diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c64b7f6951..2622f1e322 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "docgen": "lerna run docgen",
     "docker-build:app": "yarn workspace example-app build && docker build . -t spotify/backstage",
     "docker-build": "yarn tsc && yarn workspace example-backend build-image",
-    "create-plugin": "backstage-cli create-plugin",
+    "create-plugin": "backstage-cli create-plugin --scope backstage --no-private",
     "remove-plugin": "backstage-cli remove-plugin",
     "release": "if [ \"$(git symbolic-ref --short HEAD)\" = master ]; then echo \"don't try to release master\"; exit 1; else lerna version --no-push --force-publish; fi",
     "prettier:check": "prettier --check .",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/create-plugin/createPlugin.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/create-plugin/createPlugin.ts
index 5e6882a4a0..247812b6fd 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/create-plugin/createPlugin.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/create-plugin/createPlugin.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import inquirer, { Answers, Question } from 'inquirer';
 import { exec as execCb } from 'child_process';
 import { resolve as resolvePath } from 'path';
 import os from 'os';
+import { Command } from 'commander';
 import {
   parseOwnerIds,
   addCodeownersEntry,
@@ -32,12 +33,12 @@ import { version as backstageVersion } from '../../lib/version';
 
 const exec = promisify(execCb);
 
-async function checkExists(rootDir: string, id: string) {
-  await Task.forItem('checking', id, async () => {
-    const destination = resolvePath(rootDir, 'plugins', id);
-
+async function checkExists(destination: string) {
+  await Task.forItem('checking', destination, async () => {
     if (await fs.pathExists(destination)) {
-      const existing = chalk.cyan(destination.replace(`${rootDir}/`, ''));
+      const existing = chalk.cyan(
+        destination.replace(`${paths.targetRoot}/`, ''),
+      );
       throw new Error(
         `A plugin with the same name already exists: ${existing}\nPlease try again with a different plugin ID`,
       );
@@ -86,10 +87,9 @@ export const addExportStatement = async (
 
 export async function addPluginDependencyToApp(
   rootDir: string,
-  pluginName: string,
+  pluginPackage: string,
   versionStr: string,
 ) {
-  const pluginPackage = `@backstage/plugin-${pluginName}`;
   const packageFilePath = 'packages/app/package.json';
   const packageFile = resolvePath(rootDir, packageFilePath);
 
@@ -116,8 +116,11 @@ export async function addPluginDependencyToApp(
   });
 }
 
-export async function addPluginToApp(rootDir: string, pluginName: string) {
-  const pluginPackage = `@backstage/plugin-${pluginName}`;
+export async function addPluginToApp(
+  rootDir: string,
+  pluginName: string,
+  pluginPackage: string,
+) {
   const pluginNameCapitalized = pluginName
     .split('-')
     .map(name => capitalize(name))
@@ -175,7 +178,7 @@ export async function movePlugin(
   });
 }
 
-export default async () => {
+export default async (cmd: Command) => {
   const codeownersPath = await getCodeownersFilePath(paths.targetRoot);
 
   const questions: Question[] = [
@@ -221,20 +224,29 @@ export default async () => {
   }
 
   const answers: Answers = await inquirer.prompt(questions);
-
+  const name = cmd.scope
+    ? `@${cmd.scope.replace(/^@/, '')}/plugin-${answers.id}`
+    : `plugin-${answers.id}`;
+  const npmRegistry = cmd.npmRegistry && cmd.scope ? cmd.npmRegistry : '';
+  const privatePackage = cmd.private === false ? false : true;
+  const isMonoRepo = await fs.pathExists(paths.resolveTargetRoot('lerna.json'));
   const appPackage = paths.resolveTargetRoot('packages/app');
   const templateDir = paths.resolveOwn('templates/default-plugin');
   const tempDir = resolvePath(os.tmpdir(), answers.id);
-  const pluginDir = paths.resolveTargetRoot('plugins', answers.id);
+  const pluginDir = isMonoRepo
+    ? paths.resolveTargetRoot('plugins', answers.id)
+    : paths.resolveTargetRoot(answers.id);
   const ownerIds = parseOwnerIds(answers.owner);
-  const { version } = await fs.readJson(paths.resolveTargetRoot('lerna.json'));
+  const { version } = isMonoRepo
+    ? await fs.readJson(paths.resolveTargetRoot('lerna.json'))
+    : { version: '0.1.0' };
 
   Task.log();
   Task.log('Creating the plugin...');
 
   try {
     Task.section('Checking if the plugin ID is available');
-    await checkExists(paths.targetRoot, answers.id);
+    await checkExists(pluginDir);
 
     Task.section('Creating a temporary plugin directory');
     await createTemporaryPluginFolder(tempDir);
@@ -244,6 +256,9 @@ export default async () => {
       ...answers,
       version,
       backstageVersion,
+      name,
+      privatePackage,
+      npmRegistry,
     });
 
     Task.section('Moving to final location');
@@ -254,10 +269,10 @@ export default async () => {
 
     if (await fs.pathExists(appPackage)) {
       Task.section('Adding plugin as dependency in app');
-      await addPluginDependencyToApp(paths.targetRoot, answers.id, version);
+      await addPluginDependencyToApp(paths.targetRoot, name, version);
 
       Task.section('Import plugin in app');
-      await addPluginToApp(paths.targetRoot, answers.id);
+      await addPluginToApp(paths.targetRoot, answers.id, name);
     }
 
     if (ownerIds && ownerIds.length) {
@@ -269,11 +284,7 @@ export default async () => {
     }
 
     Task.log();
-    Task.log(
-      `🥇  Successfully created ${chalk.cyan(
-        `@backstage/plugin-${answers.id}`,
-      )}`,
-    );
+    Task.log(`🥇  Successfully created ${chalk.cyan(`${name}`)}`);
     Task.log();
     Task.exit();
   } catch (error) {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
index 4e031cdbc1..f1828cef84 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ export function registerCommands(program: CommanderStatic) {
   program
     .command('create-plugin')
     .description('Creates a new plugin in the current repository')
+    .option('--scope <scope>', 'NPM scope')
+    .option('--npm-registry <URL>', 'NPM registry URL')
+    .option('--no-private', 'Public NPM Package')
     .action(
       lazy(() => import('./create-plugin/createPlugin').then(m => m.default)),
     );
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/plugin/diff.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/plugin/diff.ts
index 99af093f2c..f5dfa670b7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/plugin/diff.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/plugin/diff.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ import { version as backstageVersion } from '../../lib/version';
 export type PluginData = {
   id: string;
   name: string;
+  privatePackage: string;
+  version: string;
+  npmRegistry: string;
 };
 
 const fileHandlers = [
@@ -62,11 +65,8 @@ export default async (cmd: Command) => {
     promptFunc = yesPromptFunc;
   }
 
-  const { version } = await fs.readJson(paths.resolveTargetRoot('lerna.json'));
-
   const data = await readPluginData();
   const templateFiles = await diffTemplateFiles('default-plugin', {
-    version,
     backstageVersion,
     ...data,
   });
@@ -77,9 +77,19 @@ export default async (cmd: Command) => {
 // Reads templating data from the existing plugin
 async function readPluginData(): Promise<PluginData> {
   let name: string;
+  let privatePackage: string;
+  let version: string;
+  let npmRegistry: string;
   try {
     const pkg = require(paths.resolveTarget('package.json'));
     name = pkg.name;
+    privatePackage = pkg.private;
+    version = pkg.version;
+    const scope = name.split('/')[0];
+    if (`${scope}:registry` in pkg.publishConfig) {
+      const registryURL = pkg.publishConfig[`${scope}:registry`];
+      npmRegistry = `"${scope}:registry" : "${registryURL}"`;
+    } else npmRegistry = '';
   } catch (error) {
     throw new Error(`Failed to read target package, ${error}`);
   }
@@ -96,5 +106,5 @@ async function readPluginData(): Promise<PluginData> {
 
   const id = pluginIdMatch[1];
 
-  return { id, name };
+  return { id, name, privatePackage, version, npmRegistry };
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/templates/default-plugin/package.json.hbs b/packages/cli/templates/default-plugin/package.json.hbs
index dbfb639b16..52cffeb621 100644
--- a/packages/cli/templates/default-plugin/package.json.hbs
+++ b/packages/cli/templates/default-plugin/package.json.hbs
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 {
-  "name": "@backstage/plugin-{{id}}",
+  "name": "{{name}}",
   "version": "{{version}}",
   "main": "src/index.ts",
   "types": "src/index.ts",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
-  "private": true,
+{{#if privatePackage}}  "private": {{privatePackage}},
+{{/if}}
   "publishConfig": {
+{{#if npmRegistry}}    "registry": "{{npmRegistry}}",
+{{/if}}
     "access": "public",
     "main": "dist/index.esm.js",
     "types": "dist/index.d.ts"
diff --git a/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs b/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs
index b95b5bbc5b..19e3891551 100644
--- a/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs
+++ b/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     "test:all": "lerna run test -- --coverage",
     "lint": "lerna run lint --since origin/master --",
     "lint:all": "lerna run lint --",
-    "create-plugin": "backstage-cli create-plugin",
+    "create-plugin": "backstage-cli create-plugin --scope backstage --no-private",
     "remove-plugin": "backstage-cli remove-plugin"
   },
   "workspaces": {
diff --git a/packages/e2e-test/src/e2e-test.ts b/packages/e2e-test/src/e2e-test.ts
index 146a3ec644..969a77cb2a 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-test/src/e2e-test.ts
+++ b/packages/e2e-test/src/e2e-test.ts
@@ -81,7 +81,11 @@ async function buildDistWorkspace(workspaceName: string, rootDir: string) {
     const path = paths.resolveOwnRoot(pkgJsonPath);
     const pkgTemplate = await fs.readFile(path, 'utf8');
     const { dependencies = {}, devDependencies = {} } = JSON.parse(
-      handlebars.compile(pkgTemplate)({ version: '0.0.0' }),
+      handlebars.compile(pkgTemplate)({
+        version: '0.0.0',
+        privatePackage: true,
+        scopeName: '@backstage',
+      }),
     );
 
     Array<string>()