An SOP is a written-down version of how you do a repeatable task. Sounds boring. Saves your life.
If you're running a one-person business and you don't have SOPs, three things happen: you re-decide how to do the same task 50 times a year (slow), you can't hire help (un-delegatable), and your work is inconsistent (clients notice).
This post is the 10 SOPs every solopreneur should have. Want them as a free PDF you can keep? Grab the 10 Free SOPs — no email required.
What makes a good SOP
A great SOP is < 1 page. If yours is 5 pages, no one will use it (including future you).
Every SOP has 5 parts:
- Trigger — when does this fire?
- Owner — who runs it?
- Prerequisites — what needs to be true before starting?
- Steps — numbered, each < 20 words
- Definition of done — when can I check the box?
Anything longer is a manual, not an SOP. Manuals are for new hires. SOPs are for daily use.
The 10 SOPs every solopreneur should have
1. Weekly Review
Trigger: Sunday 4pm. Owner: you. Duration: 30 min.
Steps: Log wins, log misses, log money in/out/net, update CRM, pick top 3 priorities, pick ONE thing to stop doing.
Done when: Calendar has time blocked for the top 3 and you've sent any week-opening communications.
2. New Client Kickoff
Trigger: Contract signed. Duration: 7 days.
Steps: Within 1 hour send welcome email + invoice. Day 1 send pre-kickoff prep. Day 1 PM run 60-min kickoff call. Day 1 EOD send recap. Day 3 deliver project plan. Day 7 send first status update.
Done when: Plan signed, first deliverable shipped, no surprises.
3. Send Invoice
Trigger: Milestone met OR scheduled date.
Steps: Open invoice tool. Use saved template. Set NET 14. Send. Log as Pending. Schedule day-7 follow-up.
Done when: Sent, logged, follow-up scheduled.
4. Follow Up Unpaid Invoice
Trigger: Invoice unpaid > 7 days past due.
Steps: Day 5 friendly nudge. Day 15 firm but warm. Day 30 final notice. Day 45 pause work + escalate.
Done when: Paid OR escalated.
5. Quarterly Tax Payment
Trigger: Apr/Jun/Sept/Jan 15th minus 7 days.
Steps: Open quarterly P&L. Calculate net. Multiply by 25-30%. Submit via IRS Direct Pay (US). Log expense. Set next reminder.
Done when: Payment confirmed, logged, next reminder set.
6. Publish a Blog Post
Trigger: Friday morning.
Steps: Pick topic. Draft with AI. Edit (cut 20%, sharpen hook). Add 3 internal links. Add product CTA. Add SEO meta. Schedule. Submit to Google Search Console.
Done when: Published, indexed, social repurpose scheduled.
7. Cold Email (personalized)
Trigger: 20 new prospects identified this week.
Steps: Confirm ICP fit. 5-min research. Write hook line. Use template + customize. Send. Log in tracker. Schedule day-4 and day-9 follow-ups.
Done when: Sent, logged, follow-ups scheduled.
8. Discovery Call
Trigger: Booked discovery call. Duration: 60 min.
Steps: 5 min rapport. 10 min their situation. 15 min their pain. 15 min their goal. 10 min my fit. 5 min next step.
Done when: Either scheduled proposal call OR mutually agreed not a fit.
9. Project Closeout
Trigger: Final deliverable signed off.
Steps: Send final invoice. Send closeout email. Day 3 ask for testimonial. Day 7 ask for referral. Day 14 pitch renewal. Update CRM. Add to past-clients nurture.
Done when: Testimonial captured, referral asked, renewal pitched, client moved to Past.
10. Monthly Business Review
Trigger: Last Friday of month. Duration: 60 min.
Steps: Close books. Calculate net + margin. Review pipeline. Review client health. Review content metrics. Identify ONE thing that worked. Identify ONE thing to stop. Set next month's top 3.
Done when: Numbers real, 2 decisions made, priorities written down.
How to roll out SOPs without becoming a robot
The mistake most operators make: try to write all 10 in one weekend, get exhausted, never use them.
The right way: Write ONE SOP this week, for the task you'll do the most this week. Use it next time the task fires. Adjust based on reality. Move to the next SOP.
By week 10 you have all 10. They've been tested. They actually work.
Where to put them
Notion page called "SOP Library." Each SOP is a sub-page. Tag with the trigger so they're searchable.
OR: physical printed sheet next to your desk for the ones you do most often (weekly review, daily standup).
The medium matters less than the consistency of running them.
The full toolkit
If you want all 10 SOPs already written and ready to copy: grab the free PDF here. No email required.
If you want the version embedded in a Notion workspace with the CRM, finance tracker, and content pipeline all linked: that's The Solopreneur OS ($67).
Either way: write your SOPs. The compound is real.