How to Write SOPs Faster (Without Wasting Hours of Your Life)
Let’s be honest — most entrepreneurs cringe at the mention of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).
Not because they don’t know SOPs are important, but because they assume SOPs take forever to create.
And in truth, most of what people are taught about SOPs is outdated.
They imagine 10-page documents, ISO-compliant jargon, endless screenshots, and days lost in front of a computer.
But let me tell you what I know from experience and what I teach in my coaching:
- You can build practical, usable SOPs in under 20 minutes.
- You don’t need perfection. You need clarity.
- And the process can be simple, brief, and even enjoyable.
Let me show you how I do it — and how you can too.
First, Let’s Debunk a Big Myth
“Creating an SOP takes 4+ hours and must be highly detailed to be useful.”
Nope. That mindset is a recipe for procrastination and burnout.
Unless you’re running a factory with government compliance requirements, your SOPs just need to:
- Be easy to follow
- Cover the basics clearly
- Help someone repeat what works — consistently
Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a coach, a small agency, or a growing startup — you can create fast, efficient SOPs with my 3-step method.
The 3-Part SOP Template I Use (and You Should Too)
I’ve created and taught this simple format across multiple businesses and industries.
Here’s the basic template:
1. Purpose
Why this SOP exists. What’s the outcome we want?
2. Procedure
The step-by-step process to get the result.
3. FAQs / Notes
Common mistakes, troubleshooting, helpful reminders.
That’s it. No need for 20-page documents. Just make it usable.
Step-by-Step: How to Write Your SOP in 20 Minutes or Less
Step 1: Define the Start and Stop
The first thing you need to clarify is:
- When does the task begin?
- When does it end?
Keep it tight. If the process takes more than 90 minutes to do, break it into two SOPs.
Example:
Instead of writing “How to create a YouTube video” (which could take 10 hours), write:
“How to edit a YouTube video using Premiere Pro.”
It’s a smaller task with a clear start (you receive the raw video) and a clear stop (you export the final edit).
Step 2: List the Major Steps (Quickly)
Now sit back, and from memory or experience, list all the main steps involved.
Use bullet points, not full paragraphs. You’re not writing a novel — just a guide.
Don’t worry about capturing everything perfectly yet. Just list the basics:
- Open the video project
- Import raw footage
- Apply template effects
- Sync audio
- Cut and trim
- Export and upload
Keep it simple.
You can always add details later — and you will, once you start using it.
Step 3: Add Details While Doing the Task
This is my favorite part.
As you (or your team member) actually do the task, open the SOP draft beside you and fill in the blanks.
This way, you won’t miss critical steps that live in your head but aren’t obvious to others.
You might discover things like:
- “Oh, I always normalize the audio levels before exporting.”
- “Wait, I need to rename the files consistently.”
Add those in. Add screenshots only if absolutely necessary.
Keep the format clean — toggles, bullets, or short blocks of text are ideal.
Bonus Tip: Let the Doer Create It
If you’re delegating the task to someone else, let them help write the SOP — especially after a few practice runs.
You (the business owner or manager) might be the expert, but the person doing the job every day often sees what actually works best.
That’s how you build a living system — not a dead document.
Final Step: Test & Tweak
Use the SOP during the task and improve it each time.
Even adding one line or fixing one unclear step makes it better.
The first draft is never the final version — and that’s okay.
SOPs should evolve with your business.
They’re not carved in stone. They’re tools — to help your team run better without calling you every 10 minutes.
In Summary — Your SOP Should Be:
- Specific but brief
- Written in 20 minutes or less
- Focused on one clear task
- Easy to follow, even for a new hire
- Updated with real usage
You don’t need a PhD in process design.
You don’t need to become a documentation geek.
You just need to start.
Final Words from Me
Building SOPs isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress.
It’s about freeing your brain from repetitive instructions, empowering your team, and preparing your business to run without you.
If you’ve been holding off because it “takes too long,” now you know better.
So here’s your challenge:
- Pick one task in your business today.
- Use the 3-part SOP format (Purpose – Procedure – FAQs).
- Spend 20 minutes and write the first version.
That’s how systems begin — small, focused, and powerful.
If you’d like to go deeper into systemizing your entire business so you can scale with peace and freedom, then join my coaching program:
Design Your Business to Run Without You™
Need Help?
This is why I created my coaching course, an e-book and a coaching program for emerging coaches and speakers who want to build a real business—not a hustle. It’s titled the Experts MBA.
Inside the course, I walk you through:
- How to define your niche
- How to craft your signature offer
- How to build trust through content
- How to price, market, and sell ethically
- How to grow without needing 10,000 followers
We also have a private community (where I respond within 24 hours) filled with coaches, speakers, and experts just like you—committed to growing.
If you’re ready to stop selling air and start selling impact, then this course is for you.
