SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)

A written, repeatable description of how a recurring task is done.

Example

The seven steps of onboarding a new customer.

Write the SOP the second time you do something, not the twentieth. It is also the only way to delegate without re-explaining.

Delegation — Handing over an outcome, with the authority to decide how it gets done.
Operations — The systems and processes that let a company run repeatably — documentation, workflows, vendors, support, security and internal communication.
Onboarding — The process of getting a new customer or a new employee productive.

Should you hire at all? — A hire is the biggest recurring commitment a startup makes. Four cheaper options to rule out first. (10 min)
Onboarding someone properly — The first two weeks decide whether a good hire becomes a good employee. Most startups improvise this and lose months. (10 min)
Delegation — Handing over an outcome with the authority to decide how. Handing over tasks while keeping every decision is just queueing. (12 min)
SOPs — writing down how things are done — Write it the second time you do something, not the twentieth. It is also the only way to delegate without re-explaining. (10 min)
Support that scales — Every repeated question is a product defect wearing a costume. Treat the ticket list as a roadmap. (10 min)
Security and data basics — Not a security programme. The handful of things that prevent the incidents that actually happen to small companies. (12 min)