diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 89cedb6..b539f5a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ total that hits your bill.
 ## Install
 
 ```bash
-brew tap dtnewman/burn https://github.com/dtnewman/burn_baby_burn
-brew install burn
+curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dtnewman/burn-baby-burn/main/install.sh | bash
 ```
 
-Needs [Claude Code](https://docs.claude.com/claude-code) authenticated on
-your `PATH` and `jq` (brew pulls it in).
+Drops `burn` into `~/.local/bin` — no sudo, no Homebrew tap. Needs
+[Claude Code](https://docs.claude.com/claude-code) authenticated on your
+`PATH` and `jq` (`brew install jq`).
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..53b307d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Install `burn` to ~/.local/bin (no sudo required).
+set -euo pipefail
+
+REPO="dtnewman/burn-baby-burn"
+SRC="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/${REPO}/main/bin/burn"
+DEST_DIR="${HOME}/.local/bin"
+DEST="${DEST_DIR}/burn"
+
+mkdir -p "$DEST_DIR"
+curl -fsSL "$SRC" -o "$DEST"
+chmod +x "$DEST"
+
+echo "✅ installed burn → $DEST"
+
+case ":${PATH}:" in
+  *":${DEST_DIR}:"*)
+    echo "🔥 ready to go: run 'burn 10000' to torch some tokens."
+    ;;
+  *)
+    echo
+    echo "⚠️  $DEST_DIR is not on your PATH."
+    echo "    add this line to your shell rc (~/.zshrc, ~/.bashrc, etc):"
+    echo
+    echo "      export PATH=\"\$HOME/.local/bin:\$PATH\""
+    echo
+    echo "    then reload your shell and run 'burn 10000'."
+    ;;
+esac