Workspaces & Small Business · Operations
Equipment maintenance log template and guide
A useful log has the item, the date, what you did or what a vendor did, and the next date. A notebook that only says “fixed” is not a log.
Four columns
Item name, date, what happened, next action. Add the asset tag if you use asset tagging. Store the file where the backup policy already copies business files.
Who this is for
A workshop or office with equipment you intend to keep. Not a regulated calibration lab.
Template
- One row per service, not one row per machine forever. History is the point.
- Copy the vendor’s recommended interval if they publish one. If they do not, set a reminder to look, not a made-up safety interval.
- For the building itself, keep the seasonal walk in home maintenance as a separate list so filters do not hide inside the printer log.
Limits
A log does not make a repair correct. Gas, electrical, and refrigerant work still belong to qualified people.
Questions readers ask
Is a spreadsheet enough?
Yes for a small shop if it is backed up and one person is responsible for it. The format matters less than writing the next date.
Sources and methodology
Claims that depend on an outside authority are tied to the references below. Product details change. Confirm the current specification sheet before you buy or install anything.
- Business guide — U.S. Small Business Administration (government), accessed September 20, 2026. Operations context only.
Parent topic: Workspaces & Small Business