An SOP (standard operating procedure) is a short, written "this is how we do it here." A good one lets someone other than you do the job right the first time, so your business doesn't depend on one person's memory, which is usually the owner's.
Most owners know they should write things down. The hard part is knowing where to start and what a good SOP looks like. This checklist walks you through writing your first one, start to finish, on a single page you can print and keep on your desk.
Download the free checklist (PDF)
What's on the checklist
- Pick the right process first: a quick test for which job is worth writing down.
- Set it up before you write: the name, trigger, done point, owner, and tools.
- Write the steps: one action per step, with an owner and a time for each.
- Say what "done right" looks like: 3 to 5 quality checks.
- Test it with someone new, then keep it current with a review schedule and version numbers.
- Good first SOPs for a service business, plus a spot to commit to your first one.
Who it's for
Owners and office managers of HVAC, plumbing, cleaning, and other service businesses with roughly 2 to 50 people. It's most useful if any of these sound familiar:
- You're the only one who knows how certain things get done.
- Training a new hire means they follow you around for a week.
- The same mistakes keep coming back, like a missed callback or a job booked without an address.
It's general operations guidance, not legal, HR, or safety advice. Check anything involving employment or safety rules with a qualified advisor.
Next step: ready-made SOPs
If you'd rather start from a filled-in template than a blank page, I sell an SOP Starter Template Pack ($16.97) on Etsy. It includes a short guide to writing SOPs, a master SOP template, an SOP index and tracker, and 10 ready-made SOPs you edit to fit your business, in Word and PDF.
See the SOP Starter Template Pack on Etsy
You can also browse all templates in the InfiniteTimeTemplate shop, including onboarding checklists and vendor scorecards.
Disclosure: Infinite Time Solutions, LLC makes and sells the templates in the InfiniteTimeTemplate Etsy shop, including the SOP Starter Template Pack, so I earn money if you buy one. The checklist on this page is free, and you don't need to buy anything to use it. Price shown was checked on October 23, 2026 and may change on Etsy. See our disclosure page for more.