Writing an SOP from scratch is the hardest part. Starting with a template that already has the right structure saves hours and ensures you do not miss critical sections. These 8 templates cover the processes most businesses need to document first.
Each template below includes a description, the roles that typically use it, the key sections to include, and a sample document structure. Customize the details for your organization, tools, and compliance requirements.
New to SOPs? Read our complete guide to standard operating procedures first for definitions, format guidance, and how to write effective SOPs.
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1. Employee Onboarding SOP
Standardize how new hires are onboarded from offer acceptance through 90-day review. Covers pre-boarding logistics, Day 1 orientation, role-specific training, and milestone check-ins.
Who uses it: HR teams, hiring managers, team leads
Key Sections to Include
Pre-boarding checklist (accounts, equipment, welcome packet)
Day 1 agenda (orientation, introductions, paperwork)
Week 1 training schedule
30-day, 60-day, and 90-day milestones and reviews
Mentor assignment and buddy system guidelines
Sample Structure
SOP-HR-001: New Employee Onboarding
Purpose: Ensure consistent onboarding experience for all new hires
Scope: Full-time and part-time employees (excludes contractors)
Roles: HR Coordinator, Hiring Manager, IT Team, Assigned Mentor
Procedure: 6 phases across 90 days with 25 checkpoints
2. Customer Support SOP
Define how support tickets are received, triaged, escalated, and resolved. Ensures consistent response quality and SLA compliance across the team.
Who uses it: Support agents, support managers, customer success teams
Key Sections to Include
Ticket intake and categorization rules
Priority levels and response time SLAs
Escalation paths by issue type and severity
Resolution templates and canned responses
Post-resolution follow-up and CSAT survey trigger
Sample Structure
SOP-CS-001: Customer Support Ticket Handling
Purpose: Deliver consistent, timely support within SLA commitments
Scope: All inbound support requests via email, chat, and phone
Roles: L1 Agent, L2 Specialist, Support Manager, Engineering (escalation)
Procedure: 5 stages from intake to close with escalation decision tree
3. IT Security Incident Response SOP
Step-by-step response procedure for security incidents — from detection through post-incident review. Critical for minimizing damage and meeting regulatory notification requirements.
Who uses it: IT security teams, DevOps, engineering managers, compliance officers
Key Sections to Include
Incident detection and initial assessment
Severity classification (P1-P4) with response timeframes
Containment procedures by incident type
Communication plan (internal + external + regulatory)
Recovery steps and service restoration
Post-incident review and report template
Sample Structure
SOP-IT-010: Security Incident Response
Purpose: Minimize impact of security incidents through rapid, coordinated response
Scope: All systems, applications, and data under company management
Roles: Incident Commander, Security Analyst, Communications Lead, Legal
Procedure: 6 phases — Detect, Assess, Contain, Eradicate, Recover, Review
4. Quality Control SOP
Define inspection criteria, testing procedures, and acceptance standards for products or deliverables. Essential for maintaining quality consistency at scale.
Who uses it: QA teams, production managers, project managers, delivery leads
Key Sections to Include
Inspection points and sampling methodology
Pass/fail criteria with measurable thresholds
Defect classification and severity levels
Corrective action procedures for failures
Documentation and reporting requirements
Calibration schedule for testing equipment
Sample Structure
SOP-QA-001: Product Quality Control
Purpose: Ensure all deliverables meet defined quality standards before release
Scope: All products and deliverables shipped to customers
Roles: QA Inspector, QA Manager, Production Lead
Procedure: 4 checkpoints — incoming, in-process, final, and post-shipment
6. Inventory Management SOP
Document procedures for receiving, storing, counting, and reordering inventory. Reduces stockouts, overstock, and inventory discrepancies.
Who uses it: Warehouse managers, inventory clerks, procurement teams, retail managers
Key Sections to Include
Receiving and inspection procedures
Storage and organization standards (locations, labeling)
Cycle count schedule and procedures
Reorder point calculations and purchase order triggers
Discrepancy investigation and reconciliation
Damaged goods and returns processing
Sample Structure
SOP-OPS-002: Inventory Management
Purpose: Maintain accurate inventory levels and prevent stockouts or overstock
Scope: All physical inventory across warehouse and retail locations
Roles: Warehouse Manager, Inventory Clerk, Procurement Specialist
Procedure: 6 workflows covering receive, store, count, reorder, reconcile, and dispose
7. Sales Process SOP
Define the end-to-end sales workflow from lead qualification through close and handoff. Ensures consistent pipeline management and accurate forecasting.
Who uses it: Sales reps, account executives, sales managers, revenue operations
Key Sections to Include
Lead qualification criteria (BANT or MEDDIC framework)
Pipeline stages and entry/exit criteria
Discovery call script and required data capture
Proposal and pricing approval workflow
Contract and close procedures
Customer handoff to onboarding/success team
Sample Structure
SOP-SALES-001: Sales Process
Purpose: Drive consistent pipeline management and predictable revenue
Scope: All new business opportunities from MQL to closed-won
Roles: SDR, Account Executive, Sales Manager, Legal (contract review)
Procedure: 7 stages from qualification to customer handoff
8. HR Policy Change SOP
Standard process for proposing, reviewing, approving, and communicating HR policy changes. Ensures compliance, proper documentation, and clear employee communication.
Who uses it: HR directors, legal/compliance teams, department heads
Key Sections to Include
Policy change request form and justification
Legal and compliance review requirements
Stakeholder review and approval chain
Employee communication plan and timeline
Training requirements for new policies
Documentation update and version control
Sample Structure
SOP-HR-005: HR Policy Change Management
Purpose: Ensure all policy changes are legally reviewed, properly approved, and clearly communicated
Scope: All company-wide HR policies and employee handbook updates
Roles: HR Director, Legal Counsel, Department Heads, Communications Lead
Procedure: 5 phases from proposal through post-implementation review
How to Use These Templates
Pick the template closest to your process
You do not need an exact match. Choose the template with the most relevant structure and modify it for your specific workflow.
Customize the key sections
Replace generic descriptions with your actual tools, team roles, and specific steps. Add any compliance requirements unique to your industry.
Walk through it with your team
Have someone who performs the task review the SOP. They will catch missing steps, incorrect sequences, and assumptions that do not match reality.
Test with a new person
The best SOP test is having someone unfamiliar with the process follow it. Where they get stuck, the SOP needs more detail.
Publish and assign
Store the SOP where your team works — in your project management tool, wiki, or Pathalize. Assign it to the relevant team members with a review date.
Related Resources
What Is a SOP? (Definitive Guide)
Everything about SOPs — definition, format, how to write them, and common mistakes.
Read moreSOP Examples by Industry
Real SOP examples for tech, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, finance, and marketing.
Read moreEmployee Onboarding Checklist
25-step onboarding checklist with 30-60-90 day milestones.
Read morePathalize vs Process Street
How Pathalize compares to Process Street for SOP and checklist management.
Read more
5. Social Media Publishing SOP
Standardize content creation, approval, scheduling, and engagement workflows across social platforms. Keeps brand voice consistent and prevents publishing mistakes.
Who uses it: Social media managers, content creators, marketing managers
Key Sections to Include
Content creation guidelines and brand voice reference
Platform-specific formatting requirements
Approval workflow (draft > review > approve > schedule)
Publishing schedule and optimal posting times
Engagement response guidelines and escalation rules
Performance tracking and monthly reporting
Sample Structure
SOP-MKT-003: Social Media Publishing
Purpose: Maintain consistent brand presence and quality across social channels
Scope: All company social media accounts (LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook)
Roles: Content Creator, Social Media Manager, Marketing Director (approver)
Procedure: 5 stages from ideation to performance review