diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b621e1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+.PHONY: help setup db-up db-down migrate bootstrap dev shell clean
+
+help: ## Show this help message
+	@echo 'Usage: make [target]'
+	@echo ''
+	@echo 'Available targets:'
+	@grep -E '^[a-zA-Z_-]+:.*?## .*$$' $(MAKEFILE_LIST) | sort | awk 'BEGIN {FS = ":.*?## "}; {printf "  \033[36m%-15s\033[0m %s\n", $$1, $$2}'
+
+setup: db-up migrate bootstrap ## Complete setup: start database, run migrations, and bootstrap data
+	@echo "✓ Setup complete! You do not need to run this again; Run 'make dev' to start the development server."
+
+db-up: ## Start PostgreSQL database using Docker Compose
+	@echo "Starting PostgreSQL database..."
+	@docker compose up -d -f docker-compose.dev.yml
+	@echo "Waiting for database to be ready..."
+	@sleep 3
+	@echo "✓ Database is running"
+
+db-down: ## Stop PostgreSQL database
+	@echo "Stopping PostgreSQL database..."
+	@docker compose down
+
+migrate: ## Run database migrations
+	@echo "Running migrations..."
+	@uv run python manage.py migrate
+	@echo "✓ Migrations complete"
+
+bootstrap: ## Bootstrap initial data (anonymous user, packages, models)
+	@echo "Bootstrapping initial data..."
+	@echo "This will take a bit ⏱️. Get yourself some coffe..."
+	@uv run python manage.py bootstrap
+	@echo "✓ Bootstrap complete"
+	@echo ""
+	@echo "Default admin credentials:"
+	@echo "  Username: admin"
+	@echo "  Email: admin@envipath.com"
+	@echo "  Password: SuperSafe"
+
+dev: db-up
+	@uv run python manage.py runserver
+
+shell: ## Open Django shell
+	@uv run python manage.py shell
+
+clean: ## Remove database and volumes (WARNING: destroys all data)
+	@echo "WARNING: This will delete all database data!"
+	@read -p "Are you sure? [y/N] " -n 1 -r; \
+	echo; \
+	if [[ $$REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$$ ]]; then \
+		docker compose down -v; \
+		echo "✓ Cleaned"; \
+	else \
+		echo "Cancelled"; \
+	fi
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bce932e3..49dd520a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ These instructions will guide you through setting up the project for local devel
 ### Prerequisites
 
 - Python 3.11 or later
-- [uv](https://github.com/astral-sh/uv) - A fast Python package installer and resolver.
-- **Docker and Docker Compose** - Required for running the PostgreSQL database.
+- [uv](https://github.com/astral-sh/uv) - Python package manager
+- **Docker and Docker Compose** - Required for running PostgreSQL database
 - Git
 
-> **Note:** This application requires PostgreSQL, which uses `ArrayField`. Docker is the recommended way to run PostgreSQL locally.
+> **Note:** This application requires PostgreSQL (uses `ArrayField`). Docker is the easiest way to run PostgreSQL locally.
+
 
 ### 1. Install Dependencies