Free Governance Framework

Your AI Is Only as Good as the Rules Around It. A Practical Framework for Business Owners Who Want to Use AI Responsibly.

AI creates real operational, legal, and reputational risk if it is deployed without a governance structure. This framework is not written for lawyers or compliance officers. It is written for business owners who want a practical way to manage AI risk without a certification program.

Covers the four categories of AI risk most relevant to SMBs, the governance controls that address them, and how to build accountability into your AI use without bureaucracy.

4 categories of AI risk every SMB needs a documented plan for
ISO 42001 the international AI governance standard gaining enterprise traction
1 policy doc the minimum governance artifact every AI-using business should have

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Inside the Framework

Six sections. From risk identification through sustainable governance.

The Four Risk Categories

Data risk, decision risk, vendor risk, and reputational risk. What each looks like and where most businesses are most exposed.

Your Minimum Viable AI Policy

What a one-page AI use policy needs to say, and why having nothing in writing creates liability you may not know you are carrying.

Human in the Loop Requirements

Which AI use cases require human review before action, and how to build that into your workflows without slowing them down.

Vendor Due Diligence

The 10 questions to ask any AI vendor before you give them access to your business data.

ISO 42001 and When It Matters

Who needs to pursue formal certification, who does not, and what the certification path looks like for a business your size.

Governance Maintenance

How to keep your AI governance current as tools evolve without rebuilding your framework every six months.

Who This Framework Is For

For any business that uses AI and has not yet put governance around it.

Business Owners Using AI Without a Written Policy

If you are using AI tools in your business and nothing is documented, this framework is the fastest way to close that gap.

Operations and Compliance Leaders

You need a governance structure that is rigorous enough to satisfy an audit but practical enough for your team to actually follow.

Companies Responding to Enterprise Client Requirements

If a client or partner has asked about your AI governance, this framework helps you answer that question with substance.

Leaders Preparing for ISO 42001

If you are on the path toward formal AI governance certification, this framework is a practical starting point for that journey.

About Heed AI Solutions

We help businesses use AI responsibly from the start.

Michael Bowers has worked with businesses to build AI governance frameworks that are practical enough to implement without a dedicated compliance team. The framework in this guide reflects what actually works at the SMB level, not what a multinational corporation would need.

Read Our Governance Approach
4 AI risk categories every SMB should have a documented position on
1 page minimum viable AI policy that reduces your exposure immediately
10 questions vendor due diligence checklist for any AI tool that touches your data
ISO 42001 the global AI governance standard and whether it applies to your business

Ready to put governance around your AI use?

The framework gets you started. A governance engagement builds it properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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