diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4190a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+[![Build Status](https://github.com/pre-commit-ci/lite-action/actions/workflows/main.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/pre-commit-ci/lite-action/actions/workflows/main.yml)
+
+action-lite
+===========
+
+**pre-commit.ci lite** is an add-on for GitHub Actions which safely auto
+fixes PRs
+
+### setup
+
+1. install the [GitHub Application] on the relevant repositories
+2. add the [GitHub action] to your workflow as the last step in your job:
+
+   ```yaml
+       - uses: pre-commit-ci/lite-action@v0.0.3
+         if: always()
+   ```
+
+*note:* the step must have either the default `name` or contain the text
+`pre-commit-ci-lite`.  the application uses this to find the right workflow.
+
+### options
+
+- `msg`: (default `[pre-commit.ci lite] apply automatic fixes`): commit message
+  used for auto fixing
+
+  ```yaml
+      - uses: pre-commit-ci/lite-action@v0.0.3
+        if: always()
+        with:
+          msg: apply code formatting
+  ```
+
+### example using [pre-commit/action]
+
+technically _pre-commit.ci lite_ works for any code modification, though it was
+built with `pre-commit` in mind.  here is an example workflow:
+
+```yaml
+on:
+  pull_request:
+  push:
+    branches: [main, test-me-*]
+
+jobs:
+  main:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: 3.x
+    - uses: pre-commit/action@v3.0.0
+    - uses: pre-commit-ci/lite-action@v0.0.3
+      if: always()
+```
+
+[GitHub Application]: https://github.com/apps/pre-commit-ci-lite/installations/new
+[GitHub action]: https://github.com/pre-commit-ci/lite-action
+[pre-commit/action]: https://github.com/pre-commit/action