Standard operating procedure (SOP)
also known as SOP
A documented, step-by-step process for a recurring task, so it is done the same way every time regardless of who does it.
For example, an agency writes an SOP for publishing a client blog post - from draft to SEO checks to scheduling - so any team member can follow it and the output stays consistent. New hires get productive faster, and quality stops depending on one person's memory.
Why it matters to your firm: SOPs turn knowledge trapped in people's heads into a repeatable system, which is the foundation of delegating, scaling and productizing. They reduce errors, speed onboarding, and let the founder step out of the day-to-day without quality slipping.
What a good SOP includes
- The goal of the procedure
- When to use it
- Step-by-step instructions
- Who is responsible
- A last-reviewed date
Common mistakes
- Writing SOPs no one can find or follows.
- Documenting the ideal, not the real, process.
- Never updating them as the process changes.