diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15065ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# bindown
+
+**bindown** is a command-line utility to download, verify and install binary files. It is intended to be used in
+development and ci environments where it is important to guarantee the same version of the same binary is downloaded
+every time.
+
+## Usage
+
+```
+ Usage: bindown <command>
+
+Flags:
+  --help                            Show context-sensitive help.
+  --configfile="buildtools.json"    file with tool definitions
+  --cellar-dir=STRING               directory where downloads will be cached
+
+Commands:
+  version
+
+  download <target-file>
+    download a bin
+
+  config format
+    formats the config file
+
+  config update-checksums <target-file>
+    name of the binary to update
+
+  config validate <bin>
+    validate that downloads work
+
+Run "bindown <command> --help" for more information on a command.
+```