diff --git a/.github/workflows/static_code_checks.yaml b/.github/workflows/static_code_checks.yaml
index 71a2a187..4ce815cd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/static_code_checks.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/static_code_checks.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# only has to pass for python 3.8
+# only has to pass for python 3.9
 name: Static code checks
 
 on:
@@ -23,4 +23,4 @@ jobs:
           python-version: 3.9
 
       - name: precommit checker
-        uses: pre-commit/action@v2.0.3
+        uses: pre-commit/action@v3.0.1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..442c8b60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# only has to pass for python 3.9
+name: PyTest Unit Tests
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      main
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      main
+
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Set up Python 3.9
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v3
+        with:
+          python-version: 3.9
+      # Display the Python version being used
+      - name: Display Python version
+        run: python -c "import sys; print(sys.version)"
+      - name: Install and configure Poetry
+        uses: snok/install-poetry@v1
+        with:
+          virtualenvs-create: true
+          virtualenvs-in-project: true
+      - name: Set up cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v2
+        id: cached-poetry-dependencies
+        with:
+          path: .venv
+          key: venv-${{ runner.os }}-${{ steps.full-python-version.outputs.version }}-${{ hashFiles('**/poetry.lock') }}
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: poetry install --with "dev, test"
+        if: steps.cached-poetry-dependencies.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      - name: Run Tests
+        run: |
+          source .venv/bin/activate
+          pytest florist/tests/*
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cefd77e7..26aad9a8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,4 +46,10 @@ back-end APIs individually, they will be available at `https://localhost:8000`.
 
 ### Running the client
 
-Coming up.
+To start the client back-end service:
+
+```shell
+uvicorn florist.api.client:app --reload --port 8001
+```
+
+The service will be available at `http://localhost:8001`.
diff --git a/florist/__init__.py b/florist/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/florist/api/__init__.py b/florist/api/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/florist/api/client.py b/florist/api/client.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..56d01833
--- /dev/null
+++ b/florist/api/client.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse
+
+app = FastAPI()
+
+
+@app.get("/api/client/connect")
+def connect() -> JSONResponse:
+    """
+    Confirms the client is up and ready to accept instructions.
+
+    :return: JSON `{"status": "ok"}`
+    """
+    return JSONResponse({"status": "ok"})
diff --git a/florist/tests/api/__init__.py b/florist/tests/api/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/florist/tests/api/test_client.py b/florist/tests/api/test_client.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7f7a5ea1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/florist/tests/api/test_client.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import json
+
+from florist.api import client
+
+
+def test_connect() -> None:
+    response = client.connect()
+
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert response.body.decode() == json.dumps({"status": "ok"}, separators=(",", ":"))