SOP Template for Small Businesses (Free Download & Examples)
Dec 28, 2024
Free SOP Template for Small Businesses
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) might sound corporate, but they are one of the biggest unlocks for small teams.
If you:
repeat the same work regularly
onboard new staff
rely on “tribal knowledge”
fix the same mistakes more than once
…then SOPs remove stress and inconsistency almost immediately.
How to get the template
You can download the SOP example and blank template by joining the SimpleSOP waitlist.
Once you sign up:
you’ll receive the example SOP PDF
a blank template you can edit
early access to the SimpleSOP app when it launches
Join the waitlist to receive the SOP template
What is an SOP? (simple definition)
An SOP is:
a clear, step-by-step document that explains how to complete a process correctly, every time.
Good SOPs are:
written simply
easy to follow
available to the team
updated when things change
Bad SOPs are:
long policy documents nobody reads
created once, forgotten
hidden somewhere as “Final_v2_REAL_FINAL.docx”
We’re going to avoid those.
Why SOPs matter for small businesses
For UK SMEs, SOPs help with:
faster onboarding
fewer mistakes and rework
compliance and audit readiness
consistent customer experience
freeing the founder from daily operations
Particularly useful in:
trades
agencies
e-commerce
healthcare
hospitality
finance and accounting
IT services and MSPs
If work can be done “the wrong way”, it’s worth documenting.
What you will receive
After joining the waitlist, your template will include:
Process name
Department / owner
Purpose
Scope
Tools required
Step-by-step instructions
Quality checks
Safety/legal notes (if applicable)
Version control / last updated date
Generate SOPs automatically with SimpleSOP
Rather than starting from a blank document…
With SimpleSOP, you:
describe your process in plain English
answer a few guided prompts
receive a clean, formatted SOP instantly
You can then:
export to PDF
share with your team
update at any time