diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd05187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Server Configuration
+PORT=3000
+WDS_SOCKET_PORT=443
+
+# Backend API URL
+REACT_APP_BACKEND_URL=http://localhost:8000
+
+# App Base Path Configuration
+# Examples:
+# - For root path: REACT_APP_BASENAME=
+# - For subpath: REACT_APP_BASENAME=/membership
+# - For production: REACT_APP_BASENAME=/membership
+REACT_APP_BASENAME=
+
+# Feature Flags
+REACT_APP_ENABLE_VISUAL_EDITS=false
+ENABLE_HEALTH_CHECK=false
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 40ddf43..09002e2 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 # Environment
 .env
+.env.production
 
 # dependencies
 /node_modules
diff --git a/src/App.js b/src/App.js
index e414a10..30ffde2 100644
--- a/src/App.js
+++ b/src/App.js
@@ -70,8 +70,9 @@ const PrivateRoute = ({ children, adminOnly = false }) => {
 };
 
 function App() {
-  // Use /membership basename only in production
-  const basename = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' ? '/membership' : '';
+  // Read basename from environment variable (defaults to empty string for root path)
+  // Set REACT_APP_BASENAME in .env to use a subpath (e.g., "/membership")
+  const basename = process.env.REACT_APP_BASENAME || '';
 
   return (
     <AuthProvider>