Every month we run through a series of questions to help you run your freelance business like a bigger business—“self-coaching” your way to better results and a better life. 

Hey!

SOPs are a freelancer’s best friend…but too few of us make good use of them. That’s why this month, we’re taking a look at “standard operating procedures” and how to apply them to our freelance businesses. 

Where can I use SOPs in my freelance business?

SOPs are a good idea anywhere you see a process that’s repeatable, structured, and prone to error or omission. This includes:

• Onboarding clients
• Sales processes
• Production (one for each type of service you offer…I have one for case studies and white papers)
• Research
• Submitting work to a client (making sure you get confirmation, invoice properly, track hours, etc.)
• Compiling tax information
• Preparing clients and partners for you taking time off

They’re also great for any processes you think you might want to eventually outsource to a VA. I’ve used them for writing newsletters and compiling lists of prospects before outsourcing work. So if you’ve got a process you hate, like bookkeeping, keep an SOP for the future.

Every freelance business is unique. Look for opportunities in your business, and if you need help figuring out whether an SOP is a good idea or not…Stop by the BlackFreelance Mastermind Discord.