diff --git a/.changeset/sweet-ears-move.md b/.changeset/sweet-ears-move.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..10eaf1f649
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/sweet-ears-move.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+'@backstage/create-app': patch
+---
+
+Added `"start-backend"` script to root `package.json`.
+
+To apply this change to an existing app, add the following script to the root `package.json`:
+
+```json
+"start-backend": "yarn workspace backend start"
+```
diff --git a/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs b/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs
index 975a5a2ed2..1353e33072 100644
--- a/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs
+++ b/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
   },
   "scripts": {
     "start": "yarn workspace app start",
+    "start-backend": "yarn workspace backend start",
     "build": "lerna run build",
     "build-image": "yarn workspace backend build-image",
     "tsc": "tsc",