diff --git a/packages/cli-workflow/__tests__/init-workspace.test.ts b/packages/cli-workflow/__tests__/init-workspace.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1589796
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli-workflow/__tests__/init-workspace.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdir, readFile, rm } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+import { formatCliUsage, runCli } from "../src/cli-dispatch.js";
+import { cmdInitTemplate, cmdInitWorkspace } from "../src/cmd-init.js";
+import { pathExists } from "../src/fs-utils.js";
+
+describe("init workspace", () => {
+  let parent: string;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    parent = join(tmpdir(), `wf-init-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2)}`);
+    await mkdir(parent, { recursive: true });
+  });
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await rm(parent, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  test("creates expected files and directories", async () => {
+    const created = await cmdInitWorkspace(parent, "my-workflows");
+    expect(created.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (!created.ok) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const root = created.value.rootPath;
+    expect(await pathExists(join(root, "package.json"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(root, "biome.json"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(root, "tsconfig.json"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(root, "AGENTS.md"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(root, "README.md"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(root, "templates"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(root, "templates", ".gitkeep"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(await pathExists(join(root, "workflows", "package.json"))).toBe(true);
+
+    const rootPkg = JSON.parse(await readFile(join(root, "package.json"), "utf8")) as {
+      workspaces: string[];
+    };
+    expect(rootPkg.workspaces).toEqual(["templates/*", "workflows"]);
+
+    const wfPkg = JSON.parse(await readFile(join(root, "workflows", "package.json"), "utf8")) as {
+      type: string;
+      dependencies: Record<string, string>;
+    };
+    expect(wfPkg.type).toBe("module");
+    expect(wfPkg.dependencies["@uncaged/workflow"]).toBeDefined();
+    expect(wfPkg.dependencies.zod).toBeDefined();
+
+    const tsconfig = JSON.parse(await readFile(join(root, "tsconfig.json"), "utf8")) as {
+      compilerOptions: { strict: boolean; module: string; target: string };
+    };
+    expect(tsconfig.compilerOptions.strict).toBe(true);
+    expect(tsconfig.compilerOptions.module).toBe("ESNext");
+    expect(tsconfig.compilerOptions.target).toBe("ESNext");
+  });
+
+  test("errors when directory already exists", async () => {
+    const first = await cmdInitWorkspace(parent, "dup");
+    expect(first.ok).toBe(true);
+
+    const second = await cmdInitWorkspace(parent, "dup");
+    expect(second.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!second.ok) {
+      expect(second.error).toContain("already exists");
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("errors on invalid workspace name", async () => {
+    const slash = await cmdInitWorkspace(parent, "a/b");
+    expect(slash.ok).toBe(false);
+
+    const dots = await cmdInitWorkspace(parent, "..");
+    expect(dots.ok).toBe(false);
+
+    const empty = await cmdInitWorkspace(parent, "");
+    expect(empty.ok).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test("usage lists init subcommands", () => {
+    const u = formatCliUsage();
+    expect(u).toContain("uncaged-workflow init workspace <name>");
+    expect(u).toContain("uncaged-workflow init template <name>");
+  });
+
+  test("init template command is stubbed", () => {
+    const r = cmdInitTemplate(parent, "x");
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!r.ok) {
+      expect(r.error).toBe("not implemented yet");
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("runCli rejects unknown init subcommand", async () => {
+    const code = await runCli(join(parent, "_storage"), ["init", "bogus", "name"]);
+    expect(code).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test.serial("runCli init workspace uses cwd", async () => {
+    const prev = process.cwd();
+    try {
+      process.chdir(parent);
+      const code = await runCli(join(parent, "_storage"), ["init", "workspace", "from-cli"]);
+      expect(code).toBe(0);
+      expect(await pathExists(join(parent, "from-cli", "workflows", "package.json"))).toBe(true);
+    } finally {
+      process.chdir(prev);
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("runCli init template exits with error", async () => {
+    const code = await runCli(join(parent, "_storage"), ["init", "template", "t"]);
+    expect(code).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli-workflow/src/cli-dispatch.ts b/packages/cli-workflow/src/cli-dispatch.ts
index 044d20f..4151631 100644
--- a/packages/cli-workflow/src/cli-dispatch.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-workflow/src/cli-dispatch.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { cmdCasGet, cmdCasList, cmdCasPut, cmdCasRm } from "./cmd-cas.js";
 import { cmdFork, parseForkArgv } from "./cmd-fork.js";
 import { cmdGc } from "./cmd-gc.js";
 import { cmdHistory } from "./cmd-history.js";
+import { cmdInitTemplate, cmdInitWorkspace } from "./cmd-init.js";
 import { cmdKill } from "./cmd-kill.js";
 import { cmdList, formatListLines } from "./cmd-list.js";
 import { cmdPause } from "./cmd-pause.js";
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ import { cmdThreadRemove, cmdThreadShow } from "./cmd-thread.js";
 import { cmdThreads } from "./cmd-threads.js";
 import { parseRunArgv } from "./run-argv.js";
 
-function usage(): string {
+export function formatCliUsage(): string {
   return [
     "Usage:",
     "  uncaged-workflow add <name> <file.esm.js> [--types <path>]",
@@ -40,13 +41,46 @@ function usage(): string {
     "  uncaged-workflow cas put <thread-id> <content>",
     "  uncaged-workflow cas list <thread-id>",
     "  uncaged-workflow cas rm <thread-id> <hash>",
+    "  uncaged-workflow init workspace <name>",
+    "  uncaged-workflow init template <name>",
   ].join("\n");
 }
 
+async function dispatchInit(_storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
+  const sub = argv[0];
+  const name = argv[1];
+  if (sub === undefined || name === undefined || argv.length > 2) {
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: init requires workspace|template <name>`);
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  if (sub === "workspace") {
+    const result = await cmdInitWorkspace(process.cwd(), name);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      printCliError(result.error);
+      return 1;
+    }
+    printCliLine(`initialized workflow workspace at ${result.value.rootPath}`);
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  if (sub === "template") {
+    const result = cmdInitTemplate(process.cwd(), name);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      printCliError(result.error);
+      return 1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: unknown init subcommand: ${sub}`);
+  return 1;
+}
+
 async function dispatchAdd(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const parsed = parseAddArgv(argv);
   if (!parsed.ok) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: ${parsed.error}`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: ${parsed.error}`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdAdd(storageRoot, parsed.value);
@@ -63,7 +97,7 @@ async function dispatchAdd(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number>
 
 async function dispatchList(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   if (argv.length > 0) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: list takes no arguments`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: list takes no arguments`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdList(storageRoot);
@@ -80,7 +114,7 @@ async function dispatchList(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number
 async function dispatchShow(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const name = argv[0];
   if (name === undefined || argv.length > 1) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: show requires <name>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: show requires <name>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdShow(storageRoot, name);
@@ -95,7 +129,7 @@ async function dispatchShow(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number
 async function dispatchRemove(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const name = argv[0];
   if (name === undefined || argv.length > 1) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: remove requires <name>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: remove requires <name>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdRemove(storageRoot, name);
@@ -110,7 +144,7 @@ async function dispatchRemove(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<numb
 async function dispatchRun(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const parsed = parseRunArgv(argv);
   if (!parsed.ok) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: ${parsed.error}`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: ${parsed.error}`);
     return 1;
   }
 
@@ -131,7 +165,7 @@ async function dispatchRun(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number>
 
 async function dispatchPs(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   if (argv.length > 0) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: ps takes no arguments`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: ps takes no arguments`);
     return 1;
   }
   for (const line of await cmdPs(storageRoot)) {
@@ -143,7 +177,7 @@ async function dispatchPs(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number>
 async function dispatchKill(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const threadId = argv[0];
   if (threadId === undefined || argv.length > 1) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: kill requires <thread-id>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: kill requires <thread-id>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdKill(storageRoot, threadId);
@@ -158,7 +192,7 @@ async function dispatchKill(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number
 async function dispatchHistory(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const name = argv[0];
   if (name === undefined || argv.length > 1) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: history requires <name>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: history requires <name>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdHistory(storageRoot, name);
@@ -175,7 +209,7 @@ async function dispatchHistory(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<num
 async function dispatchRollback(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const name = argv[0];
   if (name === undefined || argv.length > 2) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: rollback requires <name> [hash]`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: rollback requires <name> [hash]`);
     return 1;
   }
   const hashArg = argv[1];
@@ -191,7 +225,7 @@ async function dispatchRollback(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<nu
 async function dispatchPause(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const threadId = argv[0];
   if (threadId === undefined || argv.length > 1) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: pause requires <thread-id>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: pause requires <thread-id>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdPause(storageRoot, threadId);
@@ -206,7 +240,7 @@ async function dispatchPause(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<numbe
 async function dispatchResume(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const threadId = argv[0];
   if (threadId === undefined || argv.length > 1) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: resume requires <thread-id>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: resume requires <thread-id>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdResume(storageRoot, threadId);
@@ -233,7 +267,7 @@ async function dispatchThreads(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<num
 async function dispatchThread(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const id = argv[0];
   if (id === undefined || argv.length > 1) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: thread requires <id>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: thread requires <id>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdThreadShow(storageRoot, id);
@@ -248,7 +282,7 @@ async function dispatchThread(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<numb
 async function dispatchThreadRm(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const id = argv[0];
   if (id === undefined || argv.length > 1) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: thread rm requires <id>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: thread rm requires <id>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdThreadRemove(storageRoot, id);
@@ -270,7 +304,7 @@ async function dispatchThreadBranch(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promis
 
 async function dispatchGc(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   if (argv.length > 0) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: gc takes no arguments`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: gc takes no arguments`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdGc(storageRoot);
@@ -288,7 +322,7 @@ async function dispatchGc(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number>
 async function dispatchFork(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const parsed = parseForkArgv(argv);
   if (!parsed.ok) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: ${parsed.error}`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: ${parsed.error}`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdFork(storageRoot, parsed.value.threadId, parsed.value.fromRole);
@@ -304,7 +338,7 @@ async function dispatchCasGet(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promise<numb
   const threadId = rest[0];
   const hash = rest[1];
   if (threadId === undefined || hash === undefined || rest.length > 2) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: cas get requires <thread-id> <hash>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: cas get requires <thread-id> <hash>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdCasGet(storageRoot, threadId, hash);
@@ -320,7 +354,7 @@ async function dispatchCasPut(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promise<numb
   const threadId = rest[0];
   const content = rest[1];
   if (threadId === undefined || content === undefined || rest.length > 2) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: cas put requires <thread-id> <content>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: cas put requires <thread-id> <content>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdCasPut(storageRoot, threadId, content);
@@ -335,7 +369,7 @@ async function dispatchCasPut(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promise<numb
 async function dispatchCasList(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const threadId = rest[0];
   if (threadId === undefined || rest.length > 1) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: cas list requires <thread-id>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: cas list requires <thread-id>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdCasList(storageRoot, threadId);
@@ -353,7 +387,7 @@ async function dispatchCasRm(storageRoot: string, rest: string[]): Promise<numbe
   const threadId = rest[0];
   const hash = rest[1];
   if (threadId === undefined || hash === undefined || rest.length > 2) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: cas rm requires <thread-id> <hash>`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: cas rm requires <thread-id> <hash>`);
     return 1;
   }
   const result = await cmdCasRm(storageRoot, threadId, hash);
@@ -378,12 +412,12 @@ const CAS_SUBCOMMAND_TABLE: Record<
 async function dispatchCas(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const sub = argv[0];
   if (sub === undefined) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: unknown cas subcommand: (none)`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: unknown cas subcommand: (none)`);
     return 1;
   }
   const handler = CAS_SUBCOMMAND_TABLE[sub];
   if (handler === undefined) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: unknown cas subcommand: ${sub}`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: unknown cas subcommand: ${sub}`);
     return 1;
   }
   return handler(storageRoot, argv.slice(1));
@@ -393,6 +427,7 @@ type DispatchFn = (storageRoot: string, argv: string[]) => Promise<number>;
 
 const COMMAND_TABLE: Record<string, DispatchFn> = {
   add: dispatchAdd,
+  init: dispatchInit,
   list: dispatchList,
   show: dispatchShow,
   remove: dispatchRemove,
@@ -412,18 +447,18 @@ const COMMAND_TABLE: Record<string, DispatchFn> = {
 
 export async function runCli(storageRoot: string, argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   if (argv.length === 0) {
-    printCliError(usage());
+    printCliError(formatCliUsage());
     return 1;
   }
   const command = argv[0];
   if (command === undefined) {
-    printCliError(usage());
+    printCliError(formatCliUsage());
     return 1;
   }
   const rest = argv.slice(1);
   const dispatch = COMMAND_TABLE[command];
   if (dispatch === undefined) {
-    printCliError(`${usage()}\n\nerror: unknown command ${command}`);
+    printCliError(`${formatCliUsage()}\n\nerror: unknown command ${command}`);
     return 1;
   }
   return dispatch(storageRoot, rest);
diff --git a/packages/cli-workflow/src/cli.ts b/packages/cli-workflow/src/cli.ts
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-init.ts b/packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-init.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21b1f5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli-workflow/src/cmd-init.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+import { mkdir, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+
+import { err, ok, type Result } from "@uncaged/workflow";
+
+import { pathExists } from "./fs-utils.js";
+
+export type CmdInitWorkspaceSuccess = {
+  rootPath: string;
+};
+
+function validateWorkspaceSegment(name: string): Result<void, string> {
+  if (name.length === 0) {
+    return err("workspace name must not be empty");
+  }
+  if (name === "." || name === "..") {
+    return err("invalid workspace name");
+  }
+  if (name.includes("/") || name.includes("\\")) {
+    return err("workspace name must not contain path separators");
+  }
+  return ok(undefined);
+}
+
+function rootPackageJson(workspaceName: string): string {
+  return `${JSON.stringify(
+    {
+      name: workspaceName,
+      private: true,
+      type: "module",
+      workspaces: ["templates/*", "workflows"],
+    },
+    null,
+    2,
+  )}\n`;
+}
+
+function workflowsPackageJson(): string {
+  return `${JSON.stringify(
+    {
+      name: "workflows",
+      version: "0.0.0",
+      private: true,
+      type: "module",
+      dependencies: {
+        "@uncaged/workflow": "^0.1.0",
+        zod: "^4.0.0",
+      },
+    },
+    null,
+    2,
+  )}\n`;
+}
+
+function biomeJson(): string {
+  return `${JSON.stringify(
+    {
+      $schema: "https://biomejs.dev/schemas/2.4.14/schema.json",
+      files: {
+        includes: ["**", "!**/node_modules", "!**/dist"],
+      },
+      formatter: {
+        indentWidth: 2,
+      },
+      linter: {
+        enabled: true,
+        rules: {
+          recommended: true,
+        },
+      },
+    },
+    null,
+    2,
+  )}\n`;
+}
+
+function tsconfigJson(): string {
+  return `${JSON.stringify(
+    {
+      compilerOptions: {
+        strict: true,
+        target: "ESNext",
+        module: "ESNext",
+        moduleResolution: "Bundler",
+        skipLibCheck: true,
+      },
+    },
+    null,
+    2,
+  )}\n`;
+}
+
+function agentsMd(): string {
+  return `# AGENTS
+
+Placeholder: coding agent instructions for this workflow workspace will be added in a later phase.
+`;
+}
+
+function readmeMd(workspaceName: string): string {
+  return `# ${workspaceName}
+
+Local workflow development workspace (Bun monorepo).
+
+## Layout
+
+- \`templates/\` — reusable workflow definition packages (roles + moderator), no agent binding
+- \`workflows/\` — workflow instances that bind templates to agents and export \`run\` + \`descriptor\`
+
+## Commands
+
+\`\`\`sh
+bun install
+bun run check   # after you add scripts / Biome
+uncaged-workflow add <name> <bundle.esm.js>
+uncaged-workflow run <name>
+\`\`\`
+
+Create this skeleton with:
+
+\`\`\`sh
+uncaged-workflow init workspace ${workspaceName}
+\`\`\`
+`;
+}
+
+export async function cmdInitWorkspace(
+  parentDir: string,
+  workspaceName: string,
+): Promise<Result<CmdInitWorkspaceSuccess, string>> {
+  const validated = validateWorkspaceSegment(workspaceName);
+  if (!validated.ok) {
+    return validated;
+  }
+
+  const rootPath = join(parentDir, workspaceName);
+  if (await pathExists(rootPath)) {
+    return err(`directory already exists: ${rootPath}`);
+  }
+
+  await mkdir(rootPath, { recursive: false });
+  await mkdir(join(rootPath, "templates"), { recursive: false });
+  await mkdir(join(rootPath, "workflows"), { recursive: false });
+
+  await Promise.all([
+    writeFile(join(rootPath, "package.json"), rootPackageJson(workspaceName), "utf8"),
+    writeFile(join(rootPath, "biome.json"), biomeJson(), "utf8"),
+    writeFile(join(rootPath, "tsconfig.json"), tsconfigJson(), "utf8"),
+    writeFile(join(rootPath, "AGENTS.md"), agentsMd(), "utf8"),
+    writeFile(join(rootPath, "README.md"), readmeMd(workspaceName), "utf8"),
+    writeFile(join(rootPath, "templates", ".gitkeep"), "", "utf8"),
+    writeFile(join(rootPath, "workflows", "package.json"), workflowsPackageJson(), "utf8"),
+  ]);
+
+  return ok({ rootPath });
+}
+
+export function cmdInitTemplate(_parentDir: string, _templateName: string): Result<void, string> {
+  return err("not implemented yet");
+}