Steps to Starting a Business: A Manual (5 of 5)
Today’s goal is not to give exact details of setting up the processes and systems. Rather, it is an overview to guide further in the steps of setting up a business. Consider these as helpful steps to starting a business. One of the final steps is to prepare a Manual of Operations. Once the proverbial doors are open your procedures will begin to develop.
Perhaps the mention of manuals brings back memories of the ‘Corporate World’ lifestyle in the rearview mirror. The horrid memories of thick paged binders with page after page of long boring documents. Fear not. Today you can digitally produce everything. This eliminates the need for binders for every employee or person on the Team. You can print one copy as a hard copy although digital copies will do most times.
As discussed in the last article regarding Processes, Systems and Manuals, the Manual is simply a record of your daily processes and systems.
What is the Manual of Operations
Business Plans set up a blueprint for the business. The manual is the ‘How to’ and you must set it up also. The manual will serve as your ‘How to’. It will enable others to follow your and your team’s footsteps in the business. Every business has a different manual of operations. Depending on the type of business, there may be a need to have many types of manuals, including an Employee Handbook.
The Manual will take the daily processes and systems you have set up. You will put these into words (including screenshots). The words are entered into a document or template to create your Manual of Operations. It will include a ‘Table of Contents’, to direct the employee or team member. You can also write it in parts or sections. It should also be a continual process. You (or a team member) should review and update it regularly. You can add parts as the company grows and as technology updates.
Easy Manual Setup Options
An easy way to record your processes is to document them in a Google document or your project management system. It is a cost-effective way to create your manual of operations.
You can use these documents to create training documents, step-by-step procedural manuals with screenshots, and more. Every step now may not seem insignificant to you now. Once you create the procedures you will realize how much you need them. This is especially true as you hire a team. The document will be easy to update by you or your team.
If you do not document your procedures it can lead to confusion, inconsistencies, and even miscommunication. You can see why you must take the time to establish this discipline to effectively run your business daily.
An easy discipline to establish is picking a day of the week and time that will work. You must stop and think about the work you are doing. Reflect on the first thing you did in the morning. Ask yourself, if the computer is turned on and if the calendar was checked, and then what did you do? Record each step in every task you complete. Be consistent and set it up as a habit you naturally perform, you will be one of the smarter Entrepreneurs.
A Business is a growing entity and will need updating all of the time. A template is helpful for those who may need a little direction. Microsoft Word offers a template for manuals (under their ‘New’ section when setting up a document). Several other sites offer templates for sale. Always research and look at reviews to be sure the site is trustworthy if you go this route.
READY?
Once the basics of the Operations Manual have been compiled, it is time to DO business. This and all of the other steps already discussed in the Steps to Starting a Business series will help you start right.
How exciting to embark on this new journey. Thank you for allowing me to come along on the journey. I would love to hear about your business and any systems and processes that are being used today. Or simply let me know that the business is off the ground and I will celebrate with you here. I love to read comments.
[It is also good to leave comments and your site to develop backlink SEO, as well as, good business relationships.]
*Disclaimer – this is not meant to be an in-depth step-by-step guide. It is a broad overview.
**I am not making any money by mentioning this software and am not an affiliate with them.
