Free SOP template: editable Word file and printable PDF.

What’s included in the template?

One page of usage guidance, a twelve-point approval checklist, and fourteen fill-in sections:

1. Document control — SOP title, ID, version, status, effective date, next review, owner, approver and department.
2. Business DNA and mission alignment — Which mission or objective the procedure serves, the values it applies and how you will know it works.
3. Purpose and scope — Purpose, in scope, out of scope and related documents.
4. Regulatory, legal and safety notes — Space to record requirements confirmed by a competent specialist for your sector.
5. Inputs, prerequisites and tools — What must be ready before the work starts, and who provides it.
6. Roles and authority matrix — Responsible, accountable, consulted and informed roles, plus authority limits.
7. Risk controls — Failure points, likelihood and impact, and the control in each step.
8. Numbered procedure steps — Input or trigger, action and expected result for every step.
9. Decision points and escalation — If-this-then-that triggers with the role, contact and timeframe to escalate to.
10. Exceptions and incident reporting — Permitted departures, near-miss reporting and immediate containment.
11. Quality checks and evidence — Records kept, where, for how long and by whom.
12. Training and acknowledgement — Who is trained, how, and a sign-off log.
13. Approval sign-off — Prepared, reviewed and approved by, with dates.
14. Revision history and periodic review — Change log, review frequency and review triggers.

Who is this SOP template for?

• Business owners documenting how the whole company operates.
• Department and team leaders who want consistent, accountable procedures in their area.
• Operations, quality and enterprise managers setting a common structure across departments.

How should I use it?

Start with one activity that is high-risk, frequently repeated or done differently by different people. Write it with the people who perform the work, test the draft with someone other than the author, and only then send it for approval. My step-by-step guide, How to Write a Standard Operating Procedure, walks through all ten steps with a worked example. For who should own and approve procedures, read who should create, approve and manage SOPs; for anchoring each procedure to your purpose, see what Business DNA is.

Want help turning templates into working procedures?

I work with your people to document, validate and maintain real SOPs, delivered in your Company Operations Hub. A free 30-minute discovery call is the easiest place to start.