diff --git a/doc/source/developer_quickstart.rst b/doc/source/developer_quickstart.rst
index f22d73e..8bd2d5e 100644
--- a/doc/source/developer_quickstart.rst
+++ b/doc/source/developer_quickstart.rst
@@ -53,6 +53,20 @@ and enable the relevant services::
     ADMIN_PASSWORD=secret
     END
 
+Building a Custom Service VM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+
+By default, the Akanda plugin downloads a pre-built official Akanda image.  To
+build your own from source, enable ``BUILD_AKANDA_DEV_APPLIANCE`` and specify
+a repository and branch to build from::
+
+    cat >/opt/stack/devstack/local.conf <<END
+
+    BUILD_AKANDA_DEV_APPLIANCE=True
+    AKANDA_APPLIANCE_REPO=http://github.com/stackforge/akanda-appliance.git
+    AKANDA_APPLIANCE_BRANCH=master
+    END
+
 Deploying
 +++++++++