diff --git a/commands/init.js b/commands/init.js
index 7685e24..fc8b839 100755
--- a/commands/init.js
+++ b/commands/init.js
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ import { existsSync as exists } from "fs";
 export const description = "Initializes a fresh bando project";
 
 export const options = [
-  ["--force", "DANGER! overwite config files with templates"]
+  ["--force", "DANGER! overwite config files with templates"],
+  ["--templates", "what to use as a template directory", "./commands/templates"],
 ];
 
 // I did have chalk here but not sure so removed it for now
@@ -17,15 +18,8 @@ const good = console.log;
 const error = console.error;
 
 const dirs = ["./debug/email","./debug/errors","./secrets"];
-const templates = "./scripts/templates";
-
-export const main = async (opts) => {
-  good("Creating configuration directories.");
-
-  dirs.forEach(d => mkdir(d));
-
-  warn("!!! WARNING!: Do not add the contents of secrets to your git repository.");
 
+const copy_templates = (templates) => {
   good("Copying templates to your project. You can commit these to git.");
 
   const source_files = glob(`${templates}/**/*`);
@@ -41,11 +35,21 @@ export const main = async (opts) => {
       good("SKIPPING", dest);
     }
   }
+}
+
+export const main = async (opts) => {
+  good("Creating configuration directories.");
+
+  dirs.forEach(d => mkdir(d));
+
+  warn("!!! WARNING!: Do not add the contents of secrets to your git repository.");
+
+  copy_templates(opts.templates);
 
   good("Starting redis for your OS so you can register an admin.");
   devsvc({start: true, noexit: true});
 
-  good("Migrating your database.");
+  good("Migrating your database just in case.");
   exec("npm run knex migrate:latest")
   good("In another window start the app server with: npm run DANGER_ADMIN");