diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ad8fc77a..4965f14d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ make clean                # Remove all containers and volumes
 ```bash
 make infra-up      # Start infrastructure only (MongoDB, NATS, Vault)
 make services-up   # Start application services only (assumes infra is running)
+make backend-up    # Start backend services only (no infrastructure/frontend changes)
+make backend-down  # Stop backend services only
+make backend-rebuild # Rebuild and restart backend services only
 make list-services # Show service names, ports, and descriptions
 ```