diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9b0db1a..9a0d5dd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,17 +18,7 @@ pip install nebari-plugin-self-registration
 
 ## Running locally with Docker
 
-_Note_: running locally requires the creation of a `config.yaml` file within the `self-registration/dev` directory. Please create that file with these configurations before proceeding:
-
-```
-namespace: self-registration
-coupons:
-- SOME_COUPON_CODE (ex. abcdefg)
-approved_domains:
-- SOME_EMAIL_DOMAIN (ex. metrostar.com)
-account_expiration_days: SOME_NUMBER (ex: 30)
-registration_group: SOME_GROUP (ex. test-group)
-```
+_Note_: running locally requires a `config.yaml` file to be present within the `self-registration/dev` directory. Please rename the `sample.config.yaml` and update as needed before proceeding:
 
 1. Navigate to the `self-registration` directory
 2. To build the docker image, run the following:
diff --git a/self-registration/dev/config.sample.yaml b/self-registration/dev/config.sample.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..71c4eb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/self-registration/dev/config.sample.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+namespace: self-registration
+coupons:
+  - abcdefg
+approved_domains:
+  - metrostar.com
+account_expiration_days: 30
+registration_group: test-group