diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fef6dac..feaac6f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -171,7 +171,86 @@ Notes:
 - `database is locked` usually means SQLite write contention, not corruption.
 - For heavier multi-flow usage, move Prefect server DB to Postgres.
 
+## Running Local Prefect Services on Windows (Task Scheduler)
 
+To run a local Prefect server and worker as background services on Windows, you can
+use PowerShell with Windows Task Scheduler and the provided templates:
+
+- `src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_server.windows.task.xml`
+- `src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_worker.windows.task.xml`
+
+1. Copy and customize the service environment file:
+   ```powershell
+   New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$HOME\.config\echodataflow"
+   New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$HOME\.local\var\log\echodataflow"
+
+   Copy-Item src\echodataflow\services\services.env.example_local `
+     "$HOME\.config\echodataflow\services.env"
+   ```
+
+2. Edit `$HOME\.config\echodataflow\services.env` as needed:
+   - Adjust `ECHODATAFLOW_ENV`
+   - Adjust `ECHODATAFLOW_HOME`
+   - Adjust `ECHODATAFLOW_WORKDIR`
+   - Adjust `ECHODATAFLOW_LOG_DIR`
+   - Adjust `MAMBA_BIN`
+   - Adjust `PREFECT_POOL`
+   - Adjust `PREFECT_API_URL`
+
+3. Copy and customize the Task Scheduler XML templates:
+   ```powershell
+   Copy-Item src\echodataflow\services\deploy_prefect_server.windows.task.xml `
+     "$HOME\.config\echodataflow\prefect-server.task.xml"
+
+   Copy-Item src\echodataflow\services\deploy_prefect_worker.windows.task.xml `
+     "$HOME\.config\echodataflow\prefect-worker.task.xml"
+   ```
+
+4. Both XML templates are self-contained and read their runtime configuration
+   from `$HOME\.config\echodataflow\services.env`, so they do not need separate
+   `deploy_prefect_*.windows.ps1` files or hard-coded repository script paths.
+
+5. Register the scheduled tasks:
+   ```powershell
+   schtasks /Create /TN "echodataflow-prefect-server" `
+     /XML "$HOME\.config\echodataflow\prefect-server.task.xml" /F
+
+   schtasks /Create /TN "echodataflow-prefect-worker" `
+     /XML "$HOME\.config\echodataflow\prefect-worker.task.xml" /F
+   ```
+
+6. Start the tasks:
+   ```powershell
+   schtasks /Run /TN "echodataflow-prefect-server"
+   Start-Sleep -Seconds 10
+   schtasks /Run /TN "echodataflow-prefect-worker"
+   ```
+
+7. Check task status:
+   ```powershell
+   schtasks /Query /TN "echodataflow-prefect-server" /V /FO LIST
+   schtasks /Query /TN "echodataflow-prefect-worker" /V /FO LIST
+   ```
+
+8. Verify the local Prefect server:
+
+   Open:
+
+   ```text
+   http://127.0.0.1:4200
+   ```
+
+   The Prefect dashboard should load, and the worker should appear online under
+   **Work Pools**.
+
+9. To stop and delete the tasks:
+   ```powershell
+   schtasks /End /TN "echodataflow-prefect-worker"
+   schtasks /End /TN "echodataflow-prefect-server"
+
+   schtasks /Delete /TN "echodataflow-prefect-worker" /F
+   schtasks /Delete /TN "echodataflow-prefect-server" /F
+   ```
 
 ## License
 
diff --git a/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_server.windows.ps1 b/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_server.windows.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47dbe5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_server.windows.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+$EnvFile = "$HOME\.config\echodataflow\services.env"
+
+if (-not (Test-Path $EnvFile)) {
+    Write-Error "Missing services env file: $EnvFile"
+    exit 1
+}
+
+Get-Content $EnvFile | ForEach-Object {
+    if ($_ -match '^\s*([^#][^=]+)=(.*)$') {
+        $Name = $matches[1].Trim()
+        $Value = $matches[2].Trim()
+        Set-Item -Path "Env:$Name" -Value $Value
+    }
+}
+
+$RequiredVars = @(
+    "ECHODATAFLOW_ENV",
+    "ECHODATAFLOW_WORKDIR",
+    "ECHODATAFLOW_LOG_DIR",
+    "MAMBA_BIN"
+)
+
+foreach ($Var in $RequiredVars) {
+    if (-not (Get-Item -Path "Env:$Var" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) {
+        Write-Error "Missing required environment variable: $Var"
+        exit 1
+    }
+}
+
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $env:ECHODATAFLOW_LOG_DIR | Out-Null
+
+Set-Location $env:ECHODATAFLOW_WORKDIR
+
+& $env:MAMBA_BIN run -n $env:ECHODATAFLOW_ENV `
+    prefect server start `
+    --host 127.0.0.1 `
+    --port 4200
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_server.windows.task.xml b/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_server.windows.task.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d400b71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_server.windows.task.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<Task version="1.4" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2004/02/mit/task">
+  <!-- Task metadata -->
+  <RegistrationInfo>
+    <Description>Run the local Echodataflow Prefect server at user logon.</Description>
+  </RegistrationInfo>
+
+  <!-- Start at user logon -->
+  <Triggers>
+    <LogonTrigger>
+      <Enabled>true</Enabled>
+    </LogonTrigger>
+  </Triggers>
+
+  <!-- Run in the interactive user session -->
+  <Principals>
+    <Principal id="Author">
+      <LogonType>InteractiveToken</LogonType>
+      <RunLevel>LeastPrivilege</RunLevel>
+    </Principal>
+  </Principals>
+
+  <!-- Keep server resilient and always available -->
+  <Settings>
+    <MultipleInstancesPolicy>IgnoreNew</MultipleInstancesPolicy>
+    <DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>false</DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>
+    <StopIfGoingOnBatteries>false</StopIfGoingOnBatteries>
+    <AllowHardTerminate>true</AllowHardTerminate>
+    <StartWhenAvailable>true</StartWhenAvailable>
+    <RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>false</RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>
+    <AllowStartOnDemand>true</AllowStartOnDemand>
+    <Enabled>true</Enabled>
+    <Hidden>false</Hidden>
+    <ExecutionTimeLimit>PT0S</ExecutionTimeLimit>
+    <Priority>7</Priority>
+    <RestartOnFailure>
+      <Interval>PT1M</Interval>
+      <Count>999</Count>
+    </RestartOnFailure>
+  </Settings>
+
+  <!-- Launch the PowerShell bootstrap logic directly -->
+  <Actions Context="Author">
+    <Exec>
+      <Command>powershell.exe</Command>
+
+      <!-- Inline startup script; runtime paths come from services.env -->
+      <Arguments><![CDATA[
+        -NoLogo
+        -NoProfile
+        -NonInteractive
+        -ExecutionPolicy Bypass
+        -Command "& {
+          $EnvFile = Join-Path $HOME '.config\echodataflow\services.env'
+
+          # Load service configuration from the standard user config location.
+          if (-not (Test-Path $EnvFile)) {
+              Write-Error ('Missing services env file: ' + $EnvFile)
+              exit 1
+          }
+
+          Get-Content $EnvFile | ForEach-Object {
+              if ($_ -match '^\s*([^#][^=]+)=(.*)$') {
+                  $Name = $matches[1].Trim()
+                  $Value = $matches[2].Trim()
+                  Set-Item -Path ('Env:' + $Name) -Value $Value
+              }
+          }
+
+          $RequiredVars = @(
+              'ECHODATAFLOW_ENV'
+              'ECHODATAFLOW_WORKDIR'
+              'ECHODATAFLOW_LOG_DIR'
+              'MAMBA_BIN'
+          )
+
+          foreach ($Var in $RequiredVars) {
+              if (-not (Get-Item -Path ('Env:' + $Var) -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) {
+                  Write-Error ('Missing required environment variable: ' + $Var)
+                  exit 1
+              }
+          }
+
+          New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $env:ECHODATAFLOW_LOG_DIR | Out-Null
+          Set-Location $env:ECHODATAFLOW_WORKDIR
+
+          & $env:MAMBA_BIN run -n $env:ECHODATAFLOW_ENV `
+              prefect server start `
+              --host 127.0.0.1 `
+              --port 4200
+        }"
+      ]]></Arguments>
+    </Exec>
+  </Actions>
+</Task>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_worker.windows.ps1 b/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_worker.windows.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c48a8eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_worker.windows.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+$EnvFile = "$HOME\.config\echodataflow\services.env"
+
+if (-not (Test-Path $EnvFile)) {
+    Write-Error "Missing services env file: $EnvFile"
+    exit 1
+}
+
+Get-Content $EnvFile | ForEach-Object {
+    if ($_ -match '^\s*([^#][^=]+)=(.*)$') {
+        $Name = $matches[1].Trim()
+        $Value = $matches[2].Trim()
+        Set-Item -Path "Env:$Name" -Value $Value
+    }
+}
+
+$RequiredVars = @(
+    "ECHODATAFLOW_ENV",
+    "ECHODATAFLOW_WORKDIR",
+    "ECHODATAFLOW_LOG_DIR",
+    "MAMBA_BIN",
+    "PREFECT_POOL"
+)
+
+foreach ($Var in $RequiredVars) {
+    if (-not (Get-Item -Path "Env:$Var" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) {
+        Write-Error "Missing required environment variable: $Var"
+        exit 1
+    }
+}
+
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $env:ECHODATAFLOW_LOG_DIR | Out-Null
+
+Set-Location $env:ECHODATAFLOW_WORKDIR
+
+& $env:MAMBA_BIN run -n $env:ECHODATAFLOW_ENV `
+    prefect worker start `
+    --pool $env:PREFECT_POOL
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_worker.windows.task.xml b/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_worker.windows.task.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6ec83e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/echodataflow/services/deploy_prefect_worker.windows.task.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<Task version="1.4" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/windows/2004/02/mit/task">
+  <!-- Task metadata -->
+  <RegistrationInfo>
+    <Description>Run the local Echodataflow Prefect worker at user logon.</Description>
+  </RegistrationInfo>
+
+  <!-- Start at user logon, after a short delay so the server can start first -->
+  <Triggers>
+    <LogonTrigger>
+      <Enabled>true</Enabled>
+      <Delay>PT1M</Delay>
+    </LogonTrigger>
+  </Triggers>
+
+  <!-- Run in the interactive user session -->
+  <Principals>
+    <Principal id="Author">
+      <LogonType>InteractiveToken</LogonType>
+      <RunLevel>LeastPrivilege</RunLevel>
+    </Principal>
+  </Principals>
+
+  <!-- Keep worker resilient and always available -->
+  <Settings>
+    <MultipleInstancesPolicy>IgnoreNew</MultipleInstancesPolicy>
+    <DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>false</DisallowStartIfOnBatteries>
+    <StopIfGoingOnBatteries>false</StopIfGoingOnBatteries>
+    <AllowHardTerminate>true</AllowHardTerminate>
+    <StartWhenAvailable>true</StartWhenAvailable>
+    <RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>false</RunOnlyIfNetworkAvailable>
+    <AllowStartOnDemand>true</AllowStartOnDemand>
+    <Enabled>true</Enabled>
+    <Hidden>false</Hidden>
+    <ExecutionTimeLimit>PT0S</ExecutionTimeLimit>
+    <Priority>7</Priority>
+    <RestartOnFailure>
+      <Interval>PT1M</Interval>
+      <Count>999</Count>
+    </RestartOnFailure>
+  </Settings>
+
+  <!-- Launch the PowerShell bootstrap logic directly -->
+  <Actions Context="Author">
+    <Exec>
+      <Command>powershell.exe</Command>
+
+      <!-- Inline startup script; runtime paths come from services.env -->
+      <Arguments><![CDATA[
+        -NoLogo
+        -NoProfile
+        -NonInteractive
+        -ExecutionPolicy Bypass
+        -Command "& {
+          $EnvFile = Join-Path $HOME '.config\echodataflow\services.env'
+
+          # Load service configuration from the standard user config location.
+          if (-not (Test-Path $EnvFile)) {
+              Write-Error ('Missing services env file: ' + $EnvFile)
+              exit 1
+          }
+
+          Get-Content $EnvFile | ForEach-Object {
+              if ($_ -match '^\s*([^#][^=]+)=(.*)$') {
+                  $Name = $matches[1].Trim()
+                  $Value = $matches[2].Trim()
+                  Set-Item -Path ('Env:' + $Name) -Value $Value
+              }
+          }
+
+          $RequiredVars = @(
+              'ECHODATAFLOW_ENV'
+              'ECHODATAFLOW_WORKDIR'
+              'ECHODATAFLOW_LOG_DIR'
+              'MAMBA_BIN'
+              'PREFECT_POOL'
+          )
+
+          foreach ($Var in $RequiredVars) {
+              if (-not (Get-Item -Path ('Env:' + $Var) -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) {
+                  Write-Error ('Missing required environment variable: ' + $Var)
+                  exit 1
+              }
+          }
+
+          New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $env:ECHODATAFLOW_LOG_DIR | Out-Null
+          Set-Location $env:ECHODATAFLOW_WORKDIR
+
+          & $env:MAMBA_BIN run -n $env:ECHODATAFLOW_ENV `
+              prefect worker start `
+              --pool $env:PREFECT_POOL
+        }"
+      ]]></Arguments>
+    </Exec>
+  </Actions>
+</Task>
\ No newline at end of file