diff --git a/commands/build.js b/commands/build.js
index d5d3487a..5863e4a2 100644
--- a/commands/build.js
+++ b/commands/build.js
@@ -3,18 +3,24 @@
 const winston = require('winston');
 const {Compiler} = require('../build/compiler.js');
 
-exports.command = 'build [dir]';
+exports.command =
+  'build [--dir] [--test] [--cover] [--production] [--log-level]';
 exports.desc = 'Build your app';
 exports.builder = {
-  cover: {
+  dir: {
+    type: 'string',
+    default: '.',
+    describe: 'Root path for the application relative to CLI CWD',
+  },
+  test: {
     type: 'boolean',
     default: false,
-    describe: 'Build tests (with coverage) as well as application',
+    describe: 'Build test assets as well as development assets',
   },
-  test: {
+  cover: {
     type: 'boolean',
     default: false,
-    describe: 'Build tests as well as application',
+    describe: 'Build tests (with coverage) as well as development assets',
   },
   production: {
     type: 'boolean',
@@ -51,8 +57,8 @@ exports.run = async function(
 
   const envs = [];
   if (production) envs.push('production');
-  if (test) envs.push('test');
   if (envs.length === 0) envs.push('development');
+  if (test) envs.push('test');
   const compiler = new Compiler({envs, dir, cover, logger});
 
   await compiler.clean();
diff --git a/commands/dev.js b/commands/dev.js
index 1e1fdd60..7d42d0c7 100644
--- a/commands/dev.js
+++ b/commands/dev.js
@@ -4,40 +4,20 @@ const {Compiler} = require('../build/compiler');
 const {DevelopmentRuntime} = require('../build/dev-runtime');
 const {TestRuntime} = require('../build/test-runtime');
 
-exports.command = 'dev [dir]';
+exports.command =
+  'dev [--dir] [--debug] [--test] [--cover] [--port] [--no-open] [--no-hmr] [--log-level]';
 exports.describe = 'Run your app in development';
 exports.builder = {
-  cover: {
-    type: 'boolean',
-    default: false,
-    describe: 'Run tests (with coverage) as well as your application',
+  dir: {
+    type: 'string',
+    default: '.',
+    describe: 'Root path for the application relative to CLI CWD',
   },
   debug: {
     type: 'boolean',
     default: false,
     describe: 'Debug application',
   },
-  'no-open': {
-    type: 'boolean',
-    default: false,
-    describe: 'Run without opening the url in your browser',
-  },
-  'no-hmr': {
-    type: 'boolean',
-    default: false,
-    describe: 'Run without hot module replacement',
-  },
-  test: {
-    type: 'boolean',
-    default: false,
-    describe: 'Run tests as well as your application',
-  },
-  // TODO(#18): support watch-mode `dev --profile`
-  // profile: {
-  //   type: 'boolean',
-  //   default: false,
-  //   describe: 'Run profiling as well as your application',
-  // },
   // TODO(#19): support dev with production assets
   // production: {
   //   type: 'boolean',
@@ -49,6 +29,18 @@ exports.builder = {
     default: 3000,
     describe: 'The port at which the app runs',
   },
+  open: {
+    // yargs generates no-open option
+    type: 'boolean',
+    default: true,
+    describe: 'Run without opening the url in your browser',
+  },
+  hmr: {
+    // yargs generates no-hmr option
+    type: 'boolean',
+    default: true,
+    describe: 'Run without hot module replacement',
+  },
   'log-level': {
     type: 'string',
     default: 'info',
@@ -62,8 +54,8 @@ exports.run = async function({
   debug,
   port,
   cover,
-  noHmr,
-  noOpen,
+  hmr,
+  open,
   logLevel,
 }) {
   const logger = new winston.Logger({
@@ -75,7 +67,7 @@ exports.run = async function({
   const compiler = new Compiler({
     envs: test ? ['development', 'test'] : ['development'],
     dir,
-    watch: !noHmr,
+    watch: hmr,
     cover,
     logger,
   });
@@ -86,9 +78,9 @@ exports.run = async function({
         dir,
         port,
         debug,
-        noOpen,
+        noOpen: !open,
       },
-      !noHmr ? {middleware: compiler.getMiddleware()} : {}
+      hmr ? {middleware: compiler.getMiddleware()} : {}
     )
   );
 
diff --git a/commands/profile.js b/commands/profile.js
index b89b43f1..36a9953c 100644
--- a/commands/profile.js
+++ b/commands/profile.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const fs = require('fs');
 const profile = require('../lib/profiler');
 const launchSourceMapExplorer = require('../launch-source-map-explorer.js');
 
-exports.command = 'profile [dir]';
+exports.command = 'profile [--dir] [--environment] [--watch] [--file-count]';
 exports.desc = 'Profile your application';
 exports.builder = {
   // TODO(#18): support fusion profile --watch
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ exports.builder = {
   //   default: false,
   //   describe: 'Use existing built assets',
   // },
+  dir: {
+    type: 'string',
+    default: '.',
+    describe: 'Root path for the application relative to CLI CWD',
+  },
   environment: {
     type: 'string',
     default: 'production',
diff --git a/commands/start.js b/commands/start.js
index 6e606033..b42e665d 100644
--- a/commands/start.js
+++ b/commands/start.js
@@ -2,15 +2,20 @@
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 
-exports.command = 'start [dir]';
+exports.command = 'start [--dir] [--environment]';
 exports.desc = 'Run your app';
 exports.builder = {
-  // TODO: https://github.com/uber-web/framework/issues/882
+  // TODO(#20) ensure --debug works with start and test commands
   // debug: {
   //   type: 'boolean',
   //   default: false,
   //   describe: 'Debug application',
   // },
+  dir: {
+    type: 'string',
+    default: '.',
+    describe: 'Root path for the application relative to CLI CWD',
+  },
   environment: {
     type: 'string',
     describe:
diff --git a/commands/test.js b/commands/test.js
index eed48cbb..fc9e4f01 100644
--- a/commands/test.js
+++ b/commands/test.js
@@ -2,15 +2,19 @@
 const {Compiler} = require('../build/compiler');
 const {TestRuntime} = require('../build/test-runtime');
 
-exports.command = 'test [dir]';
 exports.desc = 'Run tests';
 exports.builder = {
+  dir: {
+    type: 'string',
+    default: '.',
+    describe: 'Root path for the application relative to CLI CWD',
+  },
   cover: {
     type: 'boolean',
     default: false,
     describe: 'Run tests with coverage',
   },
-  // TODO(#20): support --debug flag
+  // TODO(#20): ensure --debug works with start and test commands
   // debug: {
   //   type: 'boolean',
   //   default: false,