SOP Writing Kit with Examples

Learn to write standard operating procedures that people can actually follow, step by step, then compare your work with three finished example SOPs.

Who it is for

• Small-business owners who know they need written procedures but do not know where to start.

• Managers and shift leads who keep answering the same "How do I do this?" questions.

• Operations, quality, L&D and HR professionals building an operations manual or SOP library.

• Supervisors in the field who need procedures crews can follow on the job.

The problem it solves

Most SOPs fail in one of two ways: they are never written, because the blank page is hard to start, or they are written as long paragraphs that nobody reads during the task. This kit teaches the writing itself. It shows how to choose which procedures to write first, how to capture the way the work is really done, how to write steps that can be followed under pressure, how to test a draft with someone new and how to keep every SOP current. A worked example follows one procedure from rough notes to final version, and three complete example SOPs show what a finished procedure looks like.

What is inside

• How to use this kit (page 1; 1 page)

• Copyright and License (page 2; 1 page)

• Part 1: What an SOP is and which to write first (pages 3 to 4; 2 pages)

• Part 2: Writing an SOP in eight steps (pages 5 to 9; 5 pages)

• Part 3: Writing style for SOPs (pages 10 to 12; 3 pages)

• Part 4: Templates (pages 13 to 16; 4 pages)

• Part 5: Three example SOPs (pages 17 to 24; 8 pages)

• Part 6: Building your SOP library (page 25; 1 page)

• Editable Word version of everything above (29 pages)

The three finished example SOPs come from a hardware store (processing a return or exchange), a parts warehouse (receiving an inbound delivery) and a painting company (closing a job site at the end of the day). The style guide includes variations for retail, clinic, restaurant, trades, office and warehouse settings.

How to use it

1. Read Part 1 and score your repeated tasks to choose your first three SOPs.

2. Work through the eight steps in Part 2 with one real task, using the planning and capture worksheet.

3. Write the SOP in the Word template, then score it with the quality review checklist.

4. Compare it with the example SOPs in Part 5, approve it and add it to the SOP register.

5. Follow the 30-day plan in Part 6 to complete your first three SOPs.

Formats and file types

• Printable PDF (25 pages), US Letter.

• Editable Word file (.docx, 29 pages) with every template and example as editable tables.

Frequently asked questions