1.
sales office; business office; (local) branch office
A local office of a company that handles sales, customer service, or regional operations — typically smaller than a headquarters or 支店 (branch), and often focused on logistics, pickups, deliveries, or regional clients. Common for shipping companies, utilities, and sales-driven businesses.
近くの営業所に電話した。
I called the nearest branch office.
荷物は最寄りの営業所で受け取れます。
You can pick up the package at your nearest branch office.
新規取引のため、大阪の営業所で打ち合わせを行った。
For the new business deal, we held a meeting at the Osaka branch office.
Composed of 営業 (business, sales) and 所 (place). Most Japanese learners first encounter the word with delivery companies — 宅配便 companies like ヤマト{運輸} or 佐川急便 call their local pickup/drop-off centers 営業所.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 最寄りの営業所: the nearest branch office
- 営業所に問い合わせる: to make an inquiry at the branch office
- 営業所止め: "hold at branch office" (for package delivery)
- 大阪営業所: the Osaka branch office
- 営業所長: branch office manager
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 支店: branch (of a chain store, bank, etc.) — typically larger and more full-service than a 営業所
- 本社: head office, headquarters
- 事業所: business establishment — a broader legal/accounting term covering any workplace of a company
- 出張所: sub-office, local outlet — usually smaller than a 営業所