If you’re running a business on the side—or building one in scraps of time before or after your 9 to 5—knowing how to create SOPs isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the only way to keep moving without constantly starting from zero. SOPs (standard operating procedures) don’t just streamline your work—they give you structure when time is tight and energy is low. That’s the real mindset shift into CEO energy: moving from carrying it all in your head to creating systems that can carry the load for you.
I didn’t fully appreciate that until I was deep into rebuilding Backbone America. I had a vision, a full-time job, and about two hours a day to make it all work. Willpower was what kept me going—but it was SOPs that made the work sustainable. Even the rough, imperfect ones gave me a way to stop spinning my wheels. I didn’t have to remember every step. I just had to follow the path I’d already laid down.
This isn’t about writing a 30-page manual. It’s about creating simple, repeatable systems that give your business room to grow—without relying on your memory or mood to carry the load.
What an SOP Actually Is (and Isn’t)
Before I scare anyone off, knowing how to create SOPs doesn’t mean you need to write like a corporate compliance officer. An SOP—short for Standard Operating Procedure—is just a fancy name for a clear, repeatable set of steps. It’s the difference between hoping you remember what worked last time… and having it written down so you don’t have to.
An SOP doesn’t need to be a five-page document with legal-sounding language and flowcharts—unless that’s your thing. It can be a bullet list in a Google Doc. A checklist in Notion. A screen recording you talk through while doing the task. What matters is that it captures the process in a way your future self—or someone you eventually hire—can follow.
The real power of an SOP is this: it frees up your brain. When you don’t have to think about how to do the thing, you can focus on doing it better—or hand it off completely. And if your time is already limited (like mine is), that mental relief is everything.
Why SOPs Are a Game-Changer for Solopreneurs
When you’re building a business by yourself—especially on the side—everything runs through you. Every email. Every follow-up. Every decision. That’s why learning how to create SOPs isn’t just about getting organized. It’s about giving yourself some breathing room.
For me, SOPs were the first step toward reclaiming time. During the second launch of Backbone America, I wasn’t just trying to get things done—I was trying not to forget the things I’d already figured out. I’d spend half my work session just trying to remember what came next. Once I started documenting the steps, I could stop wasting time in the fog and start making real progress.
Here’s what else SOPs gave me:
Consistency: Even when I was tired, I could follow the process.
Clarity: I could see where the bottlenecks were and fix them.
Relief: I wasn’t carrying the whole business in my head anymore.
And eventually, those same SOPs became the building blocks for automations—systems that ran without me having to touch them at all. But it didn’t start with automation. It started with getting clear.
Keep in mind: Employees rely on memory and hustle. CEOs rely on systems. Creating SOPs is one of the first steps in shifting from employee energy to CEO energy.
How to Create SOPs (Even if You Feel Too Busy)
Let’s be honest—when your calendar’s already packed, “create systems” doesn’t exactly feel urgent. But this is where knowing how to create SOPs pays off. You don’t need to carve out hours to build them. You just need to start while you’re already doing the task.
Here’s how I built my first SOPs while rebuilding Backbone America:
I opened a blank doc.
I wrote down what I was doing as I was doing it.
That was it.
No perfection. No overthinking. Just a living draft I could come back to and improve later. Over time, those rough outlines became the backbone (no pun intended) of my business operations.
If you’re ready to try it, start with one recurring task this week—something that eats up time or causes stress. Here’s a simple structure to follow:
Do the task like you normally would.
Write down the steps, one by one. Use bullets or a checklist—whatever feels easiest.
Add context: What tools are you using? Any passwords, links, or templates you reference?
Save it somewhere findable—your Google Drive, Notion, Zoho WorkDrive… whatever system you’ll actually check again.
Pro tip: your first version doesn’t have to be good. It just has to exist. Future you can clean it up.
What to Systematize First
Not every part of your business needs an SOP right away. When you’re short on time, focus on the areas where even a small system will make a big difference. The best place to start? Anything you do more than once a month that makes you pause and think, “Wait, how did I do that last time?”
When I first started putting SOPs into practice at Backbone America, I didn’t start with fancy automations or complex workflows. I started with what was slowing me down:
Adding images to blog posts
Formatting blog posts
Putting together newsletters
Formating course materials
These weren’t high-level strategy tasks—they were repeatable routines that drained energy when left undocumented. And once they were out of my head and into a system, I could delegate and start using my energy for better things—like refining my offers or mapping out new content.
Here are a few good starting points for your first SOP:
Lead follow-up (especially if you use a CRM or send templated responses)
Client onboarding or welcome emails
Weekly content prep or blog publishing
Invoicing or payment reminders
Social media posting schedule
If a task feels draining, confusing, or like it always takes longer than it should—that’s a strong sign it’s ready to be systematized.
When SOPs Become Automations
One of the best things about learning how to create SOPs is that they naturally set you up for automation. Once you’ve written out the steps—even in the most basic form—it becomes much easier to spot what could be handed off to a tool instead of a person.
That’s exactly what happened with my blog publishing process. At first, I followed a simple checklist every week: keyword research, outline, write the draft, add images, check for Yoast SEO, post to social media. Eventually, I realized that 80% of it didn’t need my hands on it at all. Because I had the SOP, I could delegate most of the steps to a VA and use Jetpack Social to handle auto-posting—freeing up hours of my time without sacrificing consistency.
Here’s what SOPs help make possible:
Automating recurring tasks using tools like Zoho Flow, Make, or Zapier
Delegating with clarity—because you already have the steps documented
Building confidence in your systems (so things don’t fall apart when you’re not available)
If automation feels like something “you’ll get to later,” that’s fine. Just start with the SOP. Automation comes after you’ve defined the process—not before.
If you’re ready to turn your SOPs into scalable systems, my course Work Less, Build Smart shows you exactly how to go from scattered tasks to a streamlined business. It’s designed for side-hustling solopreneurs who want to grow without burning out.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Knowing how to create SOPs is one thing—creating ones you’ll actually use is another. It’s easy to get stuck in the trap of overcomplicating them or assuming they need to be perfect before they’re helpful. They don’t.
Here are a few common pitfalls to watch out for (I’ve made a few of these myself):
Making them too long or formal Your SOP isn’t a legal document. It’s a guide. If it takes longer to read than to do the task, you’ll avoid it.
Writing without context Don’t just list steps—give yourself reminders. “Log into Jetpack Social” is fine, but “double-check that the correct account is selected before posting” saves you from future mistakes.
Stashing them somewhere you’ll never check again It doesn’t matter how detailed your SOP is if it’s buried in a folder you forget about. Pick one place—Google Drive, Notion, Zoho WorkDrive—and keep them visible and searchable.
Waiting until you “have more time” You won’t. But if you create SOPs as you go—even in rough form—you’ll save time next week, and even more the week after that.
The goal isn’t to document everything right away. It’s to start building a support system your future self can rely on.
Final thoughts on creating SOPs
Every SOP you create isn’t just a productivity hack—it’s proof that you’re stepping into CEO energy, building a business that works for you instead of through you.
If you’re trying to build a business with limited time and energy, you don’t need more hustle—you need support. And learning how to create SOPs is one of the most practical ways to give yourself that support, even if you’re a team of one.
For me, documentation has never been an afterthought. In my day job, writing things down is how I make sure nothing slips through the cracks. It’s how I share what I’ve learned, create consistency, and avoid having to relearn the same lessons twice. So when it came to Backbone America, I knew from the start that systems would be essential—not just for clarity, but for sustainability.
The more I committed to documenting my business processes, the more I noticed the ripple effect: fewer decisions, smoother handoffs, and more room to focus on growth instead of the grind. That’s the real power of knowing how to create SOPs—they don’t just save time, they shift you into CEO energy. Every SOP you build is a step away from hustle and a step toward running your business like the leader you’re becoming.
Start with one task.
Outline what works. Build from there. Every SOP you create is a tool that serves your future self.
And if you’re ready to go deeper—to build a business that actually supports your life instead of consuming it—take a look at Work Less, Build Smart. It’s designed for side-hustling solopreneurs who want structure without overwhelm, and systems that support freedom.
Ready to build systems that give you more freedom?
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