diff --git a/config.json.example b/config.json.example
index d771410..b90e11e 100644
--- a/config.json.example
+++ b/config.json.example
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
     "behindProxy": true,
     "db": "./databases/sponsorTimes.db",
     "privateDB": "./databases/private.db",
+    "createDatabaseIfNotExist": true, //depends on mode='development' //This will run on startup every time - so ensure "create table if not exists" is used in the schema
+    "dbSchema": "./databases/_sponsorTimes.db.sql",
+    "privateDBSchema": "./databases/_private.db.sql",
     "mode": "development",
     "readOnly": false
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index e0c993f..73727ba 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ var db = new Sqlite3(config.db, options);
 //where the more sensitive data such as IP addresses are stored
 var privateDB = new Sqlite3(config.privateDB, options);
 
+if (config.createDatabaseIfNotExist && (config.mode === "development")) {
+    db.exec(fs.readFileSync(config.dbSchema).toString());
+    privateDB.exec(fs.readFileSync(config.privateDBSchema).toString());
+}
+
 // Create an HTTP service.
 http.createServer(app).listen(config.port);
 
@@ -1049,4 +1054,4 @@ function getFormattedTime(seconds) {
     let formatted = minutes+ ":" + secondsDisplay;
 
     return formatted;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}