diff --git a/docs/04-get-started/02-quickstart.md b/docs/04-get-started/02-quickstart.md
index 89ac4fd8..fc004305 100644
--- a/docs/04-get-started/02-quickstart.md
+++ b/docs/04-get-started/02-quickstart.md
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ If you are using Cursor, you will need to **enable the MCP server** in your proj
 
 ## Start the server and the app
 
-Start the server and the Flutter app by opening up a terminal window and running the `serverpod start` command:
+Start the server and the Flutter app by opening up a terminal window and running the [`serverpod start`](../06-concepts/00-start-command.md) command:
 
 ```bash
 $ serverpod start
diff --git a/docs/06-concepts/00-start-command.md b/docs/06-concepts/00-start-command.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a10699e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/06-concepts/00-start-command.md
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+---
+description: Reference for the serverpod start command, covering every option, the terminal UI shortcuts for migrations and hot restart, and the server arguments it forwards.
+---
+
+# Starting the server
+
+The `serverpod start` command runs your project in development mode. It generates the latest code, starts the server with hot reload, and launches the companion Flutter app, all in a single interactive terminal.
+
+```bash
+serverpod start
+```
+
+Run it from anywhere inside your project folder.
+
+When it boots the server, `serverpod start` applies any pending migrations. While it runs, you create and apply new migrations from the terminal UI (see [Terminal UI shortcuts](#terminal-ui-shortcuts)).
+
+## Usage
+
+```bash
+serverpod start [options] [-- <server-args>]
+```
+
+## Options
+
+| Option | Default | Description |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `-w`, `--watch` / `--no-watch` | `true` | Watch files and hot-reload using the Frontend Server for fast incremental compilation. Pass `--no-watch` to start the server with `dart run` instead. |
+| `-d`, `--directory <path>` | auto-detect | Set the server package directory. Auto-detected from the current directory when omitted. |
+| `--docker` / `--no-docker` | `false` | Start Docker Compose services if a `docker-compose.yaml` exists (typically Redis when running Postgres separately). Off by default; pass `--docker` to opt in. |
+| `--tui` / `--no-tui` | `true` | Show the interactive terminal UI. Pass `--no-tui` to run without it, for example in scripts or non-interactive shells. |
+| `--flutter` / `--no-flutter` | `true` | Launch the companion Flutter app alongside the server. Pass `--no-flutter` to start only the server. |
+| `--flutter-device <name>` | `chrome` | Choose the device passed to `flutter run -d`. Use `web-server` for headless or CI runs. |
+| `--flutter-option <arg>` | none | Forward an extra argument to [`flutter run`](https://docs.flutter.dev/reference/flutter-cli). Repeatable, e.g. `--flutter-option=--web-port=8090`. |
+| `-h`, `--help` | | Print usage information. |
+
+## Terminal UI shortcuts
+
+The interactive terminal UI lists its shortcuts along the bottom. With the `serverpod start` terminal focused:
+
+| Key | Action |
+| --- | --- |
+| **R** | Hot restart the server. |
+| **M** | Create a migration from your current model changes (`Shift+M` to force). |
+| **A** | Apply pending migrations to the database. |
+| **P** | Create a repair migration to reconcile a drifted database (`Shift+P` to force). |
+
+Saving a file hot-reloads the server automatically while watching is enabled.
+
+## Passing arguments to the server
+
+Arguments after `--` are forwarded to the running server. For example, to start it in a specific run mode:
+
+```bash
+serverpod start -- --mode staging
+```
+
+The server accepts the following arguments:
+
+| Argument | Allowed values | Default | Description |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| `-m`, `--mode` | `development`, `test`, `staging`, `production` | `development` | Set the run mode the server starts in. |
+| `-r`, `--role` | `monolith`, `serverless`, `maintenance` | `monolith` | Set the role the server runs as. |
+| `-l`, `--logging` | `normal`, `verbose` | `normal` | Set the logging level. |
+| `-i`, `--server-id` | any | `default` | Set the id of this server instance. |
+| `-a`, `--apply-migrations` | | `false` | Apply pending database migrations on boot. |
+| `-A`, `--apply-repair-migration` | | `false` | Apply the repair migration on boot. |
+
+:::note
+`serverpod start` is intended for local development. For production, deploy the server instead. See [Deploy to Serverpod Cloud](../08-deployments/01-deploy-to-serverpod-cloud.md) or [Custom hosting](../08-deployments/custom-hosting/01-choosing-a-strategy.md).
+:::