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.
Stephanie Chandler is the author of "The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide: Seize Your Entrepreneurial Dreams!" and the founder of http://www.BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of free resources for entrepreneurs. Sign up for the BusinessInfoGuide newsletter to receive hot resources and tips every month.
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Some people make decisions without any difficulty, while others struggle.... Read More
One of the greatest obstacles to progress can often be... Read More
When approaching any decision, it's important for individuals to maintain... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Let me repeat a story I heard many years ago... Read More
This facilitator's guide to running a stakeholder analysis workshop is... Read More
This article relates to the human resource functions competency, commonly... Read More
Now we turn the corner to our final phase: Re-Discovery.Last... Read More
I'm always fascinated by the people who lift huge weights,... Read More
When you're starting a business, you might wish for a... Read More
American CEOs are dropping like flies. Boards, armed with new... Read More
I have always said that if I were to write... Read More
This article relates to the Training competency, commonly evaluated in... Read More
In many ways there are no secrets to implementing effective... Read More
Doing business and meeting the needs of workers is increasingly... Read More
You know the drill - the ridiculous deadlines, the relentless... Read More
Communication is the basis of who you are as a... Read More
The current economy is causing most companies to tighten their... Read More
There are some simple things you can do with your... Read More
A curious thing happens to entrepreneurs in the spring of... Read More
You've hung out your shingle and are ready for business.... Read More
Everyone at the office thought that using the company e-mail... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
The need for constant reinvention is a given in today's... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Often, collaborating documents in a team or in a business... Read More
"It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the... Read More
Human Resource Employee Risk ProfileIs your business at risk? Do... Read More
Project management is a very important business concept because it... Read More
If you're old enough and were living in America about... Read More
Where there is people there is politics! Bullying is now... Read More
As a business owner, time is of the essence. Running... Read More
Standardizing Quality SystemsThe ISO, or International Organization for Standardization, was... Read More
In a previous life I was a Navy Pilot. Great... Read More
Management guru Tom Peters says white collar workers and managers... Read More
Project heroes. We've all heard of them. Some of us... Read More
Go into any bookstore and you will find a big... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Don't Let Your Measurements Mislead You ... Read More
Rejection hurts. No one likes to give it or to... Read More
Statistics consistently reinforce that the biggest challenge in today's contact... Read More
Telecommuting or virtual work opens up a wider net of... Read More
We all have psychic abilities that we use daily, although... Read More
As a manager our role is to:1. Establish the vision,... Read More
We get invited to attend so many "meetings" but do... Read More
With the economy bordering on a recession, every company is... Read More
Tommy Sherman daily monitors a helpdesk-provisioning queue for a large... Read More
Once upon a time there lived an innocent, hardworking manager.... Read More
There is an inherent conflict between owners and managers of... Read More
By sharing how well you are doing and how well... Read More
Here are ten fundamental concepts that characterize an effective meeting.Definition:... Read More
A recent Washington Post article, described the life of temporary... Read More
Part Two of Creating Well-Defined Processes SeriesNext Week: ImplementationLast week,... Read More
Most of us have found ourselves working on a team... Read More
This article relates to the Safety and Working Environment competency... Read More
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." Ralph Waldo EmersonI'm... Read More
Customer relationship management (CRM) is one of the most effective... Read More
Leaders speak 15 to 20 times daily. You speak at... Read More
Recent trends in software development market show that it is... Read More
Some managers think of performance appraisal meetings and recollections of... Read More
This article relates to the organizational structure competency, commonly evaluated... Read More
1. Let people know what you expect. If people know... Read More
Organizational structure can inhibit or foster creativity and innovation. The... Read More
How can you make the best use of your energy... Read More
It is 9:00 am on a Monday morning. Do you... Read More
I personally struggle with the term 'managing people' - because... Read More
Business Management |