diff --git a/.github/workflows/actions_template_sync.yml b/.github/workflows/actions_template_sync.yml
index 0788a62e..e69b9d05 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/actions_template_sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/actions_template_sync.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - name: actions-template-sync
-        uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v0.6.0-draft
+        uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v0.7.0-draft
         with:
           github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           source_repo_path: AndreasAugustin/template
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_hooks.yml b/.github/workflows/test_hooks.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a0b0895e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_hooks.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+name: test-hooks
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+  push:
+  # manual trigger
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+
+  test-implementation-job:
+
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      # To use this repository's private action, you must check out the repository
+      -
+        name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      -
+        name: Test action step
+        uses: ./ # Uses an action in the root directory
+        with:
+          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          source_repo_path: AndreasAugustin/template.git
+          upstream_branch: main
+          is_dry_run: true
+          is_allow_hooks: true
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 2830bbf2..c5923b49 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ FROM alpine:3.17.1 as dev
 ARG GH_CLI_VER=2.21.1
 
 # install packages
-RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash make git zsh curl tmux musl openssh git-lfs vim
+RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash make git zsh curl tmux musl openssh git-lfs vim yq
 
 RUN wget https://github.com/cli/cli/releases/download/v${GH_CLI_VER}/gh_${GH_CLI_VER}_linux_386.tar.gz -O ghcli.tar.gz
 RUN tar --strip-components=1 -xf ghcli.tar.gz
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7a2f8971..1ce270f5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ This GitHub action will help you to keep track of the template changes.
 * Sync other public or private repository (e.q. template repositories) with the current repository
 * Ignore files and folders from syncing using a `.templatesyncignore` file
 * many configuration options
+* different lifecycle hooks are supported
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - name: actions-template-sync
-        uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v0.6.0-draft
+        uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v0.7.0-draft
         with:
           github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           source_repo_path: <owner/repo>
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ You will receive a pull request within your repository if there are some changes
 | pr_commit_msg | `[optional]` commit message in the created pull request | `false` | `chore(template): merge template changes :up:` |
 | hostname | `[optional]` the hostname of the repository | `false` | `github.com` |
 | is_dry_run | `[optional]` set to `true` if you do not want to push the changes and not want to create a PR |  `false` |   |
+| is_allow_hooks | `[optional]` set to `true` if you want to enable lifecycle hooks. Use this with caution! | `false` | `false` |
 
 ### Example
 
@@ -105,7 +107,7 @@ jobs:
           private_key: ${{ secrets.PRIVATE_KEY }}
 
       - name: actions-template-sync
-        uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v0.6.0-draft
+        uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v0.7.0-draft
         with:
           github_token: ${{ steps.generate_token.outputs.token }}
           source_repo_path: <owner/repo>
@@ -131,7 +133,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - name: actions-template-sync
-        uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v0.6.0-draft
+        uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v0.7.0-draft
         with:
           github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           source_repo_path: ${{ secrets.SOURCE_REPO_PATH }} # <owner/repo>, should be within secrets
@@ -149,6 +151,48 @@ It can also be stored inside `.github` folder.
 
 _Note: It is not possible to sync also the `.templatesyncignore` itself. Any changes from the template repository will be restored automatically._
 
+## Lifecycle hooks
+
+Different lifecycle hooks are supported. You need enable the functionality with the option `is_allow_hooks` and set it to `true`
+:warning: use this functionality with caution. You can use one of the available docker images to test it out. **With great power comes great responsibility**.
+
+* [dockerhub andyaugustin/actions-template-sync][dockerhub-repo]
+* [github andreasaugustin/actions-template-sync][github-repo]
+
+In addition you need a configuration file with the name `templatesync.yml` within the root of the target repository.
+
+Following hooks are supported (please check [docs/ARCHITECTURE.md](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) for a better understanding of the lifecycles).
+
+* `install` is executed after the container has started and after reading and setting up the environment.
+* `prepull` is executed before the code is pulled from the source repository
+* `prepush` is executed before the push is executed, right after the commit
+* `prepr` is executed before the PR is done
+
+**Remark** The underlying OS is defined by an alpine container.
+E.q. for the installation phase you need to use commands like `apk add --update --no-cache python3`
+
+Schema and example for the `temlatesync.yml`
+
+```yml
+hooks:
+  install:
+    commands:
+      - apk add --update --no-cache python3
+      - python3 --version
+  prepull:
+    commands:
+      - echo 'hi, we are within the prepull phase'
+      - echo 'maybe you want to do adjustments on the local code'
+  prepush:
+    commands:
+      - echo 'hi, we are within the prepush phase'
+      - echo 'maybe you want to add further changes and commits'
+  prepr:
+    commands:
+      - echo 'hi, we are within the prepr phase'
+      - echo 'maybe you want to change the code a bit and do another push before creating the pr'
+```
+
 ## Debug
 
 You must create a secret named `ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG` with the value `true` to see the debug messages set by this command in the log.
@@ -214,3 +258,5 @@ specification. Contributions of any kind welcome!
 [github-app]: https://docs.github.com/en/developers/apps/getting-started-with-apps/about-apps#about-github-apps
 [glob-pattern]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glob_(programming)
 [github-app-token]: https://github.com/tibdex/github-app-token
+[dockerhub-repo]: https://hub.docker.com/r/andyaugustin/actions-template-sync
+[github-repo]: https://github.com/AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync/pkgs/container/actions-template-sync
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 99520439..f3beecfe 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ inputs:
     default: 'github.com'
   is_dry_run:
     description: '[optional] set to true if you do not want to push the changes and not want to create a PR'
+  is_allow_hooks:
+    description: '[optional] set to true if you want to allow hooks. Use this functionality with caution!'
+    default: 'false'
 runs:
   using: 'docker'
   image: 'src/Dockerfile'
@@ -47,3 +50,4 @@ runs:
     PR_COMMIT_MSG: ${{ inputs.pr_commit_msg }}
     HOSTNAME: ${{ inputs.hostname }}
     IS_DRY_RUN: ${{ inputs.is_dry_run }}
+    IS_ALLOW_HOOKS: ${{ inputs.is_allow_hooks }}
diff --git a/src/Dockerfile b/src/Dockerfile
index a6c373a4..60df6234 100644
--- a/src/Dockerfile
+++ b/src/Dockerfile
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ LABEL org.opencontainers.image.title="actions-template-sync image"
 LABEL org.opencontainers.image.description="contains actions-template-sync"
 
 # install packages
-RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash git curl musl openssh git-lfs
+RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash git curl musl openssh git-lfs yq
 
 RUN wget https://github.com/cli/cli/releases/download/v${GH_CLI_VER}/gh_${GH_CLI_VER}_linux_386.tar.gz -O ghcli.tar.gz
 RUN tar --strip-components=1 -xf ghcli.tar.gz
diff --git a/src/sync_common.sh b/src/sync_common.sh
index 246b56f8..926df766 100755
--- a/src/sync_common.sh
+++ b/src/sync_common.sh
@@ -39,3 +39,29 @@ warn() {
 info() {
   echo "::info::$*";
 }
+
+#######################################
+# Executes commands defined within yml file
+# Arguments:
+#   hook -> the hook to use
+#
+####################################3#
+cmd_from_yml_file() {
+  local FILE_NAME="templatesync.yml"
+  local HOOK=$1
+  local YML_PATH=".hooks.${HOOK}.commands"
+
+  if [ "$IS_ALLOW_HOOKS" != "true" ]; then
+    debug "execute cmd hooks not enabled"
+  else
+    info "execute cmd hooks enabled"
+
+    if ! [ -x "$(command -v yq)" ]; then
+      err "yaml query yq is not installed. 'https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/'";
+      exit 1;
+    fi
+    readarray cmd_Arr < <(yq "${YML_PATH} | .[]"  "${FILE_NAME}")
+
+    for key in "${cmd_Arr[@]}"; do printf '%s\n' "$(${key})"; done
+  fi
+}
diff --git a/src/sync_template.sh b/src/sync_template.sh
index b1bae122..1e2f2234 100644
--- a/src/sync_template.sh
+++ b/src/sync_template.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ if [[ -n "${SRC_SSH_PRIVATEKEY_ABS_PATH}" ]]; then
   export GIT_SSH_COMMAND="ssh -i ${SRC_SSH_PRIVATEKEY_ABS_PATH}"
 fi
 
+cmd_from_yml_file "install"
+
 TEMPLATE_SYNC_IGNORE_FILE_PATH=".templatesyncignore"
 TEMPLATE_REMOTE_GIT_HASH=$(git ls-remote "${SOURCE_REPO}" HEAD | awk '{print $1}')
 NEW_TEMPLATE_GIT_HASH=$(git rev-parse --short "${TEMPLATE_REMOTE_GIT_HASH}")
@@ -59,6 +61,8 @@ fi
 
 echo "::endgroup::"
 
+cmd_from_yml_file "prepull"
+
 echo "::group::Pull template"
 debug "create new branch from default branch with name ${NEW_BRANCH}"
 git checkout -b "${NEW_BRANCH}"
@@ -108,12 +112,15 @@ git commit -m "${PR_COMMIT_MSG}"
 echo "::endgroup::"
 
 push_and_create_pr () {
+  cmd_from_yml_file "prepush"
   if [ "$IS_DRY_RUN" != "true" ]; then
 
     echo "::group::push changes and create PR"
     debug "push changes"
     git push --set-upstream origin "${NEW_BRANCH}"
 
+    cmd_from_yml_file "prepr"
+
     gh pr create \
       --title "${PR_TITLE}" \
       --body "Merge ${SOURCE_REPO_PATH} ${NEW_TEMPLATE_GIT_HASH}" \
diff --git a/templatesync.yml b/templatesync.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ae3409d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templatesync.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# validate
+
+hooks:
+  install:
+    commands:
+      - echo 'hi, we are within the prepush phase'
+
+  prepush:
+    commands:
+      - echo 'hi, we are within the prepush phase'
+      - echo 'maybe you want to add further changes and commits'