diff --git a/.firebaserc_example b/.firebaserc_example
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5a98f50cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.firebaserc_example
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "projects": {
+    "default": "your-firebase-project-id"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 8541cb6fb..9ce02dbc7 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 1. [Install the Firebase CLI](https://firebase.google.com/docs/cli)
 1. Run `firebase login` on your terminal to log in to the same google account as you just used to create the project.
 1. Git clone this project.
-1. Rename `.firebaserc_example` to `.firebaserc` and change the project name of default to the firebase project id you just created.
+1. Duplicate `.firebaserc_example`, rename the new file to `.firebaserc` and change the project name of default to the firebase project id you just created.
 
    - If `.firebaserc_example` does not exist after cloning, create your own with:
 
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@
    - Start in test mode
    - Select default location and enable
 
-
 ## Building and Running
 
 1. Run `npm install` in the project root directory to install dependencies.