diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 654d95b..6cb7dab 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ emmy/
 exports/
 data/
 test_data/
+dist/
 *.zip
 *.crx
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a54162b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# ==============================================================================
+# Makefile for Brightwheel Exporter Chrome Extension
+# ==============================================================================
+
+SHELL := /usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Extract version from manifest.json
+VERSION := $(shell node -p "require('./manifest.json').version" 2>/dev/null || echo "1.0.0")
+DIST_DIR := dist
+ZIP_NAME := brightwheel-exporter-v$(VERSION).zip
+ZIP_PATH := $(DIST_DIR)/$(ZIP_NAME)
+
+.PHONY: all build zip check clean help
+
+all: build
+
+## help: Display this help message
+help:
+	@echo "Available commands:"
+	@echo "  make build (or make zip) - Build the Chrome Web Store production ZIP package"
+	@echo "  make check               - Verify JavaScript syntax and manifest validity"
+	@echo "  make clean               - Remove the dist directory and build artifacts"
+
+## check: Verify JavaScript syntax and manifest validity
+check:
+	@echo "🔍 Validating manifest.json and JavaScript files..."
+	@node -e "const m = JSON.parse(require('fs').readFileSync('manifest.json')); if (m.manifest_version !== 3) process.exit(1); console.log('✅ Manifest v' + m.version + ' OK');"
+	@find scripts dashboard popup -name "*.js" | while read -r jsfile; do \
+		node --check "$$jsfile" && echo "  ✓ $$jsfile valid"; \
+	done
+	@echo "✅ All syntax checks passed!"
+
+## build: Package the extension into a clean production ZIP for Chrome Web Store
+build: check
+	@echo "📦 Packaging Chrome Extension (v$(VERSION))..."
+	@mkdir -p $(DIST_DIR)
+	@rm -f $(ZIP_PATH)
+	@zip -r $(ZIP_PATH) . \
+		-x "*.git*" \
+		-x ".githooks/*" \
+		-x ".github/*" \
+		-x "$(DIST_DIR)/*" \
+		-x "emmy/*" \
+		-x "exports/*" \
+		-x "data/*" \
+		-x "test_data/*" \
+		-x "Makefile" \
+		-x "*.md" \
+		-x "LICENSE" \
+		-x "*.zip" \
+		-x "*.tar.gz" \
+		-x "*.tmp" \
+		-x ".DS_Store" \
+		-x "*/.DS_Store"
+	@echo ""
+	@echo "🎉 Production ZIP created successfully!"
+	@echo "📍 File location: $(ZIP_PATH)"
+	@echo ""
+	@echo "📋 ZIP Contents:"
+	@unzip -l $(ZIP_PATH)
+
+## zip: Alias for build
+zip: build
+
+## clean: Clean build output directory
+clean:
+	@echo "🧹 Cleaning $(DIST_DIR)..."
+	@rm -rf $(DIST_DIR)
+	@echo "Done."