How to negotiate with recruiter?

If you're looking to negotiate with a recruiter, the best thing to do is to be upfront and honest about your expectations. Be clear about what you're looking for in terms of salary and benefits, and be prepared to walk away if you don't get what you want. Remember, the recruiter is there to represent the company's interests, not yours, so don't be afraid to stand your ground.

Be clear with your priorities first.

Prefer joining a company that is offering you a good opportunity to grow, good people and culture. Understand that to what extent you are really willing to get out of comfort zone. It's not always a great idea to get completely out of it.

Coming towards money, it very much depends upon how your interview went and the urgency of a candidate for the company and budget of course. But they can still compromise with the budget I feel. It costs time for the company to get a good candidate.

If you know your interview went well and your interviewers are happy and want you to join the team. Go ahead and tell your fix non negotiable value to the recruiter. They will have to give you no option. And remember that it's easy to get a higher value initially. Later it's very tricky.

If the interview didn't go so well you will have to make a compromise.

Recruiters are often bounded to give X amount as a fixed component in salary as per the terms of the company. Stretching that becomes difficult for them. So you can negotiate upon bonuses like joining, relocation, etc. Also, maybe upon accommodation, vacation.

I hope you don't get low-balled. All the very best!

Assuming you want to work for Company B: It sounds like you're in a great position! Company B is obviously impressed with your skills and experience, and is willing to invest in you long-term with the performance-based bonus. I would start by counter-offering with 12 LPA, and see where the negotiation goes from there. Best of luck!