Does your business have an SOP manual? I hope you answered yes! Written SOPs are essential for any business, and they are vital if you are a small business owner or a solopreneur.
Now, I know what you are thinking. I don’t need a manual. I have it all in my head; I don’t need to write it down. But ask yourself this, what would happen to your business in case of emergency? What if you suddenly became ill or had to take time away to care for a loved one?
None of us like to think of emergencies like that happening, but we all know they do. Having written instructions for what to do in case of emergency is like a great insurance policy. You hope you never have to use it, but it’s there in case you need it.
Your In Case of Emergency (ICE) plan is the essential SOP your business needs. But where to get started? What to include? Don’t stress; creating your ICE is easier than you think. Here are a few things to include.
4 Tips for Creating Your ICE SOP:
• Who will be responsible for notifying your staff and clients? Designate one trusted person such as your partner or a family member to handle this.
• Decide when your staff and clients should be notified. If it is a short-term situation, perhaps only a few close clients need to be informed. But in case of your long-term absence, be sure all of your vendors, clients, and financial partners are aware.
• Location of files and legal documents. Stay organized and keep all of your important papers and contracts in their proper place. That way, they are easily accessible if needed.
• Online accounts and login information. It is a digital world, and so much of what we do is online. Be sure to keep a list of all online account URLs, usernames, and passwords.
Check out Dozuki for more tips and ideas on how to create all of your SOPs. They have a great collection of work instruction and SOP templates that you can download for free here.
Don’t let creating an SOP manual for your business overwhelm you. Approach this task like you would any other in your business and take it one step at a time. If an emergency does come up, you will be glad you have your ICE SOP on hand.
Ready to take back your time? Organization is my superpower! Contact Virtual ME Solutions today to learn how I can help you grow your business.
