diff --git a/.github/CODEOWNERS b/.github/CODEOWNERS
index fbb99eec31..751ec4914d 100644
--- a/.github/CODEOWNERS
+++ b/.github/CODEOWNERS
@@ -4,5 +4,6 @@
 # The last matching pattern takes precedence.
 # https://help.github.com/articles/about-codeowners/
 
-*                 @spotify/backstage-core
-/plugins/techdocs @spotify/techdocs-core
+*                     @spotify/backstage-core
+/plugins/techdocs     @spotify/techdocs-core
+/packages/techdocs-cli @spotify/techdocs-core
diff --git a/packages/techdocs-cli/.eslintrc.js b/packages/techdocs-cli/.eslintrc.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13573efa9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/techdocs-cli/.eslintrc.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module.exports = {
+  extends: [require.resolve('@backstage/cli/config/eslint')],
+};
diff --git a/packages/techdocs-cli/README.md b/packages/techdocs-cli/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d7c17210bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/techdocs-cli/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# TechDocs CLI
+
+Check out the [TechDocs README](https://github.com/spotify/backstage/blob/master/plugins/techdocs/README.md) to learn more.
+
+**WIP: This cli is a work in progress. It is not ready for use yet. Follow our progress on [the Backstage Discord](https://discord.gg/MUpMjP2) under #docs-like-code or on [our GitHub Milestone](https://github.com/spotify/backstage/milestone/15).**
diff --git a/packages/techdocs-cli/bin/techdocs-cli b/packages/techdocs-cli/bin/techdocs-cli
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..8581750373
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/techdocs-cli/bin/techdocs-cli
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+const path = require('path');
+
+// Figure out whether we're running inside the backstage repo or as an installed dependency
+const isLocal = require('fs').existsSync(path.resolve(__dirname, '../src'));
+
+if (!isLocal) {
+  require('..');
+} else {
+  require('ts-node').register({
+    transpileOnly: true,
+    compilerOptions: {
+      module: 'CommonJS',
+    },
+  });
+
+  require('../src');
+}
diff --git a/packages/techdocs-cli/package.json b/packages/techdocs-cli/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..927d9477d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/techdocs-cli/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+  "name": "@backstage/techdocs-cli",
+  "description": "CLI for running TechDocs locally.",
+  "version": "0.1.1-alpha.9",
+  "private": true,
+  "publishConfig": {
+    "access": "public"
+  },
+  "repository": {
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "https://github.com/spotify/backstage",
+    "directory": "packages/techdocs-cli"
+  },
+  "keywords": [
+    "backstage",
+    "techdocs"
+  ],
+  "license": "Apache-2.0",
+  "main": "dist/index.cjs.js",
+  "scripts": {
+    "build": "backstage-cli build --outputs cjs",
+    "lint": "backstage-cli lint",
+    "test": "backstage-cli test --passWithNoTests",
+    "clean": "backstage-cli clean",
+    "start": "nodemon --"
+  },
+  "bin": {
+    "techdocs": "bin/techdocs-cli"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@backstage/cli": "^0.1.1-alpha.9"
+  },
+  "files": [
+    "bin",
+    "dist/**/*.js"
+  ],
+  "nodemonConfig": {
+    "watch": "./src",
+    "exec": "bin/techdocs-cli",
+    "ext": "ts"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/techdocs-cli/src/index.ts b/packages/techdocs-cli/src/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a010f4bfe5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/techdocs-cli/src/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2020 Spotify AB
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+export const techDocsCli = () => {};