Use AI to create + optimize SOPs (and launch a business doing it)
Most small business owners are drowning in disorganized workflows.
They’ve got processes in their heads, scribbled in Notion, or half-written in Google Docs… but nothing documented cleanly.
Enter you.
With the right AI prompts and tools, you can become the go-to person who turns chaos into clarity—by building, improving, and delivering polished SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) that make businesses run smoother.
Even better? You can turn this skill into a scalable business, without needing to hire a team or spend months prepping your offer.
Let’s break down how to do it—with AI on your side, every step of the way.
But first—What’s a SOP?
A Standard Operating Procedure is a document that outlines how to perform a recurring business task. It usually includes:
Purpose of the task
Who is responsible
Step-by-step procedures
Any tools, templates, or checklists used
When it should be reviewed or updated
When done right, SOPs save time, reduce training costs, improve customer experience, and make teams way more efficient.
But most businesses don’t have them—or if they do, they’re outdated and hard to follow.
BONUS: What’s a Lean Canvas?
If you’re thinking of turning this into a business, the Lean Canvas is a great way to map things out.
It’s a one-page business planning tool that helps you:
Identify your customers
Understand their problems
Clarify your solution
Define your marketing + revenue strategy
We’ll use this as a lightweight blueprint in the next section.
Step 1: Define the business model (with AI)
Prompt:
Act as a business strategist specializing in AI-driven service startups.
Based on the concept of a company that uses AI to create and optimize SOPs, help define a lean business model.
The business is in the idea/pre-launch phase. Services include AI-enhanced documentation and optimization of SOPs. No consulting or automation—just SOP-related services.
Use the Lean Canvas structure. [PLATFORM = ChatGPT or Claude]
Step 2: Develop the service offering
Prompt:
Act as a product designer for AI-powered service businesses.
Help define a compelling, tiered service offering for a new company that builds and improves SOPs using [PLATFORM].
Create a 3-tier model with:
Deliverables for each tier
Ideal client profile
Optional price range
How AI enhances each level of service
Optional service tier names: Starter, Pro, and VIP.
Step 3: Build a go-to-market strategy
Prompt:
Act as a startup marketing strategist.
Design a GTM plan for a business offering AI-enhanced SOP services.
Include:
Outreach ideas (cold DMs, newsletters, LinkedIn posts, etc.)
Messaging examples showing the value of AI-optimized SOPs
Recommended channels (LinkedIn, niche Slack groups, Substack, Reddit)
Pre-launch validation ideas (pilot offers, waitlists, feedback forms)
Focus on low-cost, high-leverage activities to build credibility fast.
Step 4: Create SOPs using AI
Prompt:
Act as a professional SOP writer with expertise in small business systems.
Write a detailed SOP based on a topic and raw notes provided by a client.
The SOP should follow this format:
Title
Purpose
Scope
Responsibilities
Step-by-step Procedure
Tools + Resources
Review Date
[VARIABLES: SOP topic, industry, client-provided notes]
Step 5: Optimize existing SOPs with AI
Prompt:
Act as a technical editor with deep SOP experience.
Review an existing SOP and improve it for clarity, structure, and readability.
Tasks:
Rewrite for skim-readability (headings, bullets, clean formatting)
Flag confusing or redundant sections
Suggest structure improvements
Add missing sections (if needed)
[VARIABLES: industry, SOP type, raw SOP text]
How you can launch this as a business
Here’s how to turn these prompts into an offer:
1. Pick your niche.
Focus on small agencies, solopreneurs, e-commerce brands, or online coaches—anyone who’s growing and needs systems.
2. Start with 1 clear offer.
For example: “3 fully custom SOPs for $297. Delivered in 5 days.”
3. Use AI for 80% of the heavy lifting.
Clients give you rough bullet points → you use the prompts above to generate clean, polished SOPs → you deliver, tweak, and send.
4. Collect testimonials + case studies.
These prove the value and help you raise your rates fast.
5. Expand into optimization packages.
Once you’ve done creation, offer monthly audits or upgrades using the optimization prompt above.
Final thought:
Every growing business needs systems.
Every smart entrepreneur needs leverage.
AI lets you deliver both—quickly, affordably, and without burning yourself out.
Whether you're building this as a new service… or just optimizing your own internal systems…
This is how you turn messy processes into repeatable, revenue-driving operations.
All you need is a prompt, a platform, and a process.
Let’s build.