diff --git a/src/__tests__/github.test.ts b/src/__tests__/github.test.ts
index f7ec023..71f52e5 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/github.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/github.test.ts
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ describe('createRepo', () => {
         'repo',
         'create',
         'my-app',
-        '--public',
+        '--private',
         `--source=${projectPath}`,
         '--remote=origin',
         '--push',
diff --git a/src/__tests__/save.test.ts b/src/__tests__/save.test.ts
index fa90aa7..7b85812 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/save.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/save.test.ts
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ describe('runSave', () => {
     await expect(runSave(cwd)).rejects.toMatchObject({ message: 'add failed' });
 
     expect(consoleErrorSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      expect.stringContaining('Save or push failed'),
+      expect.stringContaining('Push failed'),
     );
   });
 
diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index b8a7116..3fb22ed 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import { program } from 'commander';
 import { execa } from 'execa';
-import inquirer from 'inquirer';
 import fs from 'fs-extra';
 import path from 'path';
 import { defaultTemplates } from './templates.js';
@@ -10,18 +9,7 @@ import { mergeTemplates } from './template-loader.js';
 import { offerAndCreateGitHubRepo } from './github.js';
 import { runSave } from './save.js';
 import { runLoad } from './load.js';
-
-/** Project data provided by the user */
-type ProjectData = {
-  /** Project name */
-  name: string, 
-  /** Project version */
-  version: string,
-  /** Project description */
-  description: string,
-  /** Project author */
-  author: string
-}
+import { runCreate } from './create.js';
 
 /** Command to create a new project */
 program
@@ -32,172 +20,12 @@ program
   .argument('[template-name]', 'The name of the template to use')
   .option('-t, --template-file <path>', 'Path to a JSON file with custom templates (same format as built-in)')
   .option('--ssh', 'Use SSH URL for cloning the template repository')
+  .option('--repo <visibility>', 'GitHub repo visibility when creating a repo: public or private (default: private)', 'private')
   .action(async (projectDirectory, templateName, options) => {
-    const templatesToUse = mergeTemplates(defaultTemplates, options?.templateFile);
-
-    // If project directory is not provided, prompt for it
-    if (!projectDirectory) {
-      const projectDirAnswer = await inquirer.prompt([
-        {
-          type: 'input',
-          name: 'projectDirectory',
-          message: 'Please provide the directory where you want to create the project?',
-          default: 'my-app',
-        },
-      ]);
-      projectDirectory = projectDirAnswer.projectDirectory;
-    }
-
-    // If template name is not provided, show available templates and let user select
-    if (!templateName) {
-      console.log('\n📋 Available templates:\n');
-      templatesToUse.forEach(t => {
-        console.log(`  ${t.name.padEnd(12)} - ${t.description}`);
-      });
-      console.log('');
-      
-      const templateQuestion = [
-        {
-          type: 'list',
-          name: 'templateName',
-          message: 'Select a template:',
-          choices: templatesToUse.map(t => ({
-            name: `${t.name} - ${t.description}`,
-            value: t.name
-          }))
-        }
-      ];
-      
-      const templateAnswer = await inquirer.prompt(templateQuestion);
-      templateName = templateAnswer.templateName;
-    }
-    
-    // Look up the template by name
-    const template = templatesToUse.find(t => t.name === templateName);
-    if (!template) {
-      console.error(`❌ Template "${templateName}" not found.\n`);
-      console.log('📋 Available templates:\n');
-      templatesToUse.forEach(t => {
-        console.log(`  ${t.name.padEnd(12)} - ${t.description}`);
-      });
-      console.log('');
-      process.exit(1);
-    }
-
-    // If --ssh was not passed, prompt whether to use SSH
-    let useSSH = options?.ssh;
-    if (useSSH === undefined && template.repoSSH) {
-      const sshAnswer = await inquirer.prompt([
-        {
-          type: 'confirm',
-          name: 'useSSH',
-          message: 'Use SSH URL for cloning?',
-          default: false,
-        },
-      ]);
-      useSSH = sshAnswer.useSSH;
-    }
-
-    const templateRepoUrl = useSSH && template.repoSSH ? template.repoSSH : template.repo;
-    
-    // Define the full path for the new project
-    const projectPath = path.resolve(projectDirectory);
-    console.log(`Cloning template "${templateName}" from ${templateRepoUrl} into ${projectPath}...`);
-
     try {
-      
-      // Clone the repository
-      const cloneArgs = ['clone'];
-      if (template.options && Array.isArray(template.options)) {
-        cloneArgs.push(...template.options);
-      }
-      cloneArgs.push(templateRepoUrl, projectPath);
-      await execa('git', cloneArgs, { stdio: 'inherit' });
-      console.log('✅ Template cloned successfully.');
-
-      // Remove the .git folder from the *new* project
-      await fs.remove(path.join(projectPath, '.git'));
-      console.log('🧹 Cleaned up template .git directory.');
-
-      // Ask user for customization details
-      const questions = [
-        {
-          type: 'input',
-          name: 'name',
-          message: 'What is the project name?',
-          default: path.basename(projectPath),
-        },
-        {
-          type: 'input',
-          name: 'version',
-          message: 'What version number would you like to use?',
-          default: '1.0.0',
-        },
-        {
-          type: 'input',
-          name: 'description',
-          message: 'What is the project description?',
-          default: '',
-        },
-        {
-          type: 'input',
-          name: 'author',
-          message: 'Who is the author of the project?',
-          default: '',
-        },
-      ];
-
-      const answers: ProjectData = await inquirer.prompt(questions);
-
-      // Update the package.json in the new project
-      const pkgJsonPath = path.join(projectPath, 'package.json');
-      
-      if (await fs.pathExists(pkgJsonPath)) {
-        const pkgJson = await fs.readJson(pkgJsonPath);
-        
-        // Overwrite fields with user's answers
-        pkgJson.name = answers.name;
-        pkgJson.version = answers.version;
-        pkgJson.description = answers.description;
-        pkgJson.author = answers.author;
-        
-        // Write the updated package.json back
-        await fs.writeJson(pkgJsonPath, pkgJson, { spaces: 2 });
-        console.log('📝 Customized package.json.');
-      } else {
-        console.log('ℹ️ No package.json found in template, skipping customization.');
-      }
-
-      const packageManager = template.packageManager || "npm";
-      // Install dependencies
-      console.log('📦 Installing dependencies... (This may take a moment)');
-      await execa(packageManager, ['install'], { cwd: projectPath, stdio: 'inherit' });
-      console.log('✅ Dependencies installed.');
-
-      // Optional: Create GitHub repository
-      await offerAndCreateGitHubRepo(projectPath);
-
-      // Let the user know the project was created successfully
-      console.log('\n✨ Project created successfully! ✨\n');
-      console.log(`To get started:`);
-      console.log(`  cd ${projectDirectory}`);
-      console.log('  Happy coding! 🚀');
-
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.error('❌ An error occurred:');
-      if (error instanceof Error) {
-        console.error(error.message);
-      } else if (error && typeof error === 'object' && 'stderr' in error) {
-        console.error((error as { stderr?: string }).stderr || String(error));
-      } else {
-        console.error(String(error));
-      }
-      
-      // Clean up the created directory if an error occurred
-      if (await fs.pathExists(projectPath)) {
-        await fs.remove(projectPath);
-        console.log('🧹 Cleaned up failed project directory.');
-      }
+      await runCreate(projectDirectory, templateName, options);
+    } catch {
+      process.exit(1);
     }
   });
 
@@ -304,4 +132,48 @@ program
     }
   });
 
+/** Command to install, build, and start the project */
+program
+  .command('start')
+  .description('Install dependencies, build, and start the project')
+  .argument('[path]', 'Path to the project directory (defaults to current directory)')
+  .option('-p, --package-manager <manager>', 'Package manager to use (npm, yarn, or pnpm)', 'npm')
+  .action(async (projectPath, options) => {
+    const cwd = projectPath ? path.resolve(projectPath) : process.cwd();
+    const packageManager = options.packageManager ?? 'npm';
+
+    const validManagers = ['npm', 'yarn', 'pnpm'];
+    if (!validManagers.includes(packageManager)) {
+      console.error(`❌ Invalid package manager "${packageManager}". Use one of: ${validManagers.join(', ')}`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
+    const installArgs = packageManager === 'yarn' ? [] : ['install'];
+    const buildArgs = packageManager === 'yarn' ? ['build'] : ['run', 'build'];
+    const startArgs = ['start'];
+
+    try {
+      console.log(`📦 Installing dependencies (${packageManager})...`);
+      await execa(packageManager, installArgs, { cwd, stdio: 'inherit' });
+      console.log('✅ Dependencies installed.');
+
+      console.log('🔨 Building...');
+      await execa(packageManager, buildArgs, { cwd, stdio: 'inherit' });
+      console.log('✅ Build complete.');
+
+      console.log('🚀 Starting...');
+      await execa(packageManager, startArgs, { cwd, stdio: 'inherit' });
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('❌ An error occurred:');
+      if (error instanceof Error) {
+        console.error(error.message);
+      } else if (error && typeof error === 'object' && 'stderr' in error) {
+        console.error((error as { stderr?: string }).stderr || String(error));
+      } else {
+        console.error(String(error));
+      }
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+  });
+
 program.parse(process.argv);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/create.ts b/src/create.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bd4cd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/create.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+import path from 'path';
+import fs from 'fs-extra';
+import { execa } from 'execa';
+import inquirer from 'inquirer';
+import { defaultTemplates } from './templates.js';
+import { mergeTemplates } from './template-loader.js';
+import { offerAndCreateGitHubRepo } from './github.js';
+
+/** Project data provided by the user */
+type ProjectData = {
+  name: string;
+  version: string;
+  description: string;
+  author: string;
+};
+
+export type CreateOptions = {
+  templateFile?: string;
+  ssh?: boolean;
+  repo?: string;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Runs the create flow: prompt for directory/template if needed, clone template,
+ * customize package.json, install deps, optionally create GitHub repo.
+ */
+export async function runCreate(
+  projectDirectory: string | undefined,
+  templateName: string | undefined,
+  options?: CreateOptions
+): Promise<void> {
+  const templatesToUse = mergeTemplates(defaultTemplates, options?.templateFile);
+
+  if (!projectDirectory) {
+    const projectDirAnswer = await inquirer.prompt([
+      {
+        type: 'input',
+        name: 'projectDirectory',
+        message: 'Please provide the directory where you want to create the project?',
+        default: 'my-app',
+      },
+    ]);
+    projectDirectory = projectDirAnswer.projectDirectory;
+  }
+
+  if (!templateName) {
+    console.log('\n📋 Available templates:\n');
+    templatesToUse.forEach(t => {
+      console.log(`  ${t.name.padEnd(12)} - ${t.description}`);
+    });
+    console.log('');
+
+    const templateQuestion = [
+      {
+        type: 'list',
+        name: 'templateName',
+        message: 'Select a template:',
+        choices: templatesToUse.map(t => ({
+          name: `${t.name} - ${t.description}`,
+          value: t.name,
+        })),
+      },
+    ];
+
+    const templateAnswer = await inquirer.prompt(templateQuestion);
+    templateName = templateAnswer.templateName;
+  }
+
+  const template = templatesToUse.find(t => t.name === templateName);
+  if (!template) {
+    console.error(`❌ Template "${templateName}" not found.\n`);
+    console.log('📋 Available templates:\n');
+    templatesToUse.forEach(t => {
+      console.log(`  ${t.name.padEnd(12)} - ${t.description}`);
+    });
+    console.log('');
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const useSSH = options?.ssh ?? false;
+  const templateRepoUrl = useSSH && template.repoSSH ? template.repoSSH : template.repo;
+
+  const dir = projectDirectory as string;
+  const projectPath = path.resolve(dir);
+  console.log(`Cloning template "${templateName}" from ${templateRepoUrl} into ${projectPath}...`);
+
+  try {
+    const cloneArgs = ['clone'];
+    if (template.options && Array.isArray(template.options)) {
+      cloneArgs.push(...template.options);
+    }
+    cloneArgs.push(templateRepoUrl, projectPath);
+    await execa('git', cloneArgs, { stdio: 'inherit' });
+    console.log('✅ Template cloned successfully.');
+
+    await fs.remove(path.join(projectPath, '.git'));
+    console.log('🧹 Cleaned up template .git directory.');
+
+    const questions = [
+      {
+        type: 'input',
+        name: 'name',
+        message: 'What is the project name?',
+        default: path.basename(projectPath),
+      },
+      {
+        type: 'input',
+        name: 'version',
+        message: 'What version number would you like to use?',
+        default: '1.0.0',
+      },
+      {
+        type: 'input',
+        name: 'description',
+        message: 'What is the project description?',
+        default: '',
+      },
+      {
+        type: 'input',
+        name: 'author',
+        message: 'Who is the author of the project?',
+        default: '',
+      },
+    ];
+
+    const answers: ProjectData = await inquirer.prompt(questions);
+
+    const pkgJsonPath = path.join(projectPath, 'package.json');
+
+    if (await fs.pathExists(pkgJsonPath)) {
+      const pkgJson = await fs.readJson(pkgJsonPath);
+
+      pkgJson.name = answers.name;
+      pkgJson.version = answers.version;
+      pkgJson.description = answers.description;
+      pkgJson.author = answers.author;
+
+      await fs.writeJson(pkgJsonPath, pkgJson, { spaces: 2 });
+      console.log('📝 Customized package.json.');
+    } else {
+      console.log('ℹ️ No package.json found in template, skipping customization.');
+    }
+
+    const packageManager = template.packageManager || 'npm';
+    console.log('📦 Installing dependencies... (This may take a moment)');
+    await execa(packageManager, ['install'], { cwd: projectPath, stdio: 'inherit' });
+    console.log('✅ Dependencies installed.');
+
+    const visibility = options?.repo === 'public' ? 'public' : 'private';
+    await offerAndCreateGitHubRepo(projectPath, { visibility });
+
+    console.log('\n✨ Project created successfully! ✨\n');
+    console.log(`To get started:`);
+    console.log(`  cd ${dir}`);
+    console.log('  Happy coding! 🚀');
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('❌ An error occurred:');
+    if (error instanceof Error) {
+      console.error(error.message);
+    } else if (error && typeof error === 'object' && 'stderr' in error) {
+      console.error((error as { stderr?: string }).stderr || String(error));
+    } else {
+      console.error(String(error));
+    }
+
+    if (await fs.pathExists(projectPath)) {
+      await fs.remove(projectPath);
+      console.log('🧹 Cleaned up failed project directory.');
+    }
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/github.ts b/src/github.ts
index 4840d74..f765c3e 100644
--- a/src/github.ts
+++ b/src/github.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ export async function createRepo(options: {
   projectPath: string;
   username: string;
   description?: string;
+  visibility?: 'public' | 'private';
 }): Promise<string> {
   const gitDir = path.join(options.projectPath, '.git');
   if (!(await fs.pathExists(gitDir))) {
@@ -83,11 +84,12 @@ export async function createRepo(options: {
   }
   await ensureInitialCommit(options.projectPath);
 
+  const visibility = options.visibility === 'public' ? '--public' : '--private';
   const args = [
     'repo',
     'create',
     options.repoName,
-    '--public',
+    visibility,
     `--source=${options.projectPath}`,
     '--remote=origin',
     '--push',
@@ -102,8 +104,13 @@ export async function createRepo(options: {
 /**
  * Interactive flow: prompt to create a GitHub repo under the current user, then create it and set origin.
  * Returns true if a repo was created (or already had origin), false if skipped or failed.
+ * @param visibility - 'public' or 'private' (default: 'private')
  */
-export async function offerAndCreateGitHubRepo(projectPath: string): Promise<boolean> {
+export async function offerAndCreateGitHubRepo(
+  projectPath: string,
+  options?: { visibility?: 'public' | 'private' }
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  const visibility = options?.visibility ?? 'private';
   const pkgJsonPath = path.join(projectPath, 'package.json');
   if (!(await fs.pathExists(pkgJsonPath))) {
     console.log('\nℹ️  No package.json found; skipping GitHub repository creation.\n');
@@ -153,7 +160,7 @@ export async function offerAndCreateGitHubRepo(projectPath: string): Promise<boo
 
   const repoUrl = `https://github.com/${auth.username}/${repoName}`;
   console.log('\n📋 The following will happen:\n');
-  console.log(`   • A new public repository will be created at: ${repoUrl}`);
+  console.log(`   • A new ${visibility} repository will be created at: ${repoUrl}`);
   console.log(`   • The repository will be created under your GitHub account (${auth.username}).`);
   console.log(`   • The repository URL will be added to your package.json.`);
   console.log(`   • The remote "origin" will be set to this repository (you can push when ready).\n`);
@@ -177,6 +184,7 @@ export async function offerAndCreateGitHubRepo(projectPath: string): Promise<boo
       repoName,
       projectPath,
       username: auth.username,
+      visibility,
       ...(pkgJson.description && { description: String(pkgJson.description) }),
     });
     pkgJson.repository = { type: 'git', url: createdUrl };
diff --git a/src/load.ts b/src/load.ts
index 4d39e97..6c3cb58 100644
--- a/src/load.ts
+++ b/src/load.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import path from 'path';
 import fs from 'fs-extra';
 import { execa } from 'execa';
+import { handleGitError } from './util.js';
 
 /**
  * Runs the load flow: verify repo, then pull the latest updates from the remote.
@@ -19,20 +20,6 @@ export async function runLoad(cwd: string): Promise<void> {
     await execa('git', ['pull'], { cwd, stdio: 'inherit' });
     console.log('\n✅ Latest updates loaded successfully.\n');
   } catch (err) {
-    if (err && typeof err === 'object' && 'exitCode' in err) {
-      const code = (err as { exitCode?: number }).exitCode;
-      if (code === 128) {
-        console.error(
-          '\n❌ Pull failed. You may need to set a remote (e.g. "git remote add origin <url>") or run "gh auth login".\n',
-        );
-      } else {
-        console.error('\n❌ Pull failed. See the output above for details.\n');
-      }
-    } else {
-      console.error('\n❌ An error occurred:');
-      if (err instanceof Error) console.error(`   ${err.message}\n`);
-      else console.error(`   ${String(err)}\n`);
-    }
-    throw err;
+    handleGitError(err, 'Pull', 'You may need to set a remote (e.g. "git remote add origin <url>") or run "gh auth login".');
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/save.ts b/src/save.ts
index 282440f..7006562 100644
--- a/src/save.ts
+++ b/src/save.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import fs from 'fs-extra';
 import { execa } from 'execa';
 import inquirer from 'inquirer';
 import { offerAndCreateGitHubRepo } from './github.js';
+import { handleGitError } from './util.js';
 
 /**
  * Runs the save flow: verify repo, check for changes, prompt to commit, then add/commit/push.
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ export async function runSave(cwd: string): Promise<void> {
 
   const commitMessage = (message as string).trim();
   if (!commitMessage) {
-    console.log('\n📭 No message provided; nothing has been saved.\n');
+    console.log('\nNo message provided.\n');
     return;
   }
 
@@ -84,20 +85,6 @@ export async function runSave(cwd: string): Promise<void> {
     await execa('git', ['push'], { cwd, stdio: 'inherit' });
     console.log('\n✅ Changes saved and pushed to GitHub successfully.\n');
   } catch (err) {
-    if (err && typeof err === 'object' && 'exitCode' in err) {
-      const code = (err as { exitCode?: number }).exitCode;
-      if (code === 128) {
-        console.error(
-          '\n❌ Push failed. You may need to set a remote (e.g. "git remote add origin <url>") or run "gh auth login".\n',
-        );
-      } else {
-        console.error('\n❌ Save or push failed. See the output above for details.\n');
-      }
-    } else if (!(err instanceof Error && err.message === 'No remote origin')) {
-      console.error('\n❌ An error occurred:');
-      if (err instanceof Error) console.error(`   ${err.message}\n`);
-      else console.error(`   ${String(err)}\n`);
-    }
-    throw err;
+    handleGitError(err, 'Push', 'You may need to set a remote (e.g. "git remote add origin <url>") or run "gh auth login".');
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/util.ts b/src/util.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d65472
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+export function handleGitError(err: unknown, operation: string, message: string): void {
+  const withExitCode = err && err instanceof Error && 'exitCode' in err;
+  if (withExitCode) {
+    const code = err.exitCode;
+    if (code === 128) {
+      console.error(`\n❌ ${operation} failed. ${message}`);
+    } else {
+      console.error(`\n❌ ${operation} failed. See the output above for details.\n`);
+    }
+  } else {
+    console.error('\n❌ An error occurred:');
+    if (err instanceof Error) console.error(`   ${err.message}\n`);
+    else console.error(`   ${String(err)}\n`);
+  }
+  throw err;
+}
\ No newline at end of file