Why Every Business Needs Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)—Even If You Think You Don’t!

In an earlier blog, I talked about the importance of documenting your business processes—how it creates consistency, improves efficiency, and makes your life a whole lot easier. Today, I’m diving deeper into how we document processes with SOPs, because every business needs them!

Let’s be honest. When someone mentions SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), your first reaction might be something along the lines of, “SOPs? What are they?” or “I don’t need them—I have everything in my head.” Or even, “I don’t have time to write all that down!” The fact is, many business owners resist SOPs, believing they’re just unnecessary admin. But this couldn’t be further from the truth: EVERY business needs them, whether you’re a solopreneur or a start-up, right up to big global corporations.

What Are SOPs, and Why Do They Matter?

Simply put, SOPs step-by-step instructions on how to execute a process. And guess what? If you run a business, you already have processes—whether they’re written down or just floating around in your head. Without SOPs, you’re relying on memory, which slows you down and can lead to inconsistencies and mistatkes. And most importantly of all, if you’re serious about scaling your biz, having a solid set of SOPs is going to allow you to delegate tasks with ease.

Why Every Business (Yes, Even Yours) Needs SOPs

SOPs streamline your workflows and ensure tasks are done the same way (and the right way) every time. This means fewer mistakes, less confusion, amd more time saved. They also make training and onboarding much easier. Giving your new hires access to your SOPs ensures they have a reliable reference if they forget something—rather than constantly needing to ask you or their team members. And when it comes time for you to take a vacation, scale your business, or simply step away from the day-to-day, a clear set of instructions allows your team to handle things without you.

Keep It Simple Stupid!

If you’re imagining 50-page documents full of jargon, stop right there! Good SOPs should be simple and take no more than five to ten minutes to read (or skim which is even better!). If they’re too long, no one will use them. The best SOPs are written clearly and concisely, using step-by-step instructions with screenshots or short videos where helpful. Also, do you want your team spending 30 minutes reading a long-winded document in order to complete a 10-minute task?

Videos vs. Written SOPs

Video walkthroughs are great, but they shouldn’t replace written SOPs. Again, no one wants to sit through a 30-minute video just to find one small step in the process. And, if a process changes, updating a Google Doc takes minutes—rerecording a video? Not so much. While videos can an excellent supplement, a written SOP should always be the go-to.

How to Store Your SOPs

Your SOPs need to be easy to find. You can store them in a project management tool like ClickUp, Asana, or Notion, use a platform like Scribe. But you need to be aware of the risks that come with relying on a tech platform alone—what if it shuts down or you switch systems? Using cloud storage and a tool like Google Docs ensures you maintain full ownership and allows for easy access for your entire team.

Get Started Today

To make it easy, you can download my simple SOP template—it’s straightforward and easy to use. Or, if you’d rather hand this off to an expert! Book a discovery call today to find out how I can build out your SOPs for you. Let’s get your business running like a well-oiled machine!.