When should a business create an SOP?

An SOP is useful when a task needs to be performed consistently and the business should not depend on one person's memory.

Good reasons to document a process

• The task happens regularly.
• More than one person may perform it.
• Mistakes create avoidable cost or delay.
• Training a new person takes too much explanation.
• The process changes often enough that people need one reliable reference.

Keep the first SOP simple

Start with the purpose, owner, trigger, steps, tools, expected outcome and exceptions. You can improve the document as the process is used. An SOP should make work clearer, not create another administrative burden.