diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b88fa1f7..2fb33434 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -56,7 +56,16 @@ cd planka
 npm install
 ```
 
-Create a database and edit `DATABASE_URL` in `.env` file. Then initialize it:
+Either use a local db or start the provided development db: `docker-compose -f docker-compose-dev.yml up`
+
+Create a db user by first logging into the db `psql -U postgres -h localhost` and then:
+
+```
+create user [username]; --create a role for your local username
+grant postgres to [username]; --grant all privileges to this user
+```
+
+Finally, create a database and edit `DATABASE_URL` in `.env` file. Then initialize it:
 
 ```
 npm run server:db:init
diff --git a/docker-compose-dev.yml b/docker-compose-dev.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..09ba3f75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose-dev.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+version: '3'
+
+services:
+  postgres:
+    image: postgres:alpine
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    volumes:
+      - db-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
+    environment:
+      - POSTGRES_DB=planka
+      - POSTGRES_HOST_AUTH_METHOD=trust
+    ports:
+      - "5432:5432"
+    expose:
+      - "5432"
+volumes:
+  db-data: