diff --git a/jlmkr.py b/jlmkr.py
index 1613c98..5d62e66 100755
--- a/jlmkr.py
+++ b/jlmkr.py
@@ -1192,6 +1192,7 @@ def create_jail(**kwargs):
         if not check_jail_name_available(jail_name):
             return 1
 
+        start_now = kwargs.pop("start", start_now)
         jail_config_path = kwargs.pop("config")
 
         config = KeyValueParser()
@@ -1928,6 +1929,11 @@ def main():
     )
     commands["create"].add_argument("--distro")
     commands["create"].add_argument("--release")
+    commands["create"].add_argument(
+        "--start",  #
+        help="start jail after create",
+        action="store_true",
+    )
     commands["create"].add_argument(
         "--startup",
         type=int,
diff --git a/templates/docker/README.md b/templates/docker/README.md
index b7e0764..17a5b5b 100644
--- a/templates/docker/README.md
+++ b/templates/docker/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 ## Setup
 
-Check out the [config](./config) template file. You may provide it when asked during `jlmkr create` or, if you have the template file stored on your NAS, you may provide it directly by running `jlmkr create --config /mnt/tank/path/to/docker/config mydockerjail`.
\ No newline at end of file
+Check out the [config](./config) template file. You may provide it when asked during `jlmkr create` or, if you have the template file stored on your NAS, you may provide it directly by running `jlmkr create --start --config /mnt/tank/path/to/docker/config mydockerjail`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/templates/incus/README.md b/templates/incus/README.md
index 70cc801..72d7339 100644
--- a/templates/incus/README.md
+++ b/templates/incus/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ## Setup
 
-Check out the [config](./config) template file. You may provide it when asked during `jlmkr create` or, if you have the template file stored on your NAS, you may provide it directly by running `jlmkr create --config /mnt/tank/path/to/incus/config myincusjail`.
+Check out the [config](./config) template file. You may provide it when asked during `jlmkr create` or, if you have the template file stored on your NAS, you may provide it directly by running `jlmkr create --start --config /mnt/tank/path/to/incus/config myincusjail`.
 
 Unfortunately incus doesn't want to install from the `initial_setup` script inside the config file. So we manually finish the setup by running the following after creating and starting the jail:
 
diff --git a/templates/lxd/README.md b/templates/lxd/README.md
index baa24cb..185a16f 100644
--- a/templates/lxd/README.md
+++ b/templates/lxd/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ## Setup
 
-Check out the [config](./config) template file. You may provide it when asked during `jlmkr create` or, if you have the template file stored on your NAS, you may provide it directly by running `jlmkr create --config /mnt/tank/path/to/lxd/config mylxdjail`.
+Check out the [config](./config) template file. You may provide it when asked during `jlmkr create` or, if you have the template file stored on your NAS, you may provide it directly by running `jlmkr create --start --config /mnt/tank/path/to/lxd/config mylxdjail`.
 
 Unfortunately snapd doesn't want to install from the `initial_setup` script inside the config file. So we manually finish the setup by running the following after creating and starting the jail:
 
diff --git a/templates/podman/README.md b/templates/podman/README.md
index dba7fbd..4e28d24 100644
--- a/templates/podman/README.md
+++ b/templates/podman/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Setup
 
-Check out the [config](./config) template file. You may provide it when asked during `jlmkr create` or, if you have the template file stored on your NAS, you may provide it directly by running `jlmkr create --config /mnt/tank/path/to/podman/config mypodmanjail`.
+Check out the [config](./config) template file. You may provide it when asked during `jlmkr create` or, if you have the template file stored on your NAS, you may provide it directly by running `jlmkr create --start --config /mnt/tank/path/to/podman/config mypodmanjail`.
 
 ## Rootless