SOP template: build a standard operating procedure in minutes

Fill in the boxes and download a clean, numbered SOP for Word, with purpose, scope, roles, steps, controls, records and a revision history. Free, and it runs in your browser.

Don't start from blank: the SOP Template Kit has 36 ready-to-edit SOPs for finance, procurement, HR, IT, sales and operations, plus an SOP register. $79.

Runs locally · nothing uploaded

SOP title Document no. Department Owner

Purpose: what this procedure guarantees Scope: what it covers and what it doesn't Roles, one per line as Role: responsibility Steps, one per line as Who: what to do

Controls (one per line)

Records (one per line)

Preview

SOP Template Kit

What goes in a good SOP

Purpose: the outcome the procedure guarantees, in one or two sentences.
Scope: what's covered and what isn't.
Roles: who does what, by role, not by name.
Steps: one action each, starting with a verb, with the system, deadline and threshold in the step.
Controls: what stops mistakes and fraud (approvals, segregation of duties, checks).
Records: the evidence that it happened, where it's kept and for how long.
Revision history: version, date, change and approver.

The builder checks your steps as you type: steps with no role, or with vague words like "promptly" or "as needed", get flagged.

Free SOP templates and guides

Periodic user access review template Excel: recurring review process and a free workbook.
User access review template Excel: account decisions, due dates and evidence.
Petty cash float template: register and reconciliation workbook.
Procurement SOP template: a worked Word sample.
SOP kit: contents, rollout guidance and a free sample.
Free SOP templates for Word: standard, detailed and checklist formats as .docx files.
SOP template examples: four complete SOPs, each in a different format.
SOP manual template: numbering, approval and a master index for all your procedures.
SOP outline template: every section in order, with the questions that fill it.

Questions

Is my SOP uploaded anywhere?

No. The document is made in your browser and what you type is never sent anywhere. The page's security policy lets it contact only Cloudflare's cookieless page-view counter (connect-src https://cloudflareinsights.com), which never receives your SOP.

Will the file open in Word and Google Docs?

Yes. It's a Word-compatible .doc. Open it in Word or upload it to Google Docs and save in your usual format.

What's the difference between an SOP and a work instruction?

An SOP says who does what and when across a process. A work instruction shows how to do one task in detail, such as the clicks in a system. Link work instructions from the SOP rather than putting screen detail in it.