diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04a1ee6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# testapp
+
+This repository contains a small Node.js microservices sample application made up of four services (`service1` through `service4`) that call each other over HTTP.
+
+## Repository layout
+
+- `service1`: entry service that calls `service2` and `service4`
+- `service2`: reservation API service that calls `service3`
+- `service3`: lookup service
+- `service4`: confirmation service
+- `tests/service1-test.sh`: basic shell script for service1 request testing