diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f673f9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# Python repo template
+[![GitHub forks](https://img.shields.io/github/forks/Lerking/python-repo-template.svg?style=social&label=Fork&maxAge=2592000)](https://GitHub.com/Lerking/python-repo-template/forks/)
+[![GitHub stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/Lerking/python-repo-template.svg?style=social&label=Star&maxAge=2592000)](https://GitHub.com/Lerking/python-repo-template/stargazers/)
+[![GitHub watchers](https://img.shields.io/github/watchers/Lerking/python-repo-template.svg?style=social&label=Watch&maxAge=2592000)](https://GitHub.com/Lerking/python-repo-template/watchers/)
+
+[![forthebadge made-with-python](http://ForTheBadge.com/images/badges/made-with-python.svg)](https://www.python.org/)
+
+[![GitHub version](https://badge.fury.io/gh/Lerking-python-repo-template.svg)](https://github.com/Lerking/python-repo-template)
+
+[![Maintenance](https://img.shields.io/badge/Maintained%3F-yes-green.svg)](https://GitHub.com/Lerking/python-repo-template.github.io/graphs/commit-activity)
+[![GitHub contributors](https://img.shields.io/github/contributors/Lerking/python-repo-template.svg)](https://GitHub.com/Lerking/python-repo-template/graphs/contributors/)
+
+[![Github file count](https://img.shields.io/github/directory-file-count/Lerking/python-repo-template)]()
+
+[![GitHub issues](https://img.shields.io/github/issues/Lerking/python-repo-template.svg)](https://GitHub.com/Lerking/python-repo-template/issues/)
+[![GitHub issues-closed](https://img.shields.io/github/issues-closed/Lerking/python-repo-template.svg)](https://GitHub.com/Lerking/python-repo-template/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aclosed)
+[![Percentage of issues still open](http://isitmaintained.com/badge/open/Lerking/python-repo-template.svg)](http://isitmaintained.com/project/Lerking/python-repo-template "Percentage of issues still open")
+[![Average time to resolve an issue](http://isitmaintained.com/badge/resolution/Lerking/python-repo-template.svg)](http://isitmaintained.com/project/Lerking/python-repo-template "Average time to resolve an issue")
+
+[![GitHub pull-requests](https://img.shields.io/github/issues-pr/Lerking/python-repo-template.svg)](https://GitHub.com/Lerking/python-repo-template/pull)
+[![GitHub total-pull-requests](https://badgen.net/github/prs/Lerking/python-repo-template)](https://GitHub.com/Lerking/python-repo-template/pull)
+
+Coding time for this reposotory.</br>
+[![wakatime](https://wakatime.com/badge/user/d43f2852-fd6f-45b4-b713-558ad18204d4/project/dcf411f9-6d3e-4b14-9290-5ed419cf4012.svg)](https://wakatime.com/badge/user/d43f2852-fd6f-45b4-b713-558ad18204d4/project/dcf411f9-6d3e-4b14-9290-5ed419cf4012)
+
+See the wiki for usage and examples.
+[python-repo-template wiki page](https://github.com/Lerking/python-repo-template/wiki)
+
+Visitors since repo creation.</br>
+![Visitor Badge](https://visitor-badge.laobi.icu/badge?page_id=Lerking.python-repo-template)
+
+## Using this as a project template
+
+Beyond the bare Python repo scaffold (`main.py`, `LICENCE`, `.gitignore`), this template
+includes everything needed to kick off a new project properly:
+
+| What | Where |
+|---|---|
+| Project specification template | [`docs/PROJECT_SPECIFICATION_TEMPLATE.md`](docs/PROJECT_SPECIFICATION_TEMPLATE.md) |
+| Value stream mapping template (OpenDocument Presentation) | [`docs/value-stream-mapping/value_stream_map_template.odp`](docs/value-stream-mapping/value_stream_map_template.odp) |
+| New project setup checklist | [`docs/NEW_PROJECT_CHECKLIST.md`](docs/NEW_PROJECT_CHECKLIST.md) |
+| Wiki template (copy into your repo's actual wiki) | [`wiki/`](wiki/) |
+| Standard first-step issues (value stream goals, specification, wiki setup, checklist) | [`.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/`](.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/) |
+
+Start with the checklist — it walks through repository setup, defining the project (value
+stream map + specification), planning, tooling, documentation, and kickoff, in order.