diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index de05337..9c5bba9 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "agenthub",
-  "version": "0.2.2",
+  "version": "0.3.0",
   "description": "Local coordination layer for AI coding agents",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "./dist/index.js",
diff --git a/src/cli/commands/start.ts b/src/cli/commands/start.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e74a9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cli/commands/start.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import { remoteClient } from '../remoteClient.js';
+import {
+  listTasks as svcListTasks,
+  getTask as svcGetTask,
+  claimTask as svcClaimTask,
+} from '../../core/services/taskService.js';
+import { listHandoffs as svcListHandoffs, getHandoff as svcGetHandoff } from '../../core/services/handoffService.js';
+
+/**
+ * `agenthub start --agent <name> --role <role>` — one-command onboarding for an
+ * agent. Announces presence, claims the open task addressed to this agent, and
+ * prints the task body + its handoff + the next step, so the agent can begin
+ * immediately without the human stitching commands together.
+ *
+ * "Addressed to <agent>" = task title starts with "<agent>:" (the delegation
+ * convention) OR a handoff for that task has toAgent === <agent>.
+ */
+export async function startAgent(opts: {
+  serverUrl?: string;
+  projectCwd: string;
+  agent: string;
+  role: string;
+}): Promise<void> {
+  const { serverUrl, projectCwd, agent, role } = opts;
+  const a = agent.toLowerCase();
+
+  // 1. Announce (presence is best-effort — never block onboarding on it).
+  if (serverUrl) {
+    try {
+      await remoteClient.announce(serverUrl, agent, role);
+    } catch {
+      /* ignore */
+    }
+  }
+  console.log(`AgentHub: ${agent} joined (${role})`);
+
+  // 2. Gather open role tasks + handoffs (handoffs carry taskId + toAgent).
+  const tasks = serverUrl
+    ? await remoteClient.listTasks(serverUrl, { role, status: 'open' })
+    : svcListTasks(projectCwd, { role, status: 'open' });
+  const handoffs = serverUrl ? await remoteClient.listHandoffs(serverUrl) : svcListHandoffs(projectCwd);
+
+  const addressedByHandoff = new Set(
+    handoffs
+      .filter((h) => h.toAgent && String(h.toAgent).toLowerCase() === a && h.taskId)
+      .map((h) => String(h.taskId)),
+  );
+  const mine = tasks.filter(
+    (t) => (t.title ?? '').toLowerCase().startsWith(`${a}:`) || addressedByHandoff.has(t.id),
+  );
+
+  // 3. Nothing addressed → guide the agent instead of guessing.
+  if (mine.length === 0) {
+    if (tasks.length === 0) {
+      console.log(`AgentHub: no open ${role} tasks — waiting for the architect to delegate.`);
+    } else {
+      console.log(`AgentHub: no task addressed to ${agent}. Open ${role} tasks:`);
+      for (const t of tasks) console.log(`  ${t.id}  ${t.title ?? ''}`);
+      console.log(`→ claim one yourself:  agenthub task claim <id> --agent ${agent}`);
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // 4. Claim the addressed task.
+  const task = mine[0];
+  if (serverUrl) await remoteClient.claimTask(serverUrl, task.id, agent);
+  else svcClaimTask(projectCwd, task.id, agent);
+  console.log(`AgentHub: Task claimed   ${task.id}  ${task.title ?? ''}`);
+
+  // 5. Print the task body.
+  try {
+    const detail = serverUrl ? await remoteClient.getTask(serverUrl, task.id) : svcGetTask(projectCwd, task.id);
+    if (detail.body && detail.body.trim()) {
+      console.log(`\n─ Task ${task.id} ──────────────`);
+      console.log(detail.body.trim());
+    }
+  } catch {
+    /* body is optional */
+  }
+
+  // 6. Print the handoff for this task (scope + acceptance criteria).
+  const hof = handoffs.find((h) => h.taskId === task.id);
+  if (hof) {
+    try {
+      const hd = serverUrl ? await remoteClient.getHandoff(serverUrl, hof.id) : svcGetHandoff(projectCwd, hof.id);
+      console.log(`\n─ Handoff ${hof.id} ──────────────`);
+      console.log(hd.handoff.summary);
+      if (hd.body && hd.body.trim()) console.log(hd.body.trim());
+    } catch {
+      /* handoff is optional */
+    }
+  }
+
+  // 7. Next steps — the review gate, spelled out.
+  console.log(`\n─ Next ──────────────`);
+  console.log(`Implement the task, then submit for review:  agenthub task review ${task.id}`);
+  console.log(`Report what you did:  agenthub memory add --title "${task.id} result" --category implementation --content "…"`);
+  console.log(`Only the architect closes a task (\`done\`). If reopened, address the feedback and review again.`);
+}
diff --git a/src/cli/index.ts b/src/cli/index.ts
index b6ae076..255119d 100644
--- a/src/cli/index.ts
+++ b/src/cli/index.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { delegate } from './commands/delegate.js';
 import { serverStart } from './commands/server.js';
 import { update } from './commands/update.js';
 import { watchEvents } from './commands/watch.js';
+import { startAgent } from './commands/start.js';
 import { loadConfig, saveConfig } from '../core/config.js';
 import { findProjectRoot } from '../core/paths.js';
 import { discoverServer } from '../discovery.js';
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ async function runRemote(serverUrl: string, fn: () => Promise<void>): Promise<vo
 export function createProgram(cwd: string): Command {
   const program = new Command('agenthub')
     .description('Local coordination layer for AI coding agents')
-    .version('0.2.2')
+    .version('0.3.0')
     .option('--server <url>', 'AgentHub server URL (env: AGENTHUB_SERVER)');
 
   program
@@ -484,6 +485,21 @@ export function createProgram(cwd: string): Command {
       }
     });
 
+  // ─── start (onboarding) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  program
+    .command('start')
+    .description('Onboard: announce, claim the task addressed to you, print it + its handoff')
+    .requiredOption('--agent <name>', 'Agent name')
+    .option('--role <role>', 'Role (default: implementer)', 'implementer')
+    .action(async (options) => {
+      const { serverUrl, projectCwd } = await resolveContext(program, cwd);
+      if (serverUrl) {
+        await runRemote(serverUrl, () => startAgent({ serverUrl, projectCwd, agent: options.agent, role: options.role }));
+      } else {
+        await startAgent({ projectCwd, agent: options.agent, role: options.role });
+      }
+    });
+
   // ─── watch ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   program
     .command('watch')
diff --git a/src/core/templates.ts b/src/core/templates.ts
index 4aaa88f..a55a7b9 100644
--- a/src/core/templates.ts
+++ b/src/core/templates.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,13 @@ This project coordinates multiple AI agents via AgentHub. The hub server runs on
 the team's hub machine; you connect **automatically** (the project config's
 \`serverUrl\`, or LAN auto-discovery) — no manual setup, no \`--server\` flag.
 
+## Start here
+**If you are an implementer, RUN this on your first turn (don't just read it):**
+\`agenthub start --agent <you> --role implementer\` — it announces you, claims the
+task addressed to you, and prints it + its handoff so you can begin immediately.
+
 ## Golden rules (every agent)
-1. Announce yourself on start: \`agenthub hello --agent <you> --role <your-role>\`.
+1. Announce yourself on start (\`agenthub start …\`, or \`agenthub hello --agent <you> --role <your-role>\`).
 2. Read \`.agenthub/status/latest.md\` and the handoff(s) for your task first.
 3. **Only the architect marks a task \`done\`.** Implementers submit finished work
    with \`agenthub task review <id>\` — never \`agenthub task done\`.
@@ -38,23 +43,25 @@ On start: \`agenthub hello --agent <you> --role architect\`, then \`agenthub wat
 function implementerMd(cliName: string, agentName: string, roles: string): string {
   return `# ${cliName} — AgentHub roles: ${roles}
 
-Read \`AGENTS.md\` first. As an **implementer**, drive this loop yourself on open —
-the human does not type AgentHub commands for you:
+**On your first turn, RUN this and follow its output — do not just summarize:**
 
-1. Announce:  \`agenthub hello --agent ${agentName} --role implementer\`
-2. Find your task:  \`agenthub task list --role implementer --status open\`
-   → pick the one addressed to you (title / handoff), then
-   \`agenthub task claim <id> --agent ${agentName}\`
-3. Read its handoff:  \`agenthub handoff read <HOF-id>\`
-4. Implement it.
-5. **Submit for review (NOT done):**  \`agenthub task review <id>\`
+\`\`\`
+agenthub start --agent ${agentName} --role implementer
+\`\`\`
+
+That one command announces you, claims the task addressed to you, and prints the
+task + its handoff. Then:
+
+1. Implement the task.
+2. **Submit for review (NOT done):**  \`agenthub task review <id>\`
    and report:  \`agenthub memory add --title "<id> result" --category implementation
    --content "<what you did / how to verify it>"\`
-6. Wait for the architect's verdict. If the task is **reopened** (status back to
+3. Wait for the architect's verdict. If the task is **reopened** (status back to
    \`open\`), read the new feedback handoff, address it, and \`agenthub task review <id>\`
    again.
 
 ⚠️ NEVER run \`agenthub task done\` — only the architect approves and closes tasks.
+You drive the AgentHub CLI yourself; the human does not type these commands for you.
 `;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/start.test.ts b/tests/start.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..953d962
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/start.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/**
+ * Tests for `agenthub start` — one-command onboarding that announces and
+ * auto-claims the task addressed to the agent (local path; the server path
+ * uses the same logic via remoteClient).
+ */
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from 'fs';
+import { tmpdir } from 'os';
+import { join } from 'path';
+import { init } from '../src/cli/commands/init.js';
+import { startAgent } from '../src/cli/commands/start.js';
+import { createTask, getTask } from '../src/core/services/taskService.js';
+
+describe('agenthub start — onboarding auto-claim', () => {
+  let cwd: string;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cwd = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'ah-start-'));
+    init(cwd, { projectName: 'start-test', yes: true });
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    rmSync(cwd, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  it('claims the open implementer task addressed to the agent (title prefix)', async () => {
+    const mine = createTask(cwd, { title: 'kimi: backend tests', role: 'implementer' });
+    createTask(cwd, { title: 'codex: magic audit', role: 'implementer' }); // addressed to someone else
+
+    await startAgent({ projectCwd: cwd, agent: 'kimi', role: 'implementer' });
+
+    const { task } = getTask(cwd, mine.id);
+    expect(task.status).toBe('in_progress');
+    expect(task.assignedTo).toBe('kimi');
+  });
+
+  it('does NOT claim a task addressed to a different agent', async () => {
+    const other = createTask(cwd, { title: 'codex: magic audit', role: 'implementer' });
+
+    await startAgent({ projectCwd: cwd, agent: 'kimi', role: 'implementer' });
+
+    const { task } = getTask(cwd, other.id);
+    expect(task.status).toBe('open');
+    expect(task.assignedTo).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('claims nothing when there are no open tasks (just announces)', async () => {
+    // Should not throw; nothing to claim.
+    await expect(startAgent({ projectCwd: cwd, agent: 'kimi', role: 'implementer' })).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/templates.test.ts b/tests/templates.test.ts
index b66462f..d3e2851 100644
--- a/tests/templates.test.ts
+++ b/tests/templates.test.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ describe('templates', () => {
 
   it('references agenthub commands', () => {
     expect(claudeMd()).toContain('agenthub decision create');
-    expect(codexMd()).toContain('agenthub task claim');
+    // Implementer guides now onboard via `agenthub start` (which auto-claims)
+    // and submit via the review gate.
+    expect(codexMd()).toContain('agenthub start');
+    expect(codexMd()).toContain('agenthub task review');
   });
 });