diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
index 2b71a6f..9bc6b54 100755
--- a/deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ REQUIRED_PACKAGES=(
     python3-paho-mqtt
     mobile-broadband-provider-info
     zerotier-one
+    podman
 )
 OPTIONAL_PACKAGES=(
 )
diff --git a/docker/start-containers.sh b/docker/start-containers.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2cef60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker/start-containers.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Start homeassistant and esphome containers on R5C
+# Usage: sudo ./start-containers.sh
+
+set -e
+
+echo "=== Starting Home Assistant and ESPHome containers ==="
+
+# Ensure /srv exists
+sudo mkdir -p /srv/homeassistant /srv/esphome
+
+# Start homeassistant
+echo "Starting Home Assistant..."
+podman run -d \
+  --name homeassistant \
+  --restart=always \
+  --privileged \
+  -v /srv/homeassistant:/config \
+  -v /run/dbus:/run/dbus:ro \
+  --network=host \
+  ghcr.io/home-assistant/home-assistant:stable
+
+# Start esphome
+echo "Starting ESPHome..."
+podman run -d \
+  --name esphome \
+  --restart=always \
+  -v /srv/esphome:/config \
+  -p 6052:6052 \
+  ghcr.io/esphome/esphome:stable \
+  dashboard /config
+
+echo "✅ Containers started"
+echo "  Home Assistant: http://10.42.1.1:8123"
+echo "  ESPHome: http://10.42.1.1:6052"