diff --git a/templates/http-js/content/README.md b/templates/http-js/content/README.md
index e79c80e8..1f32f6c8 100644
--- a/templates/http-js/content/README.md
+++ b/templates/http-js/content/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
 ## HTTP-JS template
 
-This is a simple template to get started with spin-js-sdk.
\ No newline at end of file
+This is a simple template to get started with spin-js-sdk.
+
+### Build
+
+```console
+npm install
+spin build
+```
+
+### Run
+
+```console
+spin up
+```
+
+Or, use `spin watch` to run the app and rebuild on any changes to `package.json` or the files in `src`.
+
+Use e.g. `curl -v http://127.0.0.1:3000/hello` to test the endpoint.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/templates/http-ts/content/README.md b/templates/http-ts/content/README.md
index f6b05564..df3b99be 100644
--- a/templates/http-ts/content/README.md
+++ b/templates/http-ts/content/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
 ## HTTP-TS template
 
-This is a simple template to get started with spin-js-sdk using typescript.
\ No newline at end of file
+This is a simple template to get started with spin-js-sdk using typescript.
+
+### Build
+
+```console
+npm install
+spin build
+```
+
+### Run
+
+```console
+spin up
+```
+
+Or, use `spin watch` to run the app and rebuild on any changes to `package.json` or the files in `src`.
+
+Use e.g. `curl -v http://127.0.0.1:3000/hello` to test the endpoint.
\ No newline at end of file