diff --git a/run_dev.py b/run_dev.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2dd8610f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run_dev.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+"""
+Development server launcher for ShopDB.
+Loads .env file and starts Flask development server.
+"""
+import os
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+# Load .env BEFORE importing anything from Flask
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+env_path = Path(__file__).parent / '.env'
+load_dotenv(env_path)
+
+print("Starting ShopDB Flask development server...")
+print(f"DATABASE_URL: {os.environ.get('DATABASE_URL', 'NOT SET')[:60]}...")
+print(f"SHOPDB_BACKUPS_ROOT: {os.environ.get('SHOPDB_BACKUPS_ROOT', 'NOT SET')}")
+
+# Import and run Flask (--no-reload so env vars don't get lost)
+from flask.cli import main as flask_main
+sys.argv = ['flask', 'run', '--host=0.0.0.0', '--port=5001', '--no-reload']
+flask_main()
diff --git a/scripts/backup/README.md b/scripts/backup/README.md
index 1390ed6e..65eeaec1 100644
--- a/scripts/backup/README.md
+++ b/scripts/backup/README.md
@@ -42,6 +42,24 @@ Each backup set includes:
 3. Click **Restore**
 4. System validates schema compatibility and restores database + files
 
+## Local Development Setup
+
+For local dev on Windows, configure a local backup directory:
+
+1. Add to `.env`:
+   ```
+   SHOPDB_BACKUPS_ROOT=C:/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/Documents/github/flask-shopdb/backups
+   ```
+
+2. Create the directory:
+   ```bash
+   mkdir backups
+   ```
+
+3. Restart Flask
+
+Note: Actual backup execution requires Docker (the backup container). The API can queue backups but won't execute them without the sidecar container.
+
 ## First Deployment
 
 On fresh install, `/api/shopdbbackups` returns empty list - this is normal.