diff --git a/add_user.sh b/add_user.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..889fda0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/add_user.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# add user to host unless it already exists
+# USERNAME="name of user to create"
+# USERID="user id of user to create"
+# -s /nonexistent       # no interactive shell
+# -h -                  # makes it inaccessable via password-based login
+grep "$USERNAME:" /etc/passwd > /dev/null || pw adduser -n $USERNAME -u $USERID -s "" -h -
\ No newline at end of file