diff --git a/README.MD b/README.MD
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..45c1c62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.MD
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# HidekoBot  
+  
+Hideko is a general-purpose Discord bot.  
+  
+## Startup
+Download a prebuilt JAR file or build it from source, then run it with:
+```bash
+java -jar HidekoBot.jar botToken
+```
+Where `HidekoBot.jar` is the executable archive and `botToken` is your bot token passed as an argument.
+  
+## Initial setup  
+  
+After starting the bot up successfully, it will print an invite-link in your console. Click on the link to add your bot
+to any server with the correct permissions already set-up.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/HidekoBot.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/HidekoBot.java
index 046ddcc..91eca60 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/HidekoBot.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/HidekoBot.java
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ public class HidekoBot
     private static String standardInviteLink = "https://discord.com/oauth2/authorize?client_id=%userid%&scope=bot&permissions=8";
     private static String botUserId;
 
+    private static final String version = "0.0.1";
+
     public static void main(String[] args)
     {
 
@@ -45,11 +47,15 @@ public class HidekoBot
         botUserId = jda.getSelfUser().getId();
         standardInviteLink = standardInviteLink.replace("%userid%", botUserId);
 
+        // print the bot logo.
+        logger.log("Ready!\n\n" + logger.getLogo() + "\nv" + version + " - bot is ready!\n", 2);
+
         // log the invite-link to console so noob users can just click on it.
         logger.log("Bot User ID: " + botUserId, 5);
         logger.log("Invite Link: " + standardInviteLink, 5);
 
 
+
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/utils/Logger.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/utils/Logger.java
index 38a4b3c..2fca360 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/utils/Logger.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/utils/Logger.java
@@ -8,6 +8,15 @@ import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 public class Logger
 {
 
+    // cosmetic string to print on startup.
+    private String logo =
+            "██╗░░██╗██╗██████╗░███████╗██╗░░██╗░█████╗░\n" +
+            "██║░░██║██║██╔══██╗██╔════╝██║░██╔╝██╔══██╗\n" +
+            "███████║██║██║░░██║█████╗░░█████═╝░██║░░██║\n" +
+            "██╔══██║██║██║░░██║██╔══╝░░██╔═██╗░██║░░██║\n" +
+            "██║░░██║██║██████╔╝███████╗██║░╚██╗╚█████╔╝\n" +
+            "╚═╝░░╚═╝╚═╝╚═════╝░╚══════╝╚═╝░░╚═╝░╚════╝░";
+
     // objects that we need to have for a properly formatted message
     private String className;
     private final String format = "[%date% %time%] [%class%] %message%";
@@ -27,7 +36,7 @@ public class Logger
         LocalDateTime now = LocalDateTime.now();
         String currentDate = dateFormatter.format(now);
         String currentTime = timeFormatter.format(now);
-        System.out.println(format
+        logRaw(format
                 .replace("%date%", currentDate)
                 .replace("%time%", currentTime)
                 .replace("%class%", className)
@@ -50,4 +59,16 @@ public class Logger
         }, delay, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
 
     }
+
+    // avoid formatting the text and print whatever is passed.
+    public void logRaw(String message)
+    {
+        System.out.println(message);
+    }
+
+    public String getLogo()
+    {
+        return logo;
+    }
+
 }