diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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+++ b/README.md
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ own CI output:
 
 See it produced live by the **self-check** job in [this repository's Actions runs](https://github.com/eliottreich/taskbounty-check/actions).
 
+Prefer a guided walkthrough? Follow the
+[five-minute real-repository quickstart](docs/real-repo-quickstart.md).
+
 ### Learn more
 
 - [Methodology](https://www.task-bounty.com/github-actions-security-check/methodology) — exactly what it reviews and how findings are labeled.
diff --git a/docs/real-repo-quickstart.md b/docs/real-repo-quickstart.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+# Add a local GitHub Actions maintenance check in five minutes
+
+This guide runs `taskbounty-check` against a real repository, explains the output, and shows how
+to keep the check in CI. The scan is local by default: it reads GitHub workflow and update-bot
+configuration, executes no repository code, and uploads nothing.
+
+The example repository is [`eliottreich/taskbounty-check`](https://github.com/eliottreich/taskbounty-check),
+which uses the same command in its own CI.
+
+## 1. Try a local dry run
+
+Clone the example repository, then run the pinned package version:
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/eliottreich/taskbounty-check.git
+cd taskbounty-check
+npx -y taskbounty-check@0.1.6 . --dry-run
+```
+
+Expected output for version `0.1.6`:
+
+```text
+[dry-run] 1 repos · 2 workflow files · 0 maintenance candidates · 0 for private review
+[dry-run] would write local report files only (actions-check-report.json and actions-check-report.html); nothing would be uploaded.
+```
+
+`--dry-run` performs the scan but writes no report. Remove it to create local HTML and JSON files.
+
+## 2. Understand what was checked
+
+The scanner looks only at:
+
+- `.github/workflows/*.yml` and `.github/workflows/*.yaml`
+- Dependabot and Renovate configuration
+
+It checks GitHub Actions maintenance hygiene such as mutable third-party action references,
+workflow token permissions, and whether update automation is configured. Context-dependent
+patterns are counted separately for private review rather than described publicly.
+
+It does **not** inspect application source, `.env` files, secrets, authentication, payments,
+webhooks, or runtime behavior. It is a focused maintenance check, not a penetration test or a
+complete security audit.
+
+Run this any time to see the exact data boundary:
+
+```bash
+npx -y taskbounty-check@0.1.6 --explain-data
+```
+
+## 3. Add it to GitHub Actions
+
+Add this step after checkout in an existing workflow:
+
+```yaml
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+steps:
+  - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+  - run: npx -y taskbounty-check@0.1.6 . --github-summary --no-network
+```
+
+The check writes a counts-only summary to the workflow run. It does not post comments, open pull
+requests, upload source, or send telemetry.
+
+For GitHub Code Scanning annotations, use the
+[`examples/code-scanning.yml`](https://github.com/eliottreich/taskbounty-check/blob/main/examples/code-scanning.yml)
+example instead.
+
+## 4. Use it from an AI coding agent
+
+The package also exposes a local MCP server:
+
+```bash
+npx -y taskbounty-check@0.1.6 mcp
+```
+
+Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex can call `scan_repo`, explain a finding, and generate a text-only fix
+plan. The server does not modify files or make outbound requests.
+
+## 5. Decide what happens next
+
+- No findings: keep the pinned CI check and update it deliberately.
+- Maintenance candidates: review the local report and make the smallest justified change.
+- Private-review count: do not publish speculative details; review the workflow context privately.
+
+Need a human second opinion? [Request a free launch-safety review](https://www.task-bounty.com/ai-app-security-check/review?utm_source=github&utm_medium=tutorial&utm_campaign=taskbounty_check_quickstart).
+Submitting that form grants TaskBounty no repository access.