diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5a06ee746..aeea72ab5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ Skip the hard choice between fronting API costs, high-friction BYOK flows, or bu
 
 Building AI apps forces you to pick your poison:
 
-| Approach | Developer Cost | User Experience | Revenue Model |
-|----------|---------------|-----------------|---------------|
-| **BYOK** | None (but no revenue) | Complex key management | None |
-| **Dev API Key** | Unpredictable burn rate | Simple | Need metering + billing |
-| **Bill End Users** | Weeks building infra | Simple | Auth + Stripe + metering |
+| Approach           | Developer Cost          | User Experience        | Revenue Model            |
+| ------------------ | ----------------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------------ |
+| **BYOK**           | None (but no revenue)   | Complex key management | None                     |
+| **Dev API Key**    | Unpredictable burn rate | Simple                 | Need metering + billing  |
+| **Bill End Users** | Weeks building infra    | Simple                 | Auth + Stripe + metering |
 
 Echo eliminates all three problems.
 
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ Echo eliminates all three problems.
 Replace your AI SDK imports with Echo. Users authenticate once, get a balance, and pay for their own usage. You set a markup and earn revenue automatically.
 
 **Before:**
+
 ```typescript
 // Option 1: Front costs yourself
 import { openai } from '@ai-sdk/openai';
@@ -51,15 +52,16 @@ const response = await generateText({
 ```
 
 **After:**
+
 ```typescript
 // Users pay, you earn markup, zero infrastructure
 import { useEchoModelProviders } from '@merit-systems/echo-react-sdk';
 import { generateText } from 'ai';
 
 const { openai } = useEchoModelProviders();
-const response = await generateText({ 
-  model: openai('gpt-5'), 
-  prompt: '...'
+const response = await generateText({
+  model: openai('gpt-5'),
+  prompt: '...',
 });
 ```
 
@@ -116,7 +118,58 @@ Or run `npx echo-start my-app` to choose interactively.
 
 # Development
 
-Fill out `packages/app/control/.env` and `packages/app/server/.env`. Then...
+## Prerequisites
+
+Before running Echo locally, make sure you have:
+
+- **Node.js 18+** - [Download here](https://nodejs.org/)
+- **pnpm** - Will be installed automatically by the setup script
+- **Docker Desktop** - [Download here](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/)
+
+## Quick Setup
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/Merit-Systems/echo.git
+cd echo
+./setup.sh
+pnpm dev
+```
+
+The setup script handles environment configuration and dependency installation.
+
+## Manual Setup
+
+1. Install dependencies:
 
-- `pnpm i`
-- `pnpm dev`
+   ```bash
+   npm install -g pnpm
+   pnpm install
+   ```
+
+2. Start Docker Desktop
+
+3. Create `.env` files with required variables (see `packages/app/control/src/env.ts` for full list)
+
+4. Run `pnpm dev`
+
+## Services
+
+- Echo Control: http://localhost:3000
+- Echo Server: http://localhost:3070
+- PostgreSQL: localhost:5469
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+**Docker not running**: Start Docker Desktop
+
+**Port conflicts**: Change ports in `.env` files
+
+**Database issues**: Reset with `docker-compose -f packages/app/control/docker-local-db.yml down -v`
+
+## Development Commands
+
+```bash
+pnpm dev          # Start all services
+pnpm test:unit    # Run unit tests  
+pnpm format       # Format all code
+```
diff --git a/packages/app/control/README.md b/packages/app/control/README.md
index c507343d7..02d009038 100644
--- a/packages/app/control/README.md
+++ b/packages/app/control/README.md
@@ -41,53 +41,21 @@ A comprehensive Next.js application for managing Echo applications, API keys, an
 - **Payments**: Stripe (mocked)
 - **TypeScript**: Full type safety
 
-## Setup Instructions
+## Quick Setup
 
-### Prerequisites
+From the root directory:
 
-- Node.js 18+
-- PostgreSQL database
-- pnpm
-
-### Installation
-
-1. **Clone and navigate to the project**:
-
-   ```bash
-   cd echo-control
-   ```
-
-2. **Install dependencies**:
-
-   ```bash
-   pnpm install
-   ```
-
-3. **Set up the database**:
-
-   ```bash
-   # Copy the example environment file
-   cp .env.example .env
-
-   # Update DATABASE_URL in .env with your PostgreSQL connection string
-   # Example: DATABASE_URL="postgresql://username:password@localhost:5469/echo_control"
-   ```
-
-4. **Run database migrations**:
-
-   ```bash
-   npx prisma generate
-   npx prisma db push
-   ```
-
-5. **Start the development server**:
+```bash
+./setup.sh
+pnpm dev
+```
 
-   ```bash
-   pnpm run dev
-   ```
+## Manual Setup
 
-6. **Open the application**:
-   Visit [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000)
+1. Install dependencies: `pnpm install`
+2. Start Docker Desktop
+3. Create `.env` file with required variables (see `src/env.ts`)
+4. Run `pnpm dev`
 
 ## Environment Variables
 
@@ -107,30 +75,6 @@ NEXTAUTH_URL="http://localhost:3000"
 API_KEY_PREFIX="echo_"
 ```
 
-## Features Overview
-
-### Dashboard
-
-- View all Echo applications
-- Quick balance overview
-- Create new applications
-- Generate payment links
-
-### App Details
-
-- Comprehensive usage analytics
-- API key management
-- Transaction history
-- Model-specific usage breakdown
-- Direct Stripe integration
-
-### Balance Management
-
-- Real-time balance calculation
-- Payment history
-- Admin controls for balance adjustments
-- Stripe payment integration
-
 ## Development
 
 ### Running Tests
@@ -159,14 +103,4 @@ pnpm run build
 pnpm start
 ```
 
-## Contributing
-
-1. Fork the repository
-2. Create a feature branch
-3. Make your changes
-4. Test thoroughly
-5. Submit a pull request
-
-## License
-
-This project is licensed under the MIT License.
+Visit [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000)
diff --git a/setup.sh b/setup.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..4371036e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setup.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+echo "Setting up Echo for local development..."
+
+# Check for pnpm
+if ! command -v pnpm &> /dev/null; then
+    echo "Installing pnpm..."
+    npm install -g pnpm
+    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+        echo "Failed to install pnpm. Please install manually: npm install -g pnpm"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+fi
+
+# Check for Docker
+if ! command -v docker &> /dev/null; then
+    echo "Docker not found. Please install Docker Desktop: https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+if ! docker info &> /dev/null; then
+    echo "Docker not running. Please start Docker Desktop."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Installing dependencies..."
+pnpm install
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "Failed to install dependencies."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Setting up environment files..."
+
+# Control .env
+if [ ! -f "packages/app/control/.env" ]; then
+    echo "Creating control .env file..."
+    touch packages/app/control/.env
+    
+    # Generate AUTH_SECRET and add required variables
+    AUTH_SECRET=$(node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(32).toString('hex'))")
+    cat > packages/app/control/.env << EOF
+# ----------
+# Application
+# ----------
+
+ECHO_CONTROL_APP_BASE_URL="http://localhost:3000"
+API_KEY_PREFIX="echo_"
+
+# ----------
+# Database
+# ----------
+
+DATABASE_URL="postgresql://echo_user:echo_password@localhost:5469/echo_control_v2?schema=public"
+
+# ----------
+# AUTH
+# ----------
+
+AUTH_SECRET=$AUTH_SECRET
+AUTH_GOOGLE_ID=placeholder_google_id
+AUTH_GOOGLE_SECRET=placeholder_google_secret
+AUTH_GITHUB_ID=placeholder_github_id
+AUTH_GITHUB_SECRET=placeholder_github_secret
+AUTH_RESEND_KEY=placeholder_resend_key
+AUTH_RESEND_FROM_EMAIL=noreply@example.com
+
+# ----------
+# STRIPE
+# ----------
+
+STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=placeholder_stripe_secret_key
+STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=placeholder_stripe_publishable_key
+STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET=placeholder_stripe_webhook_secret
+WEBHOOK_URL=http://localhost:3000/api/webhooks/stripe
+
+# ----------
+# OAuth Tokens
+# ----------
+
+OAUTH_JWT_SECRET=$AUTH_SECRET
+OAUTH_REFRESH_TOKEN_EXPIRY_SECONDS=2592000
+OAUTH_ACCESS_TOKEN_EXPIRY_SECONDS=15
+
+# ----------
+# Telemetry
+# ----------
+
+OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT=
+SIGNOZ_INGESTION_KEY=
+SIGNOZ_SERVICE_NAME=
+
+# ----------
+# Blob Storage
+# ----------
+
+BLOB_READ_WRITE_TOKEN=
+EOF
+fi
+
+# Server .env
+if [ ! -f "packages/app/server/.env" ]; then
+    echo "Creating server .env file..."
+    touch packages/app/server/.env
+    
+    AUTH_SECRET=$(node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(32).toString('hex'))")
+    cat > packages/app/server/.env << EOF
+PORT=3070
+DATABASE_URL="postgresql://echo_user:echo_password@localhost:5469/echo_control_v2?schema=public"
+ECHO_CONTROL_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3000
+ECHO_API_KEY=placeholder_api_key
+OAUTH_JWT_SECRET=$AUTH_SECRET
+EOF
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "Setup complete. Run 'pnpm dev' to start development servers."
+echo ""
+echo "Services will be available at:"
+echo "- Echo Control: http://localhost:3000"
+echo "- Echo Server: http://localhost:3070"
+echo "- PostgreSQL: localhost:5469"