diff --git a/scripts/startAgency.sh b/scripts/startAgency.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..f4a1adf804
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/startAgency.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+if [ ! -d arangod ] || [ ! -d arangosh ] || [ ! -d UnitTests ] ; then
+    echo Must be started in the main ArangoDB source directory.
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+rm -rf cluster
+mkdir cluster
+echo Starting agency...
+build/bin/arangod -c etc/relative/arangod.conf \
+  --agency.size 1 \
+  --server.endpoint tcp://127.0.0.1:4001 \
+  --agency.endpoint tcp://127.0.0.1:4001 \
+  --agency.wait-for-sync false \
+  --database.directory cluster/data4001 \
+  --agency.id 0 \
+  --log.file cluster/4001.log \
+  --log.requests-file cluster/4001.req \
+  --server.disable-statistics true \
+  --server.foxx-queues false \
+  --server.disable-authentication true \
+  --javascript.app-path ./js/apps \
+  --javascript.startup-directory ./js \
+  > cluster/4001.stdout 2>&1 &
+
+testServer() {
+    PORT=$1
+    while true ; do
+        sleep 1
+        curl -s -f -X GET "http://127.0.0.1:$PORT/_api/version" > /dev/null 2>&1
+        if [ "$?" != "0" ] ; then
+            echo Server on port $PORT does not answer yet.
+        else
+            echo Server on port $PORT is ready for business.
+            break
+        fi
+    done
+}
+
+testServer 4001
+
+echo Done, your agency is ready at
+echo "   build/bin/arangosh --server.endpoint tcp://127.0.0.1:4001"
+