diff --git a/.changeset/scripts-init-repo-shorthand.md b/.changeset/scripts-init-repo-shorthand.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2bcfb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/scripts-init-repo-shorthand.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@bunny.net/cli": minor
+---
+
+Add `--repo` alias for `--template-repo` on `bunny scripts init` and accept GitHub `owner/repo` shorthand. When a custom template repo is given without `--type`, the script type now defaults to `standalone`.
diff --git a/packages/cli/README.md b/packages/cli/README.md
index db39e65..5a58247 100644
--- a/packages/cli/README.md
+++ b/packages/cli/README.md
@@ -395,17 +395,26 @@ bunny scripts init --name my-script --type standalone --template Empty --deploy-
 
 # Non-interactive with GitHub Actions
 bunny scripts init --name my-script --type standalone --template Empty --deploy-method github --deploy
+
+# Use a custom template repo (GitHub owner/repo shorthand)
+bunny scripts init --repo owner/my-template
+
+# Use a custom template repo (full git URL)
+bunny scripts init --template-repo https://github.com/owner/my-template
 ```
 
-| Flag              | Description                                          |
-| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
-| `--name`          | Project directory name                               |
-| `--type`          | Script type: `standalone` or `middleware`             |
-| `--template`      | Template name                                        |
-| `--deploy-method` | Deployment method: `github` or `cli`                 |
-| `--deploy`        | Create script on bunny.net after scaffolding         |
-| `--skip-git`      | Skip git initialization (CLI deploy method only)     |
-| `--skip-install`  | Skip dependency installation                         |
+| Flag                     | Description                                                           |
+| ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `--name`                 | Project directory name                                                |
+| `--type`                 | Script type: `standalone` or `middleware`                             |
+| `--template`             | Template name                                                         |
+| `--template-repo`, `--repo` | Git repository URL or GitHub `owner/repo` shorthand to use as template |
+| `--deploy-method`        | Deployment method: `github` or `cli`                                  |
+| `--deploy`               | Create script on bunny.net after scaffolding                          |
+| `--skip-git`             | Skip git initialization (CLI deploy method only)                      |
+| `--skip-install`         | Skip dependency installation                                          |
+
+When `--repo` / `--template-repo` is given without `--type`, the script type defaults to `standalone`.
 
 When choosing **GitHub Actions**, git is initialized automatically, GitHub-specific workflow files are kept, and after creating the script you'll be shown the `SCRIPT_ID` to add as a GitHub repo secret.
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/scripts/init.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/scripts/init.ts
index 724b4bf..7ae3908 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/scripts/init.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/scripts/init.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ const ARG_TYPE_DESCRIPTION = "Script type";
 const ARG_TEMPLATE = "template";
 const ARG_TEMPLATE_DESCRIPTION = "Template name";
 const ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO = "template-repo";
-const ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO_DESCRIPTION = "Git repository URL to use as template";
+const ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO_ALIAS = "repo";
+const ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO_DESCRIPTION =
+  "Git repository URL or GitHub owner/repo shorthand to use as template";
 const ARG_DEPLOY = "deploy";
 const ARG_DEPLOY_DESCRIPTION = "Deploy after creation";
 const ARG_DEPLOY_METHOD = "deploy-method";
@@ -49,6 +51,12 @@ interface InitArgs {
   [ARG_SKIP_INSTALL]?: boolean;
 }
 
+const GITHUB_SHORTHAND = /^[\w.-]+\/[\w.-]+$/;
+
+function resolveTemplateRepo(input: string): string {
+  return GITHUB_SHORTHAND.test(input) ? `https://github.com/${input}` : input;
+}
+
 /**
  * Create a new Edge Script project from a template.
  *
@@ -70,8 +78,11 @@ interface InitArgs {
  * # Skip dependency installation
  * bunny scripts init --name my-script --skip-install
  *
- * # Use a custom template repo
+ * # Use a custom template repo (full URL)
  * bunny scripts init --name my-script --type standalone --template-repo https://github.com/user/my-template
+ *
+ * # Use a custom template repo (GitHub owner/repo shorthand)
+ * bunny scripts init --repo user/my-template
  * ```
  */
 export const scriptsInitCommand = defineCommand<InitArgs>({
@@ -102,6 +113,7 @@ export const scriptsInitCommand = defineCommand<InitArgs>({
       })
       .option(ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO, {
         type: "string",
+        alias: ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO_ALIAS,
         describe: ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO_DESCRIPTION,
       })
       .option(ARG_DEPLOY, {
@@ -150,6 +162,9 @@ export const scriptsInitCommand = defineCommand<InitArgs>({
     let scriptType: EdgeScriptTypes | undefined;
     if (args[ARG_TYPE]) {
       scriptType = args[ARG_TYPE] === "standalone" ? 1 : 2;
+    } else if (args[ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO]) {
+      // Custom template repo implies the user knows what they're doing — default to standalone
+      scriptType = 1;
     } else {
       const { value } = await prompts({
         type: "select",
@@ -179,7 +194,7 @@ export const scriptsInitCommand = defineCommand<InitArgs>({
       selected = {
         name: "Custom",
         description: "Custom template repository",
-        repo: args[ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO],
+        repo: resolveTemplateRepo(args[ARG_TEMPLATE_REPO]),
         scriptType: finalScriptType,
       };
     } else if (args[ARG_TEMPLATE]) {