diff --git a/scripts/set_up_new_site.sh b/scripts/set_up_new_site.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8438263
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/set_up_new_site.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# shell script hardening
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# This script copies the scss and layout files I think most people
+# would like to override. It also copies the example config file.
+# (Run chmod 700 on this file to make it executable)
+
+if [[ ! "$0" =~ "themes/zen/scripts/set_up_new_site.sh" ]]; then
+  echo "Error: This script must be run from the project root directory."
+  echo "Usage: ./theme/zen/set_up_new_site.sh"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+mkdir -p "assets/sass/init"
+
+copy_files=("themes/zen/assets/sass/init/_colors.scss:assets/sass/init/_colors.scss"
+            "themes/zen/assets/sass/init/_variables.scss:assets/sass/init/_variables.scss"
+            "themes/zen/assets/sass/_custom.scss:assets/sass/_custom.scss"
+            "themes/zen/assets/sass/_zen.scss:assets/sass/_zen.scss"
+            "themes/zen/layouts/index.html:layouts/index.html"
+            "themes/zen/exampleSite/config.yaml:config.yaml")
+
+for files in "${copy_files[@]}" ; do
+  if [[ ! -f "${files##*:}" ]]; then
+    cp "${files%%:*}" "${files##*:}"
+    echo "Copied: ${files##*:}"
+  else
+    echo "Already exist so not overwritten: ${files##*:}"
+  fi
+done
+
+if [[ -f "config.toml" && -f "config.yaml" ]]; then
+  mv config.toml config.toml.old
+fi