diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 5cbb4b4..94e15ae 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ uv run ruff format app tests               # apply formatting
 There is **no `main.py` at the repo root** — the app is the `app` package,
 entry point `app.main:app`.
 
+**Arch Linux note:** `uv` ships as `python-uv` (not `uv` or `python3-uv`) so
+`sudo pacman -S --needed python-uv` is the install command. If you create the
+venv with `sudo`, the interpreter will provision under `/root/.local/share/uv`
+and a non-root service user can never execute it; build the venv as the
+service user (or against a system Python — see README "systemd recipe").
+
 ## Configuration
 
 All settings come from env vars (or a `.env` file) via `pydantic-settings`,
@@ -45,6 +51,30 @@ All settings come from env vars (or a `.env` file) via `pydantic-settings`,
   lead time, default 60), `BIKE_ADMIN_RENEWAL_MONTHS` (MOT/insurance validity,
   default 12).
 
+## Deploy / production
+
+`deploy/bike_admin.service` is the systemd unit for the production server
+(volundr). Key points:
+
+- Runs as the unprivileged `bike` system user (no home dir needed beyond the
+  uv-provisioned interpreter in `/home/bike`.local/share/uv/...).
+- App data lives next to the checkout: `/opt/bike_admin/data`. The app creates
+  `data/bike_admin.db` on startup, but systemd requires the `ReadWritePaths=`
+  target to exist before start — hence the one-time
+  `sudo install -d -o bike -g bike /opt/bike_admin/data` step (see README).
+- `.env` at `/opt/bike_admin/.env`, `chown bike:bike` and `chmod 640`.
+  (systemd reads it at ExecStart.)
+- Hardening kept: `NoNewPrivileges`, `PrivateTmp`, `ProtectSystem=full`,
+  `ProtectHome=true`. Do not remove `ProtectHome` unless the interpreter path
+  moves back to `/home`; `StateDirectory=` is the cleaner alternative for
+  data, but we chose `ReadWritePaths=` to keep data next to the app.
+
+Caddy (hermodr, on a separate host) reverse-proxies
+`volundr.local.jakes-asgard.uk` to the app's IP:8000. The app trusts
+`X-Forwarded-For` (BIKE_ADMIN_TRUST_PROXY defaults true) and uvicorn's
+`--forwarded-allow-ips` whitelist in the unit governs which proxies it'll
+accept.
+
 ## Architecture / layout
 
 - `app/config.py`  – `Settings` (pydantic-settings) + `get_settings()` (cached).
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b9e9233..b92472c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -42,6 +42,55 @@ uv run uvicorn app.main:app --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8000
 Or copy `.env.example` to `.env` and fill in the values (env vars and the local
 `.env` file are both read automatically).
 
+## Running behind a reverse proxy (production)
+
+TLS terminated at the proxy (Caddy/nginx), app on a private host behind it.
+`deploy/bike_admin.service` is the systemd unit used in production;
+`deploy/env.production.example` is the production `.env` template.
+
+- Set `BIKE_ADMIN_IS_PRODUCTION=true` so the session cookie is `Secure`.
+- Bind as needed for the proxy to reach you:
+  - proxy on the **same** host → `--host 127.0.0.1`
+  - proxy on **another** host (e.g. a single fronting Caddy) → `--host 0.0.0.0`
+  or bind to a specific LAN interface; never the public interface directly, since
+  there is no app-level TLS.
+- Proxy forwards to the app and sets `X-Forwarded-For` / `X-Forwarded-Proto`;
+  the app trusts these by default (`BIKE_ADMIN_TRUST_PROXY`). uvicorn's
+  `--forwarded-allow-ips 192.168.0.0/16 --proxy-headers` accepts them
+  (adjust to your LAN range).
+
+### systemd (production recipe)
+
+```bash
+# one-time: deps + service account   [on Arch: uv ships as python-uv]
+sudo pacman -S --needed git python-uv
+sudo useradd --system bike
+
+# one-time: app
+sudo chown -R bike:bike /opt/bike_admin
+sudo -u bike uv sync --all-extras --project /opt/bike_admin
+sudo install -d -o bike -g bike /opt/bike_admin/data   # systemd needs it to exist
+
+# one-time: .env (see deploy/env.production.example)
+sudo chown bike:bike /opt/bike_admin/.env
+sudo chmod 640 /opt/bike_admin/.env                     # owner rw, group r, others none
+
+sudo cp deploy/bike_admin.service /etc/systemd/system/bike-admin.service
+sudo systemctl daemon-reload
+sudo systemctl enable --now bike-admin
+```
+
+Caddy block for the fronting proxy:
+
+```
+volundr.local.jakes-asgard.uk {
+    reverse_proxy 192.168.0.52:8000
+}
+```
+
+Back up your data by copying the single file in the data dir —
+`<data_dir>/bike_admin.db` (SQLite, WAL; `data/bike_admin.db` by default).
+
 ## Tests / lint
 
 ```bash
@@ -49,13 +98,3 @@ uv run pytest -q
 uv run ruff check app tests
 uv run ruff format --check app tests
 ```
-
-## Running behind a reverse proxy (production)
-
-- Terminate TLS at the proxy (nginx/apache/caddy) and forward to the app.
-- Set `BIKE_ADMIN_IS_PRODUCTION=true` so the session cookie is `Secure`.
-- Bind to the private address: `uvicorn app.main:app --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8000`
-- Pass `X-Forwarded-For` / `X-Forwarded-Proto` so throttling + secure-cookie logic
-  see the real client IP/protocol (the app trusts these by default).
-
-Back up your data by copying the single file `data/bike_admin.db` (SQLite, WAL).