diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 62edc8c7..6bc34240 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,17 +13,16 @@ Fawx is a local-first agentic engine. It runs on your machine, calls LLMs for re
 ## Quick Start
 
 ```bash
-# Build
 git clone https://github.com/fawxai/fawx.git
-cd fawx && cargo build --release
+cd fawx
+./scripts/install.sh
 
-# Configure (interactive wizard)
-./target/release/fawx setup
-
-# Run
-./target/release/fawx serve
+fawx setup
+fawx serve
 ```
 
+This builds from source, installs the `fawx` binary to `~/.local/bin/`, and walks you through configuration. Set `INSTALL_DIR` to change the install location.
+
 Bring your own API key (Anthropic, OpenAI, or local models). Fawx never sends data anywhere except the LLM provider you choose.
 
 ---
diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..4c5de7e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+INSTALL_DIR="${INSTALL_DIR:-$HOME/.local/bin}"
+
+main() {
+    echo "Building Fawx..."
+    cd "$REPO_ROOT"
+    cargo build --release -p fx-cli
+
+    echo "Installing to $INSTALL_DIR..."
+    mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
+    cp "target/release/fawx" "$INSTALL_DIR/fawx"
+    chmod +x "$INSTALL_DIR/fawx"
+
+    if ! echo "$PATH" | tr ':' '\n' | grep -qx "$INSTALL_DIR"; then
+        echo ""
+        echo "⚠ $INSTALL_DIR is not in your PATH."
+        echo "  Add it to your shell profile:"
+        echo ""
+        echo "    export PATH=\"$INSTALL_DIR:\$PATH\""
+        echo ""
+        echo "  Then restart your shell or run: source ~/.bashrc"
+    fi
+
+    echo ""
+    echo "✓ Fawx installed. Run: fawx setup"
+}
+
+main "$@"