diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 56fbe4d00eba36..71ebb4a3a3d4df 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@
     "README.md",
     "third-party-podspecs",
     "template",
-    "local-cli"
+    "local-cli",
+    "template.config.js"
   ],
   "scripts": {
     "start": "react-native start --reactNativePath .",
diff --git a/template.config.js b/template.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..7e251cd178c112
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+module.exports = {
+  placeholderName: 'HelloWorld',
+  templateDir: './template',
+};
diff --git a/template/package.json b/template/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..5f597210fe704c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+{
+  "name": "HelloWorld",
+  "version": "0.0.1",
+  "private": true,
+  "scripts": {
+    "start": "react-native start",
+    "test": "jest"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "react": "16.8.1",
+    "react-native": "0.59.3"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@babel/core": "^7.3.3",
+    "@babel/runtime": "^7.3.1",
+    "@react-native-community/eslint-config": "^0.0.3",
+    "babel-jest": "^24.1.0",
+    "jest": "^24.1.0",
+    "metro-react-native-babel-preset": "^0.51.1",
+    "react-test-renderer": "16.8.1"
+  },
+  "jest": {
+    "preset": "react-native"
+  }
+}