How to Establish Business Standards

Establish Business Standards

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As you become familiar with the day-to-day operations of a new business, it’s time to think about establishing business standards for consistency's sake. In addition, depending upon your area of business, there may be national or international business standards to which you must comply. Here's how to establish business standards.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Develop a mission statement that represents your goals, your intended customer base and a short description of the guidelines and procedures under which your business will operate. This is a general summary of your standards and your purpose for existing.

Step2

Detail the standards by which employees will comply. Workers need strict guidelines they can turn to when questioning a business policy or situation. Compile an employee handbook and include the standards that apply and the method the employee will use to report infractions.

Step3

Set administrative guidelines that regulate the dissemination of personal information, complaint procedures and detail employee rights. It’s a good idea to allow a business attorney to look over the standards to make sure everything complies with labor laws.

Step4

Define quality control procedures. By what measure will you judge your product or services? Will you give credit based upon customer satisfaction or upon product performance? Answer these questions when forming your business standards.

Step5

Establish your business to business standard of conduct. How will you contact clients and conduct business? Detail the approved method of purchasing, invoicing, bookkeeping and incentive programs.

Step6

Stay flexible. When you’re starting out, odds are you’ll miss some issues., and that's okay. Make your business standards as complete as possible and leave open the option of revising them on a regular basis, should the need arise.

Tips & Warnings

Consult others in your line of business for advice. While you may set fees for services that are competitive, you may not get together with your competitors and collectively set prices. Price-fixing is illegal.