diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 293f815..f91cd54 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ AUTH_DISABLED=false
 OIDC_ISSUER=https://authentik.example.com
 OIDC_AUDIENCE=groombook
 
+# ── Setup Wizard ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# When SKIP_OOBE=true, the setup wizard is bypassed regardless of whether a
+# super user exists in the database. Useful in dev/test environments where the
+# database has data but the setup wizard would otherwise block access.
+SKIP_OOBE=false
+
 # ── API ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 PORT=3000
 CORS_ORIGIN=http://localhost:8080
diff --git a/apps/api/src/__tests__/setup.test.ts b/apps/api/src/__tests__/setup.test.ts
index 8fc4ffd..9884e96 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/__tests__/setup.test.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/__tests__/setup.test.ts
@@ -418,6 +418,48 @@ describe("GET /setup/status — OOBE bootstrap logic", () => {
     expect(body.showAuthProviderStep).toBe(false); // DB config already exists
     expect(body.authConfigExists).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it("SKIP_OOBE=true bypasses setup check regardless of DB state", async () => {
+    dbStaffRows = []; // no super user
+    dbAuthConfigRows = [];
+    process.env.SKIP_OOBE = "true";
+
+    const app = makeApp();
+    const { status, body } = await getStatus(app);
+
+    expect(status).toBe(200);
+    expect(body.needsSetup).toBe(false);
+    expect(body.showAuthProviderStep).toBe(false);
+    expect(body.authConfigExists).toBe(false);
+    expect(body.authEnvVarsSet).toBe(false);
+    expect(body.skipped).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("SKIP_OOBE=1 also bypasses setup check", async () => {
+    dbStaffRows = [];
+    dbAuthConfigRows = [];
+    process.env.SKIP_OOBE = "1";
+
+    const app = makeApp();
+    const { status, body } = await getStatus(app);
+
+    expect(status).toBe(200);
+    expect(body.needsSetup).toBe(false);
+    expect(body.skipped).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("SKIP_OOBE=yes also bypasses setup check", async () => {
+    dbStaffRows = [];
+    dbAuthConfigRows = [];
+    process.env.SKIP_OOBE = "yes";
+
+    const app = makeApp();
+    const { status, body } = await getStatus(app);
+
+    expect(status).toBe(200);
+    expect(body.needsSetup).toBe(false);
+    expect(body.skipped).toBe(true);
+  });
 });
 
 describe("POST /setup/auth-provider — OOBE bootstrap", () => {
diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/setup.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/setup.ts
index 079636a..a614b5c 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/setup.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/setup.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,17 @@ export const setupRouter = new Hono<AppEnv>();
 // GET /api/setup/status — public (no auth), returns whether setup is needed
 // and whether the auth provider bootstrap step should be shown
 setupRouter.get("/status", async (c) => {
+  const skipOobe = ["true", "1", "yes"].includes((process.env.SKIP_OOBE || "").toLowerCase());
+  if (skipOobe) {
+    return c.json({
+      needsSetup: false,
+      showAuthProviderStep: false,
+      authConfigExists: false,
+      authEnvVarsSet: false,
+      skipped: true,
+    });
+  }
+
   const db = getDb();
 
   // Check if any super user exists
diff --git a/packages/db/migrations/0025_rate_limit.sql b/packages/db/migrations/0025_rate_limit.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a83e14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/db/migrations/0025_rate_limit.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+-- Better-Auth rate limiting table (GRO-574)
+CREATE TABLE "rate_limit" (
+  key TEXT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
+  count INTEGER NOT NULL,
+  last_request BIGINT NOT NULL
+);
diff --git a/packages/db/migrations/meta/_journal.json b/packages/db/migrations/meta/_journal.json
index 3a1ec9c..7ca1dc5 100644
--- a/packages/db/migrations/meta/_journal.json
+++ b/packages/db/migrations/meta/_journal.json
@@ -176,6 +176,13 @@
       "when": 1775396067192,
       "tag": "0024_invoice_indexes",
       "breakpoints": true
+    },
+    {
+      "idx": 25,
+      "version": "7",
+      "when": 1775482467192,
+      "tag": "0025_rate_limit",
+      "breakpoints": true
     }
   ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file