diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index 32fe862..e1eed44 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ jobs:
         uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@20cfd1bf945f4377ade1205e4dbc17946fc9a30d # v10.0.1
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: uv sync
+      - name: Set git identity
+        run: |
+          git config --global user.email "ci-example-user@xomnia.com"
+          git config --global user.name "CI Example User"
       - name: Run pytest
         run: uv run pytest
   # Single aggregate check to require in the branch ruleset. It depends on
diff --git a/copier.yml b/copier.yml
index ec19824..6ac0de2 100644
--- a/copier.yml
+++ b/copier.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ _tasks:
   - "git checkout -b main"
   - "uv sync"
   - "uv run pre-commit install"
+  - "git add --all -- :!branch_protection_rules.json"
+  - "git commit -m \"chore: initial commit\""
+  - command: gh repo create {{ github_username }}/{{ project_github_name }} --source=. --push --private
+    when: "{{ push_to_github }}"
+  - command: "gh api --method PUT -H \"Accept: application/vnd.github+json\" repos/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_github_name }}/branches/main/protection --input branch_protection_rules.json"
+    when: "{{ push_to_github }}"
+  - rm branch_protection_rules.json
 
 # Questions
 
@@ -29,7 +36,7 @@ author_email:
 github_username:
   type: str
   help: GitHub username or organization
-  default: "{{ author_name | lower | replace(' ', '') }}"
+  default: "XomniaAi"
 
 project_name:
   type: str
@@ -53,6 +60,11 @@ project_slug:
     and underscores only, and it may not start with a digit.
     {% endif %}
 
+project_github_name:
+  type: str
+  default: "{{ project_slug | lower | replace('_', '-') }}"
+  when: false
+
 project_short_description:
   type: str
   help: A short description of the project
@@ -81,3 +93,10 @@ include_hexagonal:
     adapters layers with an example slice, plus import-linter contracts that
     enforce the layer boundaries.
   default: true
+
+push_to_github:
+  type: bool
+  help: >-
+    Push the repository to GitHub. Auto-applies standard branch protection rules
+    standard for trunk-based development. (e.g. one main branch)
+  default: true
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/README.md.jinja b/template/README.md.jinja
index 2912efb..7f983cf 100644
--- a/template/README.md.jinja
+++ b/template/README.md.jinja
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # {{ project_name }}
 
-[![Tests](https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_slug }}/actions/workflows/ci.yaml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_slug }}/actions/workflows/ci.yaml)
+[![Tests](https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_github_name }}/actions/workflows/ci.yaml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_github_name }}/actions/workflows/ci.yaml)
 [![PyPI version](https://badge.fury.io/py/{{ project_slug | replace('_', '-') }}.svg)](https://pypi.org/project/{{ project_slug | replace('_', '-') }}/)
 
 
 {{ project_short_description }}
 
-Original repository: [https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_slug }}](https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_slug }})
+Original repository: [https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_github_name }}](https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_github_name }})
 
 {% if include_hexagonal -%}
 
diff --git a/template/branch_protection_rules.json b/template/branch_protection_rules.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6984163
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/branch_protection_rules.json
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{
+  "allow_deletions": false,
+  "allow_force_pushes": false,
+  "enforce_admins": true,
+  "required_linear_history": false,
+  "required_pull_request_reviews": {
+    "dismiss_stale_reviews": true,
+    "require_code_owner_reviews": false,
+    "require_last_push_approval": true,
+    "required_approving_review_count": 1
+  },
+  "required_status_checks": {
+    "contexts": [
+      "ci-gate"
+    ],
+    "strict": true
+  },
+  "restrictions": null
+}
diff --git a/template/pyproject.toml.jinja b/template/pyproject.toml.jinja
index c0f0ae2..ef8d00a 100644
--- a/template/pyproject.toml.jinja
+++ b/template/pyproject.toml.jinja
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [project.urls]
-Homepage = "https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_slug }}"
-Repository = "https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_slug }}"
+Homepage = "https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_github_name }}"
+Repository = "https://github.com/{{ github_username }}/{{ project_github_name }}"
 
 [tool.hatch.build.targets.wheel]
 packages = ["src/{{ project_slug }}"]
diff --git a/tests/test_template.py b/tests/test_template.py
index e971b86..2bb44d6 100644
--- a/tests/test_template.py
+++ b/tests/test_template.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ def _triggers(workflow: dict) -> dict:
     "project_short_description": "A test project.",
     "version": "0.1.0",
     "license": "MIT",
+    "push_to_github": False
 }
 
 
@@ -327,7 +328,7 @@ def test_default_slug_is_valid_package_name(tmp_path):
     copier.run_copy(
         src_path=str(TEMPLATE_ROOT),
         dst_path=str(dst),
-        data={"author_name": "Joe Doe", "author_email": "joe@example.com"},
+        data={"author_name": "Joe Doe", "author_email": "joe@example.com", "push_to_github": False},
         defaults=True,
         unsafe=True,
         vcs_ref="HEAD",