diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2665999..e8c6eb7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -101,6 +101,23 @@ steps:
       require_files: ["deploy-receipt.txt"]
 ```
 
+### Workflow Templates
+
+Pre-built workflows for common project types in `workflows/templates/`:
+
+| Template | Use Case |
+|----------|----------|
+| `api-wrapper.yml` | REST API client library (auth, endpoints, tests, docs) |
+| `k8s-service.yml` | Containerized K8s service (Dockerfile, manifests, CI) |
+| `cli-tool.yml` | Command-line tool (arg parsing, output, tests, packaging) |
+| `project-onboarding.yml` | Bootstrap new project (git, CI, publish.json, first spec) |
+
+```bash
+# Start from a template
+cp workflows/templates/api-wrapper.yml workflows/my-api.yml
+bash ~/.claude/shtd-flow/scripts/shtd-workflow.sh start my-api
+```
+
 ## Multi-Tab Task Negotiation
 
 When multiple Claude Code sessions work on the same project:
diff --git a/workflows/templates/api-wrapper.yml b/workflows/templates/api-wrapper.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65381ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workflows/templates/api-wrapper.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+name: api-wrapper
+description: Build a REST API wrapper library (client SDK, tests, docs)
+version: 1
+steps:
+  - id: spec
+    name: Write API spec (endpoints, auth, error handling)
+    gate:
+      require_files: []
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-api-wrapper/spec.md"]
+  - id: plan
+    name: Plan implementation (modules, dependencies, test strategy)
+    gate:
+      require_step: spec
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-api-wrapper/plan.md"]
+  - id: tasks
+    name: Generate task list from plan
+    gate:
+      require_step: plan
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-api-wrapper/tasks.md"]
+  - id: client
+    name: Implement API client (auth, endpoints, error handling)
+    gate:
+      require_step: tasks
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["src/client.*"]
+  - id: tests
+    name: Write and run tests (unit + integration)
+    gate:
+      require_step: client
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".test-results/api-wrapper.passed"]
+  - id: docs
+    name: Write usage docs (README, examples)
+    gate:
+      require_step: tests
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["README.md"]
+  - id: publish
+    name: Package and publish (npm/pypi/github release)
+    gate:
+      require_step: docs
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".github/publish.json"]
diff --git a/workflows/templates/cli-tool.yml b/workflows/templates/cli-tool.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2292f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workflows/templates/cli-tool.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+name: cli-tool
+description: Build a command-line tool (arg parsing, output, tests, packaging)
+version: 1
+steps:
+  - id: spec
+    name: Write tool spec (commands, flags, input/output format)
+    gate:
+      require_files: []
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-cli-tool/spec.md"]
+  - id: plan
+    name: Plan implementation (modules, dependencies, UX)
+    gate:
+      require_step: spec
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-cli-tool/plan.md"]
+  - id: tasks
+    name: Generate task list from plan
+    gate:
+      require_step: plan
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-cli-tool/tasks.md"]
+  - id: core
+    name: Implement core logic (arg parsing, main commands)
+    gate:
+      require_step: tasks
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["src/main.*"]
+  - id: output
+    name: Add output formatting (text, JSON, table modes)
+    gate:
+      require_step: core
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["src/output.*"]
+  - id: tests
+    name: Write and run tests (unit + CLI integration)
+    gate:
+      require_step: output
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".test-results/cli-tool.passed"]
+  - id: docs
+    name: Write usage docs (README, --help text, examples)
+    gate:
+      require_step: tests
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["README.md"]
+  - id: package
+    name: Package for distribution (npm/pip/brew/binary)
+    gate:
+      require_step: docs
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".github/publish.json"]
diff --git a/workflows/templates/k8s-service.yml b/workflows/templates/k8s-service.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b4a6c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workflows/templates/k8s-service.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+name: k8s-service
+description: Deploy a containerized service to Kubernetes (Dockerfile, manifests, CI)
+version: 1
+steps:
+  - id: spec
+    name: Write service spec (purpose, endpoints, dependencies)
+    gate:
+      require_files: []
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-service/spec.md"]
+  - id: plan
+    name: Plan implementation (container design, K8s resources, networking)
+    gate:
+      require_step: spec
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-service/plan.md"]
+  - id: tasks
+    name: Generate task list from plan
+    gate:
+      require_step: plan
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-service/tasks.md"]
+  - id: dockerfile
+    name: Build Dockerfile (multi-stage, minimal base, health check)
+    gate:
+      require_step: tasks
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["Dockerfile"]
+  - id: manifests
+    name: Write K8s manifests (deployment, service, configmap, secrets)
+    gate:
+      require_step: dockerfile
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["k8s/deployment.yaml"]
+  - id: scripts
+    name: Create deploy and health check scripts
+    gate:
+      require_step: manifests
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["scripts/deploy.sh"]
+  - id: test
+    name: Build image, deploy to test namespace, verify health
+    gate:
+      require_step: scripts
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".test-results/k8s-deploy.passed"]
+  - id: ci
+    name: Add CI pipeline (build, test, push to registry)
+    gate:
+      require_step: test
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".github/workflows/ci.yml"]
diff --git a/workflows/templates/project-onboarding.yml b/workflows/templates/project-onboarding.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1163b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workflows/templates/project-onboarding.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+name: project-onboarding
+description: Bootstrap a new project with SHTD workflow (git, CI, first spec)
+version: 1
+steps:
+  - id: init
+    name: Initialize git repo and basic structure
+    gate:
+      require_files: []
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".git/HEAD"]
+  - id: publish
+    name: Configure GitHub account and visibility
+    gate:
+      require_step: init
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".github/publish.json"]
+  - id: gitconfig
+    name: Set local git user matching publish.json account
+    gate:
+      require_step: publish
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".git/config"]
+  - id: ci
+    name: Add secret-scan CI workflow
+    gate:
+      require_step: gitconfig
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".github/workflows/secret-scan.yml"]
+  - id: gitignore
+    name: Create .gitignore (archive/, node_modules/, .env, etc.)
+    gate:
+      require_step: ci
+    completion:
+      require_files: [".gitignore"]
+  - id: spec
+    name: Write first feature spec
+    gate:
+      require_step: gitignore
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["specs/001-*/spec.md"]
+  - id: branch
+    name: Create feature branch and push
+    gate:
+      require_step: spec
+    completion:
+      require_files: []
+  - id: readme
+    name: Write project README
+    gate:
+      require_step: branch
+    completion:
+      require_files: ["README.md"]