meeting, they sound manipulative. That creates resistance, not trust.
Prospects don’t reject your call because they hate cold calls. They reject how you handle the conversation.
Think about cooking:
Great chefs don’t just throw salt in a dish before tasting it. They adjust based on what’s in front of them. Same with cold calling.
Most objections aren’t real. “I’m not interested.” “Send me an email.” These aren’t actual roadblocks, they’re just automatic reactions to feeling interrupted.
Great salespeople pause, listen, and adjust. Like a chef who takes a moment to understand what their guests actually want.
What's on the menu:
🔪 Part 1: The 9 Most Common Cold Call Objections
🔪 Part 2: How to Handle Each One Without Sounding Pushy
Why does this objection come up? (What’s really happening in their head?)
Is it real? (Are they truly blocked, or just brushing you off?)
❌ What NOT to say (Mistakes that kill the convo instantly.)
✅ What to say instead (Real examples that sound natural, build trust, and keep them engaged.)
Let's get cooking!
Part 1: The 9 Most Common Cold Call Objections
(According to Cognism, Gong, and Orum data)
Back in November, in my Cold Calling Playbook for 2025 (data-driven) I shared the top cold call objections based on data from Orum, Gong, and Cognism. But instead of just relying on one source, I analyzed objection data from Cognism, Gong, and Orum to find the patterns reps face every day.
Here’s what I found:
Top 5 Cold Call Objections (Cognism data)
Top 5 Cold Call Objections (Gong + 30MPC)
Gong data:
“Not Interested”
Product fit
No budget
“Not my responsibility"
*Hang up*
Top 3 Cold Calling Objections (Orum data)
“This isn’t a priority for us right now.”
“I’m the wrong person to discuss this with.”
“Can you just email me some information?”
The Overlaps?
Some patterns are clear, prospects keep saying the same things over and over again.
Here’s the final list of the 9 most common cold call objections based on data from all 3 sources:
“Not Interested”
Product fit
I already have a solution for this issue
“I'm not the right person"
“Send me more info”
I’m busy, could you call back?
“This isn’t a priority for us right now.”
*Hang up*
No budget
P.S. There are less common objections we’ll break down in another issue: “How did you get my number?”, “Is this a cold call?”, “What do you do?”, “What’s the price?”, Handling tough prospects, etc.
Now, let’s break down how to handle these top 9 objections, without sounding like a pushy rep.
Part 2: How to Handle Each One Without Sounding Pushy
We’re breaking down the most common objections reps hear on cold calls, so you don’t freeze when they hit you.
For each one, we’ll unpack:
Why do you get this objection? (What’s going on in the prospect’s head?)
Is it a real objection? (Real, or just brushing you off?)
❌ What NOT to say (Mistakes that make you sound pushy or desperate.)
✅ What to say instead (With real examples that sound natural, create trust, not salesy. So you can pick your favorite one)
1 - How to prevent AND handle “I’m not interested"
Why you’re hearing this?
If you’re hearing “I’m not interested” over and over again, here’s a tough pill to swallow: You’re not interesting, it’s usually because:
You’re not saying anything interesting.
You’re focused too much on your product instead of them and their challenges.
Your message isn’t landing.
The problem you mentioned doesn’t feel relevant.
People don’t care about your product, they care about problems they haven’t considered yet and opportunities they might be missing.
Is this a real objection?
✅ Yes. It means they don’t see a reason to care.
It’s not a hard “no,” but it’s a signal that what you said didn’t connect.
❌ What NOT to do
Most reps mess this up because they try to overcome the objection instead of understanding it.
“Most people aren’t interested at first, and that’s exactly why we should meet.” (Translation: I don’t care what you just said, let’s book a meeting anyway.)
“You don’t have to be interested right now. Most of my clients weren’t at first. Can I quickly share why I’m calling?” (They’re already not interested. Now you’re doubling down on pushing your agenda.)
“How do you know you’re not interested? I haven’t even pitched you yet!” (They just told you they’re not interested. Now they have to defend their decision. Bad move.)
“Are you not interested, or just not ready?” (Still sounds pushy. You’re making them feel like they need to explain themselves.)
“How could I make you interested?” (Awkward. Now they have to do your job for you.)
Why these responses fail
They make prospects feel trapped. Nobody likes to be “handled.” It feels like being manipulated.
They ignore the real issue. Instead of listening, you’re just pushing back.
They trigger defensiveness. If you make them justify their objection, they’ll double down on it.
How to prevent AND handle “I’m Not Interested” (Without sounding like every other rep)
Getting this objection starts before they say it.
Instead of trying to convince them to be interested, flip the script. Make it about them, not your product.
Here’s the fix:
Drop the pitch. Ask questions to uncover potential pain points: instead.
Most reps start with what they do.
Prospects don’t care. Instead, make them think about how they’re doing things today.
Here are 6 examples:
Chili Piper (Scheduling tool)
❌ Pitch: “We help you convert inbound leads into qualified meetings instantly.”
✅ Better Approach: “How are you handling inbound lead scheduling? Manual processes or an automated system?”CastorDoc (data catalog)
❌ Pitch: “We help you find, understand, and use data across your organization regardless of skillset.”
✅ Better Approach: “How does your team currently discover and document data assets? Do you have a centralized system or is it all in people’s heads?”Rippling
❌ Pitch: “We offer an all-in-one platform to manage your global workforce’s HR, IT, and Finance operations.”
✅ Better Approach: “How are you managing onboarding, payroll, and benefits across different countries? Using multiple systems or a single integrated tool?”Snowflake
❌ Pitch: “We provide a cloud-based data warehouse solution for analytics.”
✅ Better Approach: “How are you currently storing and processing data for analytics? On-prem or cloud-based?”Pigment
❌ Pitch: “We offer an AI-augmented planning platform for accurate forecasting and decision-making.”
✅ Better Approach: “How is your team handling financial planning and forecasting? Still using spreadsheets or a dedicated tool?”Another Example (shared by Josh Braun): The Kendra Warlow Cold Call
Josh Braun, a course creator got a cold call from Kendra Warlow at Gravy Solutions.
She didn’t start with:
❌ “Hey, we help businesses recover failed credit card payments.”
Instead, she said:
“Hey Josh, I talk to content creators all the time, and they often tell me they’re losing 6-8% of revenue every month due to failed credit card transactions. Just curious, how are you dealing with that?”
Then she paused. Josh’s response?
“Wait… what do you mean?”At that moment, the problem was now real in his head.
If you get the objection, prospects expect you to push back. So when you don’t, it completely throws them off, in a good way.
Here are 3 ways to flip the script and keep the conversation alive:
Example 1 Flip It Back to Them
Prospect: “I’m not interested.”
You (Surprised tone): “Oh, you don’t use/struggle with [problem] in your business?”
Now, 2 things can happen:
Prospect: “Well… actually, we do.”
You: “Oh, got it! What are you using? How’s that working out?” (Now you’re in a real conversation.)
Prospect: “No, we don’t deal with that.”
You: “Makes sense. I have just 3 quick questions to see if this would even make sense, 20-30 seconds, fair?”
Prospect: “Yes” - Go into you 3 questions
Prospect: “No.” They probably hung up. Move on.Example 2: Diffuse & Discover (Josh Braun)
When someone says “I’m not interested,” lower the pressure instead of fighting it.
Prospect: “I’m not interested.”
You (Calm tone): “That’s okay. Not a problem.” (Pause.)
Now, they expect you to push, but instead, you go the opposite direction.
You: “Hey John, I know it’s not your job to help salespeople, but before we hang up, just so I don’t bother you again, is it that you’re happy with what you have, my timing is off, or do you just hate getting cold calls?”Why this works:
It disarms them: they’re expecting a fight, but you agree.
It makes them think: they have to give you a real answer.
It keeps the door open: if it’s timing, you can follow up later.
3 - The “Educated Guess” Approach (Josh Braun)
Instead of asking “Why aren’t you interested?” (which makes them defensive), take a guess at their situation.
Prospect: “I’m not interested.”
You (Pause for 2 beats): “Sounds like you have a finely tuned sales machine over there.”
If you’re wrong, they’ll correct you.
Prospect: “Well… I wouldn’t say that.”
You: “Oh? What’s not working?” (Now they’re opening up.)Why this works:
You’re not arguing, just observing.
If you’re wrong, they’ll want to correct you.
Now they’re talking, and you can dig deeper.
2 - Product fit
Why you get this objection
This one happens when:
You’re focused too much on your product instead of the problem it solves.
The prospect doesn’t see how your solution applies to them.
Real objection?
Maybe. Sometimes they really don’t need what you’re selling. Other times, they just don’t understand the value yet.
Your job? Figure out which one it is.
Wrong way to reply to the objection
“Oh, actually, our product does that too!” (Now you’re just arguing.)
“You don’t understand, let me explain…” (They don’t care yet.)
“Well, your current solution probably isn’t working as well as you think.”
Jumping into a generic pitch without knowing their situation.
If you push too hard, they’ll dig in even more. Instead, make them curious.
How to handle “We’re Not a Fit” (Product Fit Objection)
Instead of pushing your product, focus on asking questions that unpack potential pain points.
Example questions to uncover a problem:
“Where do you get your inbound leads?”
“How are you keeping your data fresh?”
“What’s the biggest challenge with [specific process] today?”
Example: Cracking Into Enterprise Accounts (From 30 MPC)
Context: Selling a FinTech tool that worked well for SMBs but needed credibility in enterprise accounts.
Prospect: “This isn’t really made for enterprise companies.”
You (Agree & Lower Pressure): “Hmm, that’s surprising to hear. But I totally get that you wouldn’t even consider a tool unless you were 100% sure it could scale with thousands of employees.”
You (Get Curious & Dig Deeper): “Look, I’d hate to have someone reach out again if we’re really not a fit. Is it something with our product, our support, or something else?”
Prospect: “I mostly heard from my CFO networking group that you don’t scale well for public companies.”
Key Move: Agree with the concern, not the reputation. Instead of pushing back, ask why they think that.
You (Social Proof & Test Drive): “I can tell you know your stuff, and I’m not gonna convince you on a cold call. But we’ve had several companies go public with us. I’d be happy to make an intro later if it makes sense.
But first, would it be crazy to show you how other public companies arusing us so you can see for yourself?”Why this works:
No hard pitch. You’re just opening a door.
You make them feel smart. Prospects love feeling like they’re ahead of the game.
You use social proof. A respected peer’s opinion carries weight.
Tip: Use Ego Boosting
Most “not a fit” objections come from experts who think they know it all. Don’t fight them. Boost their ego.
Instead of: ❌ “Actually, we DO work with companies your size.”
Try: ✅ “I can tell you’ve done your homework. If I were in your shoes, I’d be skeptical too.”
Then, let them come to their own conclusion. That’s how you win.
3 - “I already have a solution for this issue”
Why you get this objection
Most prospects already use something for whatever problem you solve. If they didn’t, they’d probably be out of business. So when they say, “I already have a solution,” here’s what’s actually happening:
They’re comfortable. Change takes effort, and they don’t see a reason to switch.
They don’t know what makes you different. To them, you’re just another salesperson pitching the same thing.
They don’t trust you yet. They assume switching will be a hassle or won’t be worth it.
It’s a fast way to end the call. Saying this gets most salespeople to back off immediately.
Real objection?
Yes… but also, not really. They do have a solution, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect Most companies aren’t actively looking to change their tools or processes until a pain becomes obvious. Your job is to make them see that pain.
Wrong way to reply to the objection
Most reps hear “We already have a solution,” and they make one of these mistakes:
They act surprised. (“Oh, really? What do you use?”) Of course, they have something. You should’ve expected that.
They bash the competition. (“Oh, that tool? Yeah, I hear a lot of complaints about it.”) That just makes them defensive.
They push too hard. (“But we’re better! Let me explain why.”) Now you’re just another salesperson they want to get rid of.
They give up immediately. (“Okay, no worries. Have a nice day.”) And just like that, a potential deal dies.
The right way to respond
Start Strong: Lead with It
Instead of acting surprised, assume they already use something and control the conversation. You should lead with that not aka you show you've done your research and know that your buyers are already doing the job with something else.
Option 1: Call Out the Market
🔒 Wait! Want the full breakdown for handling the top 9 objections?
Here’s a quick taste:
Exact word-for-word responses that keep the conversation going (without sounding desperate).
How to handle objections like a pro, from “We already have a solution” to “Send me more info” to “No budget.”
What to do when they hang up, because yes, that happens too.
And yeah, real examples.
🔓 Want the full breakdown?
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