You can’t scale a brand on memory, texts, or quick calls. Once you’re working with a co-manufacturer, 3PL, or even your own hourly staff, you need a system that shows exactly how you want things done. That system is an SOP.

This page gives you a downloadable SOP template and a clear SOP checklist tool to build out the documentation your partners will need to do the job right—whether it’s mixing a batch, labeling a carton, or prepping a retail shipper.

What Is an SOP (And What Goes Into One)?

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a written guide that explains exactly how a specific task should be performed—no guesswork, no gray area. It’s not just a document; it’s the playbook for anyone who touches your product, from your co-man’s line worker to the temp at your 3PL who’s loading a truck.

Good SOPs don’t just outline steps—they remove interpretation. They can include photos, diagrams, and QR codes that link to videos or product-specific landing pages. Some are detailed enough to explain how to cut open a case with a box cutter without damaging inner packs. Others show the exact way to stack cases on a pallet so they don’t lean, shift, or crush each other during transit.

SOPs often include:

• Step-by-step instructions in plain language

• Visuals for packaging, stacking, and labeling

• Warnings for common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Definitions for industry-specific terms

• Clear triggers for when the task starts and when it ends

• Log fields for things like batch numbers, inspection checks, or signatures

• QR codes that link to digital updates or visual guides

If a task can be done wrong, it needs an SOP. If it’s already been done wrong once, you’re overdue.

Why SOPs Matter

SOPs are your insurance policy against chaos. They’re how you ensure that the people physically doing the work—whether they’re your staff, a third-party packer, or a new warehouse team—understand your expectations without you being in the room.

Without SOPs, everything becomes a game of telephone. One shift trains the next. A contractor makes assumptions. Something gets skipped. Then a buyer rejects your pallet because it’s labeled wrong, or a co-man ships out the wrong flavor because no one double-checked the SKU.

When you have SOPs:

• Partners know exactly how to meet your standards

• You can scale without sacrificing quality or consistency

• You’re easier to onboard, easier to work with, and harder to screw up

SOPs aren't about creating rigid bureaucracy. They're about making your brand repeatable at every touchpoint—especially the ones you don’t control directly.