How to Create an Operations Manual for
Your Business
By Stephanie Chandler
An operations manual
can act as a tool for training employees and empowers
them to your business running smoothly when you are out
of the office. Though it may seem like a lot of work,
the effort put into your operations manual can save you
money that could otherwise be wasted on mishandled
procedures and employee training time.
Every operations
manual is different so yours should be tailored to your
specific business needs. You may want to create separate
manuals for each department or job description in your
company. Your operations manual should grow and change
with your business so make sure to update the contents
often. Store the manual in a sturdy binder with dividers
to keep it organized, making it easy to update the
contents and replace pages when processes change.
The following is a
suggested list of topics to address in your manual:
¨
Company Overview &
History
¨
Mission Statement
¨
Opening Procedures
¨
Closing Procedures
¨
Cash Handling
¨
Daily Tasks
¨
Alarm System
Operations
¨
Safe Opening and
Closing Procedures
¨
Contact Numbers for
Emergencies or Information
¨
Employee Shift
Coverage
¨
Website Procedures
¨
Customer Service
Procedures
¨
Sales Procedures
¨
Sales Quotas
¨
Commission Payments
¨
Order Processing
¨
Credit Card
Processing
¨
Refunds and Returns
¨
Gift Certificates
¨
Special Orders
¨
Shipping & Receiving
¨
Equipment Handling
¨
Equipment
Maintenance (replacing printer cartridges, receipt tape,
etc.)
¨
Security Procedures
¨
Emergency Procedures
¨
Product Pricing and
Discounts
¨
Other Miscellaneous
Procedures and Anything Specific to the Way Your
Business Operates
Don’t forget to use your operations
manual as a training tool for new hires. To make sure
the information is accurate and valuable, ask your
employees for feedback on the contents. Ask if they have
questions about the topics covered and if the
instructions are clear and easy to understand. Remember
that this is a valuable business tool for you and your
staff so keeping it current should be an important
priority for your business.
About the Author:
Stephanie
Chandler is a small business expert and the author of
FROM ENTREPRENEUR TO INFOPRENEUR: MAKE MONEY WITH BOOKS,
E-BOOKS AND INFORMATION PRODUCTS. She is the founder of
www.BusinessInfoGuide.com,
a directory of resources for entrepreneurs and
www.ProPublishingServices.com, a custom writing
business specializing in electronic newsletters,
information marketing, and sales copy for websites and
brochures.
*This
article can be reprinted in full provided the author
resource box is included with the publication.
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