Manual Writers provides honest advice on processes, standards and performance and delivers all the procedures, manuals and training you need - Leaving you free to concentrate on your business,
Services, pricing & timing FAQ
What does it cost?
We don’t list fees on our website because we need to learn more about your organisation before proposing how best to help you at a fair price. That’s why we offer a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION - where we come to you, learn about your needs, give free advice and then quote for services that will most benefit you. If you’d like an idea before meeting, simply enquire and we can discuss your needs and indicate costs over the phone.
Why not just do it ourselves?
Professionals are experienced in writing, so create better results quicker at less cost, delivering a performance-boost to your business sooner. If you try to develop manuals or training in-house, your Team must focus on the project (for a long time) at a high cost* OR take an age whilst balancing other responsibilities. Many attempts fail, time and money are wasted, and professionals are still called in.
*I.e. if payroll is 25% of your turnover then every £1000 of your Team’s time diverted to manuals will cost you £4,000 in lost sales or productivity.
What experience do you have?
We have 30 years’ experience driving strategy and performance at board level in UK and international organisations and 20 years’ direct experience developing operations manuals, franchise manuals, training and user manuals for famous names, PLCs, national franchises and all sizes of privately-owned businesses. We’ve created hundreds of operations and franchise manuals, user manuals and procedures for clients in all sectors in the UK and around the World.
What sort of relationship will we have?
We’re interested in developing long-term mutually beneficial relationships with all clients. That way we can continue to help you with consultancy, manuals and training as you grow and your needs change. That’s why we happily give free objective advice in initial consultations and work hard to deliver services that most benefit every client, within their budget, at every stage of their development – however big or small the organisation.
Do you keep our information and data confidential?
To develop good manuals and training we need to access some very important and commercially sensitive information. You can trust us to respect and protect everything you give us. We keep all your information and documents completely confidential and sign non-disclosure agreements (‘N.D.A.’s) to that effect. We also don’t list clients in our marketing because many prefer not to advertise that their operations or training were written by a third-party.
Do you do design work in manuals and training?
We provide very clear formatting and graphics and can use your corporate language, designs, images, colours and fonts (where supplied). We create bespoke graphics in Adobe Illustrator and InDesign where needed for operations manuals and can also create detailed line drawings in Adobe for technical processes and user manuals etc. We can also provide photography. We don’t provide any formal web design, IT or printing services but will work closely with those providers at your request.
Can you put our manuals online?
We can help you arrange online and ‘App’ versions of your manuals through third parties and readily available platforms or software packages. Our own focus is on providing excellent content, but we can work closely with providers to publish in any format.
Are payments and data secure ON your online shop?
Yes. All payments are secure, made through a global provider (Stripe) and are encrypted – we never see your data or card details. Payment leads to instant download links of our online documents (PDF files). We don’t contact buyers with any follow up calls or marketing (unless you send us a separate enquiry). So, you can shop with peace of mind.
When will you be adding more documents to your shop?
The online shop is new. We’ll be adding operations manual guides, franchising guides, example contents-lists for operations and franchise manuals and individual procedure templates for different sectors (all with completion notes) over the coming months. A large selection of documents will be added before end Q4 2022.
If we use your services, will you refund items we buy in your shop?
Yes. We’ll refund any items the contracting organisation purchased from our online shop in the 12 months before we’re engaged.
Do you reward referrals that lead to business?
Yes. Get in touch if you’d like to introduce us to an organisation you feel would truly benefit from our services.
How long does it take?
Operations and Franchise Manuals - we offer 3 -levels: our ‘standard’ manuals take about 6-9 weeks; ‘enhanced’ manuals 12-20+ weeks; and our ‘top-level’ manuals (with performance review) are contracted over 6,9 or 12 months - all depending on depth and needs. Training - we create training in 2-4 weeks and can act as trainer as well. Review of Existing manuals - takes around 3-8 weeks depending on size. Other services - depend on depth. But whatever your deadline, we can find a way to deliver what you need on time.
How are you better or different?
We write bespoke manuals and training that cover EVERY aspect of your business. Readers of our comprehensive manuals can see how to run your business from opening the doors, through every process, to closing up after each successful week. We use clear English and engaging formats to communicate in ways your Team use and remember. Others only supply statutory policies or generic templates written in legalese but don’t include the guidance your staff really needs to do their jobs, operate your processes and meet your standards. We’re better because we write manuals and training from the ground-up to assess, improve and explain every element of your operation with a focus on the procedures and guidance that most improve the performance of your business.
Can I see previous work?
Well be very happy to show you examples of our previous work in all sorts of manuals and training and to talk you through them, when we meet in an initial free consultation. We can’t post excerpts or copies of any of the confidential work we’ve done for others online or send them out to anybody for obvious reasons - but still hope you get a flavour of our experience from this website. We can also give you details of previous clients you can contact for a reference.
What if we want to stop part way through a project?
That’s fine.
We’re sure you’ll be delighted with our services and will want to continue working with us in mutually beneficial ways – but if you ever did want to stop part-way through a project, at any stage for any reason (e.g. changes in your business or budget), then our contract with you allows you to cancel at any time with 30-days’ notice and no penalties.
Will you share work you do for us with others?
No. We will never share your manuals, documents or training with others. Should we ever use any pre-existing formats or templates in our work then these are created by us and under our own copyright - we never use material from previous clients or anyone else.
Who owns copyright on the manuals and training you write for us?
In the simplest terms: you do. All clients get electronic versions of manuals and training they can edit and use as they wish. You don’t need to come back to us to make changes or to publish additional copies and there are no ongoing license fees. We retain the copyright of any content we’ve provided but license it in perpetuity for your use within the organisation that originally contracted us. Any content you provide remains your own copyright or that of the third party you get it from (e.g. the HR company you use).
Can you organise training and act as trainer?
Yes. As well as developing your training for you, we can quote separately to act as the trainer of courses we’ve written or adapted for you and can organise additional speakers, host venues, refreshments and facilities (etc.) at your request.
We’re worried about Brexit, how can you help?
We can help you to plan for Brexit and then to develop new procedures, manuals and training to meet the challenges and opportunities raised by our changing relationship with Europe and new controls and regulations as they emerge.
Why don’t you sell templates of complete operations or franchise manuals online?
The best manuals are written bespoke to focus on procedures that enhance your organisation – not generic templates that are copied from others or replicate statutory policies you can get cheaper elsewhere. The ‘complete’ operating or franchise system templates we’ve seen are overpriced, of dubious copyright and are so generic they’re useless. And quite frankly, we can start writing decent bespoke manuals for you at the same price of some of them. If you’re writing manuals yourself, the example contents-lists (with completion notes) and individual procedure templates we’re adding to our shop will offer you better guidance at a fraction of the cost.
Can we ask you to develop a specific template for us?
Get in touch, we can probably just develop and write up the individual policies or procedures you need, completely bespoke for your organisation, at a low cost. If you’d like to suggest future additions to our online shop, simply let us know and we’d be happy to consider them.
Can our organisations work together?
Get in touch. We’d be happy to hear from like minded organisations that offer excellent products or services that might benefit our clients.
Can I work with you? Do you have any positions vacant?
If we have any positions vacant, they will be advertised on our website.