SOPs Aren’t Sexy—They’re Essential: Why Documenting Processes Is a Growth Accelerator

Most leaders say they want scale—but resist the one thing that makes it possible: standardization.

I’ve been in startups where everything lived in someone’s head. I’ve been in large ops where no one knew which version of the SOP was current. And at Premise One, I’ve watched firsthand what happens when documentation becomes part of the culture—and not an afterthought.

Want to scale without burning out? Want fewer mistakes, tighter onboarding, and more margin? Then write it down.

Here’s what we’ve learned about building SOPs that matter:

1. Start where the pain is. Don’t build a library no one will read. Document what’s breaking—handoffs, closeout packages, tech checklists—and build from there.  

2. Make it accessible and actionable. A 40-page PDF in a SharePoint folder doesn’t help anyone on-site. Use checklists, diagrams, and mobile-friendly formats.  

3. Get buy-in from the field. We co-write SOPs with our best techs and leads. That ensures real-world fit and gets faster adoption.  

4. Treat it like code. Version your documents. Assign ownership. Review them quarterly. SOPs should evolve as the business does.  

5. Train to it, not just write it. Documentation doesn’t drive consistency—*training to documentation* does. Build it into onboarding, reviews, and QA.

We’re not chasing perfection. We’re building predictability.

SOPs might not be flashy—but they’re the backbone of scale. If your growth is chaotic, your documentation probably is too.

About the Author  

Tim Chandler is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at Premise One. From startups to national deployments, Tim has built scalable systems rooted in real-world process. His operational philosophy: write it down, improve it often, and teach it well.