The present invention relates to a process for making a polyol which comprises the steps of: (a) fabricating a propoxylated polyhydric initiator by reacting propylene oxide with a polyhydric initiator in the presence of an acid catalyst, said reaction being conducted in the absence of a KOH catalyst, to produce a propoxylated polyhydric initiator containing acid catalyst residue(s) and free of KOH catalyst residue, and (b) reacting said propoxylated polyhydric initiator containing acid catalyst residue(s) with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a double metal cyanide complex catalyst to produce a polyol.