diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cb5bc63..36378e0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -98,12 +98,10 @@ TESTNET=1 ./configure-box.sh
 REGTEST=1 ./configure-box.sh
 ```
 
-### Step 3. Run the services
+### Step 3. Run Umbrel
 
 ```bash
-docker-compose up -d
-# Verify the services
-docker ps -a
+sudo ./scripts/start
 ```
 
 ---
diff --git a/bin/update/01-run.sh b/bin/update/01-run.sh
index 45d61f8..a088a37 100755
--- a/bin/update/01-run.sh
+++ b/bin/update/01-run.sh
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ cat <<EOF > "$UMBREL_ROOT"/statuses/update-status.json
 {"state": "installing", "progress": 70, "description": "Removing old containers", "updateTo": "$RELEASE"}
 EOF
 cd "$UMBREL_ROOT"
-docker-compose down
+./scripts/stop
 
 # Overlay home dir structure with new dir tree
 echo "Overlaying $UMBREL_ROOT/ with new directory tree"
@@ -82,4 +82,4 @@ cat <<EOF > "$UMBREL_ROOT"/statuses/update-status.json
 {"state": "installing", "progress": 80, "description": "Starting new containers", "updateTo": "$RELEASE"}
 EOF
 cd "$UMBREL_ROOT"
-docker-compose up --detach --remove-orphans
+./scripts/start
diff --git a/events/triggers/reboot b/events/triggers/reboot
index 36eec5d..f02ce94 100755
--- a/events/triggers/reboot
+++ b/events/triggers/reboot
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-docker-compose stop
+./scripts/stop
 shutdown -r now
diff --git a/events/triggers/shutdown b/events/triggers/shutdown
index 9662331..acfd6f5 100755
--- a/events/triggers/shutdown
+++ b/events/triggers/shutdown
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-docker-compose stop
+./scripts/stop
 shutdown -h now
diff --git a/scripts/start b/scripts/start
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..e831120
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/start
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Start Umbrel
+
+if [[ $UID != 0 ]]; then
+    echo "Umbrel must be started as root"
+    echo "Please re-run this script as"
+    echo "  sudo ./scripts/start"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+check_dependencies () {
+  for cmd in "$@"; do
+    if ! command -v $cmd >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      echo "This script requires \"${cmd}\" to be installed"
+      exit 1
+    fi
+  done
+}
+
+# Check system's dependencies
+check_dependencies readlink dirname docker docker-compose git
+
+# Check karen's dependencies
+check_dependencies fswatch 
+
+# Check OTA update scripts' dependencies
+check_dependencies rsync jq wget
+
+echo "Starting Umbrel..."
+echo
+
+UMBREL_ROOT="$(dirname $(readlink -f "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}"))/.."
+
+if [[ ! -d "$UMBREL_ROOT" ]]; then
+  echo "Root dir does not exist '$UMBREL_ROOT'"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+cd "$UMBREL_ROOT"
+
+echo "Starting karen..."
+echo
+./karen &
+
+echo
+echo "Starting Docker services..."
+echo
+docker-compose up --detach --build --remove-orphans
diff --git a/scripts/status b/scripts/status
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..6423615
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/status
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Get Umbrel Status
+
+docker ps -a
diff --git a/scripts/stop b/scripts/stop
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..375a7f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/stop
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Stop Umbrel
+
+if [[ $UID != 0 ]]; then
+    echo "Umbrel must be stopped as root"
+    echo "Please re-run this script as"
+    echo "  sudo ./scripts/stop"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+UMBREL_ROOT="$(dirname $(readlink -f "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}"))/.."
+
+if [[ ! -d "$UMBREL_ROOT" ]]; then
+  echo "Root dir does not exist '$UMBREL_ROOT'"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+cd "$UMBREL_ROOT"
+
+echo "Stopping Docker services..."
+echo
+docker-compose down