diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 503e82f..e4b2810 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ Meta-repo for the `leeworks-apis` recursive build loop. This repo holds cross-cu
 - `MASTER_BUILD_PROMPT.md` — the prime directive driving the build loop
 - `ROADMAP.md` — cross-repo milestones (Phase 0–6)
 - `STATUS.md` — living revenue + infra scorecard
+- `docs/pre-launch-checklist.md` — go-live gate checklist (run the day before public launch)
 - `SESSION_LOG.md` — append-only log of agent work sessions
 - `research/RESEARCH_LOG.md` — market research findings, candidate API ideas
 - `flux/` — cluster-level Flux manifests (registry, runner, monitoring, docs-site)
diff --git a/docs/pre-launch-checklist.md b/docs/pre-launch-checklist.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..272f8ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/pre-launch-checklist.md
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+# Pre-Launch Checklist
+
+Use this checklist as the final go-live gate — run through every item the day before flipping the public switch. All items must be ✅ before announcing public availability.
+
+---
+
+## Infrastructure
+
+- [ ] All Flux components `READY=True` (`flux get all`)
+- [ ] All three API pods Running and READY
+  - [ ] `zip-enrichment` pod `READY=1/1` (`kubectl get pods -n zip-enrichment`)
+  - [ ] `holidays` pod `READY=1/1` (`kubectl get pods -n holidays`)
+  - [ ] `air-quality` pod `READY=1/1` (`kubectl get pods -n air-quality`)
+- [ ] `docs-site` pod Running and READY (`kubectl get pods -n docs-site`)
+- [ ] Prometheus scraping all three API services (check Prometheus Targets UI)
+- [ ] Grafana dashboard accessible at `grafana.leeworks.dev`
+
+---
+
+## DNS & TLS
+
+- [ ] `zip.leeworks.dev` → cluster ingress IP (`dig zip.leeworks.dev +short` + `curl -I https://zip.leeworks.dev`)
+- [ ] `holidays.leeworks.dev` → cluster ingress IP
+- [ ] `aqi.leeworks.dev` → cluster ingress IP
+- [ ] `docs.leeworks.dev` → cluster ingress IP
+- [ ] `status.leeworks.dev` → cluster ingress IP
+- [ ] `registry.leeworks.dev` → cluster ingress IP
+- [ ] `grafana.leeworks.dev` → cluster ingress IP
+- [ ] TLS certificates issued for all 7 subdomains (`kubectl get certificates -A`)
+
+---
+
+## Functional Verification
+
+- [ ] `GET /health` returns HTTP 200 on **zip-enrichment** (`curl https://zip.leeworks.dev/health`)
+- [ ] `GET /health` returns HTTP 200 on **holidays** (`curl https://holidays.leeworks.dev/health`)
+- [ ] `GET /health` returns HTTP 200 on **air-quality** (`curl https://aqi.leeworks.dev/health`)
+- [ ] `GET /zip/{zip}` returns correct data for a sample ZIP code (e.g. `curl https://zip.leeworks.dev/zip/10001`)
+- [ ] `GET /holidays/{year}` returns correct data (e.g. `curl https://holidays.leeworks.dev/holidays/2026`)
+- [ ] `GET /aqi/{city}` returns correct data (e.g. `curl https://aqi.leeworks.dev/aqi/New%20York`)
+- [ ] Request **without** `X-RapidAPI-Proxy-Secret` returns HTTP 403 on all three APIs
+- [ ] `docs.leeworks.dev/pricing` loads correctly
+- [ ] `status.leeworks.dev` shows all three APIs as **UP**
+
+---
+
+## Legal & Monetisation
+
+- [ ] `docs/legal/terms-of-service.md` committed and reachable at `docs.leeworks.dev/legal/terms-of-service`
+- [ ] `docs/legal/privacy-policy.md` committed and reachable at `docs.leeworks.dev/legal/privacy-policy`
+- [ ] `docs/legal/acceptable-use-policy.md` committed and reachable at `docs.leeworks.dev/legal/acceptable-use-policy`
+- [ ] All three APIs listed on RapidAPI with **Free + 3 paid tiers** (leeworks-agents/api-company#44)
+- [ ] PayPal linked to RapidAPI (leeworks-agents/api-company#19)
+- [ ] `rapidapi-proxy-secret` updated with **real** RapidAPI values in all 3 namespaces (leeworks-agents/api-company#81)
+
+---
+
+## Post-Launch
+
+- [ ] Alert channel confirmed — Slack webhook active (leeworks-agents/api-company#73)
+- [ ] Grafana alert rules firing correctly on synthetic test downtime
+- [ ] First STATUS.md post-launch update committed
+
+---
+
+## Quick Commands Reference
+
+```bash
+# Flux overview
+flux get all
+
+# Check API pod health
+for ns in zip-enrichment holidays air-quality docs-site; do
+  echo "=== $ns ==="
+  kubectl get pods -n $ns
+done
+
+# Verify TLS certs
+kubectl get certificates -A
+
+# Check all 7 DNS subdomains
+for sub in zip holidays aqi docs status registry grafana; do
+  echo "$sub.leeworks.dev -> $(dig $sub.leeworks.dev +short)"
+done
+
+# Smoke test health endpoints
+for svc in "zip.leeworks.dev/health" "holidays.leeworks.dev/health" "aqi.leeworks.dev/health"; do
+  echo "$svc: $(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' https://$svc)"
+done
+
+# Verify 403 on missing proxy secret
+curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" https://zip.leeworks.dev/zip/10001
+# Expected: 403
+```
+
+---
+
+_References: ROADMAP.md §Phase 6; leeworks-agents/api-company#33, #44, #19, #81, #73, #7, #8, #18_