diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index edaf965..0c90428 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "next dev --port 3445",
     "build": "next build",
-    "start": "npm install && npm run build && next start",
+    "start": "next start",
     "export": "next build && npx serve out"
   },
   "dependencies": {
diff --git a/start-pm2.sh b/start-pm2.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..684553f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/start-pm2.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# IPFS-Portal PM2 start script — runs from /srv/apps/ipfs-portal
+# Usage: pm2 start start-pm2.sh --name ipfs-portal
+set -e
+cd /srv/apps/ipfs-portal || { echo "ERROR: /srv/apps/ipfs-portal not found"; exit 1; }
+echo "=== npm install ==="
+npm install
+echo "=== npm run build ==="
+npm run build
+echo "=== next start port ${PORT:=3005} ==="
+exec npx next start --port "$PORT"