diff --git a/ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml b/ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml
index aab6ed8..a2bfbd0 100644
--- a/ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml
+++ b/ansible/playbooks/add-new-service.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
     #     branch_name: "feature/add-service-{{ service_name_lower }}"
     #   import_tasks: ../tasks/ioc/ioc-install.yml
 
-    # TODO: ioc_port
     # - name: Start New IOC
     #   vars:
     #     branch_name: "feature/add-service-{{ service_name_lower }}"
diff --git a/cli/src/ioc.py b/cli/src/ioc.py
index 9b325ac..d4f2fd0 100644
--- a/cli/src/ioc.py
+++ b/cli/src/ioc.py
@@ -51,12 +51,14 @@ def install_all(
 def start(
     env: IOC_ENV = typer.Option(..., "--env"),
     service_name_lower: str = typer.Option(..., "--service-name", "-s", help=SERVICE_NAME_HELP),
+    branch_name: str | None = typer.Option(None, "--branch-name", "-b"),
 ):
-    registry = ServiceRegistry.read_from_config()
-    service = registry.get_service(name=service_name_lower)
-    service_name_var = f"service_name_lower={service.name_lower}"
+    if branch_name is None:
+        branch_name = f"feature/add-service-{service_name_lower}"
+    branch_var = f"branch_name={branch_name}"
+    service_name_var = f"service_name_lower={service_name_lower}"
 
-    run_playbook(playbook=str(IOC_PLAYBOOK_START), env=env, vars=[service_name_var])
+    run_playbook(playbook=str(IOC_PLAYBOOK_START), env=env, vars=[service_name_var, branch_var])
 
 
 @ioc.command()