10 Standard Operating Procedure Examples You Can Copy Today

Why Examples Beat Theory

You can read 10 articles about how to write SOPs. Or you can look at a real one, change the details, and have a working document in 15 minutes.

Here are 10 SOPs you can copy and adapt for your business. Each one follows the same structure: title, purpose, steps, decision points, and outcome. For more on this structure, see our complete guide on how to create SOPs for your business.

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1. Opening the Store

Purpose: Ensure the store is ready for customers by opening time, every day, regardless of who’s opening.

Steps:

1. Arrive 30 minutes before opening
2. Disarm the security system (code: posted inside the manager’s office)
3. Turn on all lights (main floor, back room, bathrooms, signage)
4. Check the thermostat — set to 72 in summer, 70 in winter
5. Power on the POS system and run the startup check
6. Count the opening cash drawer (should be $200 — report discrepancies to the manager)
7. Check voicemail for overnight messages
8. Walk the floor: check displays, pick up anything out of place, check restrooms
9. Unlock the front door at exactly the posted opening time
10. Switch the sign to “Open”

If something is wrong: Broken glass, water damage, or anything unusual — do not enter. Call the manager and wait outside.

Outcome: Store is clean, lit, stocked, and ready for the first customer.

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2. Processing a Customer Refund

Purpose: Handle refunds consistently so customers leave satisfied and inventory stays accurate.

Steps:

1. Greet the customer and ask how you can help
2. Ask for the receipt (or order number for online purchases)
3. Verify the item is within the 30-day return window
4. Inspect the item for damage (if damaged by customer, see decision points below)
5. Open POS > Returns > scan receipt barcode
6. Select the item(s) being returned
7. Choose refund method: original payment or store credit
8. Process the return and print the confirmation
9. Hand the customer the confirmation receipt
10. Place the returned item in the returns bin

Decision points:

• No receipt: look up by customer phone number in POS > Customer Lookup
• Item damaged by customer: offer store credit only (no cash refund)
• Return over $200: get manager approval before processing
• Item purchased more than 30 days ago: manager discretion

Outcome: Customer receives their refund, item is in the returns bin, and the return is logged in the POS system.

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3. Responding to a Customer Complaint (Email)

Purpose: Respond to every customer complaint within 4 business hours with a consistent, professional tone.

Steps:

1. Read the full complaint — don’t skim
2. Log it in the complaint tracker (spreadsheet or CRM)
3. Categorize: product issue, service issue, shipping issue, or billing issue
4. Draft your response using this framework:
   • Acknowledge the problem (“I understand how frustrating that must be”)
   • Apologize without making excuses (“I’m sorry this happened”)
   • State what you’ll do to fix it (“Here’s what I’m going to do”)
   • Give a timeline (“You’ll see the refund within 3-5 business days”)
5. If the fix requires a refund or replacement, process it before sending the email
6. Send the response
7. Set a follow-up reminder for 48 hours to confirm resolution

Decision points:

• If the complaint involves a safety issue: escalate to management immediately
• If the customer is requesting something outside policy: offer the closest alternative and escalate if they push back
• If you’ve seen the same complaint 3+ times this week: flag it as a systemic issue in the weekly team meeting

Outcome: Customer receives a response within 4 hours, the issue is resolved or escalated, and it’s logged for tracking.

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4. Onboarding a New Employee (First Day)

Purpose: Give every new hire a consistent, welcoming first day that sets them up for success.

Steps:

1. Confirm their start time and parking/entry instructions the day before
2. Have their workspace ready: desk, computer, chair, supplies
3. Create all accounts: email, software logins, building access
4. Print the first-week schedule and place it on their desk
5. Meet them at the entrance and walk them in (don’t make them wander)
6. Tour the office: bathroom, kitchen, their workspace, emergency exits
7. Introduce them to their team (keep it brief — names and roles)
8. Sit down for a 30-minute welcome meeting: role overview, first-week goals, who to ask for help
9. Set them up with their training materials
10. Check in at lunch (“How’s it going? Any questions?”)
11. End-of-day check-in: what went well, what questions do they have, what’s tomorrow’s plan

Outcome: New hire feels welcome, has working tools, knows where things are, and understands what they’ll be doing this week.

For a more detailed version, see our complete employee onboarding checklist.

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5. Closing the Kitchen (Restaurant)

Purpose: Ensure the kitchen is clean, food is stored safely, and everything is ready for tomorrow’s opening crew.

Steps:

1. Turn off all cooking equipment (grills, fryers, ovens) — verify burners are off
2. Clean all cooking surfaces with degreaser
3. Wash, sanitize, and store all dishes, pots, and pans
4. Wipe down all prep tables and countertops
5. Cover and label all prepped food with today’s date
6. Store prepped food in the walk-in: top shelf raw proteins, bottom shelf ready-to-eat
7. Check walk-in temperature (must be 40 or below — log it on the temperature sheet)
8. Sweep and mop the kitchen floor
9. Empty all trash and recycling — replace liners
10. Restock the line for tomorrow: plates, napkins, to-go containers
11. Turn off kitchen lights
12. Lock the back door — double-check it’s latched

Decision points:

• Walk-in temperature above 40: notify the manager immediately — food safety issue
• Equipment malfunction: tag it with an “Out of Order” note and notify the manager
• Running low on a key ingredient: add it to the order board before leaving

Outcome: Kitchen is clean, food is safely stored, and the opening crew walks into a ready kitchen.

For more restaurant SOPs, check out our restaurant SOP template guide.

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6. Handling a Workplace Injury

Purpose: Ensure injured employees get immediate care and the incident is properly documented.

Steps:

1. Assess the situation — if severe, call 911 first
2. Administer first aid (first aid kit located in the break room)
3. Ask the injured person what happened (document their exact words)
4. Fill out the Incident Report form (located in the manager’s office)
5. Take photos of the scene if relevant
6. Report to your direct supervisor within 1 hour
7. File workers’ compensation paperwork within 24 hours
8. Follow up with the injured employee the next business day

Decision points:

• Life-threatening injury: call 911, then notify management
• Minor injury (band-aid level): still document it — minor incidents can escalate
• Witness present: get their written statement too

Outcome: Employee receives care, incident is documented, and workers’ comp paperwork is filed.

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7. Social Media Post Approval

Purpose: Maintain brand consistency and prevent posting errors across all social media accounts.

Steps:

1. Draft the post content (text, image/video, hashtags)
2. Check spelling, grammar, and tone
3. Verify any claims or statistics are accurate and sourced
4. Ensure images are properly sized for the platform
5. Submit to the approver via the shared document or approval tool
6. Approver reviews within 24 hours
7. If approved: schedule or post
8. If changes needed: revise and resubmit

Decision points:

• Post mentions a customer: get their written permission first
• Post references a promotion: verify the promotion details with sales
• Crisis or sensitive topic: escalate to senior leadership before posting

Outcome: Every social media post is reviewed, on-brand, and error-free before publishing.

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8. Monthly Inventory Count

Purpose: Maintain accurate inventory records and identify shrinkage or ordering issues.

Steps:

1. Print the current inventory list from the system
2. Start in Section A (back-left of the storage room) and work clockwise
3. Count every item physically — don’t trust the shelf labels
4. Record the actual count next to each item on the printed list
5. Mark any items that are damaged or expired
6. Enter the actual counts into the inventory system
7. Generate the variance report
8. Investigate any item with more than 10% variance
9. Submit the final report to the manager by end of business

Decision points:

• Large unexplained variance: investigate before adjusting the system count
• Expired products: pull from shelves, document quantity, and add to the waste log
• Item not on the list: add it and investigate where it came from

Outcome: Inventory system matches physical reality, variances are explained, and expired/damaged items are removed.

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9. Client Onboarding (Service Business)

Purpose: Set up every new client consistently so nothing falls through the cracks.

Steps:

1. Send the welcome email (use the “New Client” template) within 24 hours of contract signing
2. Create the client folder in the shared drive using the naming convention: [Client Name] - [Start Date]
3. Add client to the CRM with contact info, contract details, and key dates
4. Schedule the kickoff meeting within 5 business days
5. Prepare the kickoff agenda: introductions, goals, timeline, deliverables, communication preferences
6. Conduct the kickoff meeting
7. Send follow-up email with meeting notes, action items, and next steps
8. Set up recurring check-in meetings
9. Add client to the monthly report distribution

Decision points:

• Multiple stakeholders: identify the primary contact for day-to-day communication
• Custom deliverables: involve the project manager at step 5
• Rush start requested: compress steps 1-6 into 48 hours but don’t skip any

Outcome: Client is in all systems, has had their kickoff, knows their point of contact, and has clear expectations.

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10. End-of-Day Cash Reconciliation

Purpose: Ensure the day’s cash matches the sales records and discrepancies are caught immediately.

Steps:

1. Print the end-of-day sales report from the POS
2. Count all cash in the register — bills first, then coins
3. Record the total on the daily cash sheet
4. Subtract the opening float ($200) from the total cash
5. Compare the remaining amount to the POS cash sales total
6. If they match (within $1): sign the cash sheet, bundle the deposit
7. If they don’t match: recount. If still off, note the variance on the cash sheet
8. Place the deposit in the safe with the signed cash sheet
9. Reset the register to the opening float ($200)
10. Lock the register

Decision points:

• Variance over $5: notify the manager before leaving
• Variance over $20: the manager must investigate before the next business day
• Counterfeit bill suspected: set it aside, note the register and time, notify management

Outcome: Cash is counted, reconciled, and secured. Any discrepancies are documented and reported.

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Make These Your Own

These examples work as starting points. Copy whichever ones apply to your business, change the details, and share them with your team.

The goal isn’t perfection on day one. It’s getting something written down so your team stops guessing and you stop repeating yourself.

If you want a tool that makes this easy, What’s the Process For lets you create step-by-step process guides your team can access from their phones. No binders, no shared drives, no “ask someone.” Start free.

Related reading:

• How to Create SOPs for Your Business
• How to Write a Business Process Document
• How to Create a Training Manual