diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cf18247..dc85945 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- Add support for `github_branches`
+
 ## [0.14.0]
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ee0dbb4..586a839 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ _Security related notice: Versions 4.7.0, 4.8.0, 4.9.0 and 4.9.1 of the Terrafor
     - [Repository Creation Configuration](#repository-creation-configuration)
     - [Teams Configuration](#teams-configuration)
     - [Collaborator Configuration](#collaborator-configuration)
+    - [Branches Configuration](#branches-configuration)
     - [Deploy Keys Configuration](#deploy-keys-configuration)
     - [Branch Protections Configuration](#branch-protections-configuration)
     - [Issue Labels Configuration](#issue-labels-configuration)
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ features like Branch Protection or Collaborator Management.
   Template Repository
 
 - **Extended Repository Features**:
+  Branches,
   Branch Protection,
   Issue Labels,
   Handle Github Default Issue Labels,
@@ -259,8 +261,10 @@ See [variables.tf] and [examples/] for details and use-cases.
 - [**`default_branch`**](#var-default_branch): *(Optional `string`)*<a name="var-default_branch"></a>
 
   The name of the default branch of the repository.
-  NOTE: This can only be set after a repository has already been created, and after a correct reference has been created for the target branch inside the repository.
-  This means a user will have to omit this parameter from the initial repository creation and create the target branch inside of the repository prior to setting this attribute.
+  NOTE: The configured default branch must exist in the repository.
+  If the branch doesn't exist yet, or if you are creating a new
+  repository, please add the desired default branch to the `branches`
+  variable, which will cause Terraform to create it for you.
 
   Default is `""`.
 
@@ -416,6 +420,32 @@ This is due to some terraform limitation and we will update the module once terr
 
   Default is `[]`.
 
+#### Branches Configuration
+
+- [**`branches`**](#var-branches): *(Optional `list(branch)`)*<a name="var-branches"></a>
+
+  Can also be type `list(string)`. Create and manage branches within your repository.
+  Additional constraints can be applied to ensure your branch is created from another branch or commit.
+  Every `string` in the list will be converted internally into the `object` representation with the `key` argument being set to the `string`. `object` details are explained below.
+
+  Default is `[]`.
+
+  Each `branch` object in the list accepts the following attributes:
+
+  - [**`name`**](#attr-branches-name): *(**Required** `string`)*<a name="attr-branches-name"></a>
+
+    The name of the branch to create.
+
+  - [**`source_branch`**](#attr-branches-source_branch): *(Optional `string`)*<a name="attr-branches-source_branch"></a>
+
+    The branch name to start from. Uses the configured default branch per default.
+
+  - [**`source_sha`**](#attr-branches-source_sha): *(Optional `bool`)*<a name="attr-branches-source_sha"></a>
+
+    The commit hash to start from. Defaults to the tip of `source_branch`. If provided, `source_branch` is ignored.
+
+    Default is `true`.
+
 #### Deploy Keys Configuration
 
 - [**`deploy_keys`**](#var-deploy_keys): *(Optional `list(deploy_key)`)*<a name="var-deploy_keys"></a>
@@ -800,6 +830,12 @@ The following attributes are exported by the module:
   resource containing all arguments as specified above and the other
   attributes as specified below.
 
+- [**`branches`**](#output-branches): *(`object(branches)`)*<a name="output-branches"></a>
+
+  All repository attributes as returned by the [`github_branch`]
+  resource containing all arguments as specified above and the other
+  attributes as specified below.
+
 - [**`full_name`**](#output-full_name): *(`string`)*<a name="output-full_name"></a>
 
   A string of the form "orgname/reponame".
@@ -856,6 +892,7 @@ The following attributes are exported by the module:
 ### Terraform Github Provider Documentation
 
 - https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/repository
+- https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/branch 
 - https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/repository_collaborator
 - https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/repository_deploy_key
 - https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/repository_project
diff --git a/README.tfdoc.hcl b/README.tfdoc.hcl
index 35ab785..7487d47 100644
--- a/README.tfdoc.hcl
+++ b/README.tfdoc.hcl
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ section {
         Template Repository
 
       - **Extended Repository Features**:
+        Branches,
         Branch Protection,
         Issue Labels,
         Handle Github Default Issue Labels,
@@ -317,8 +318,10 @@ section {
         default     = ""
         description = <<-END
           The name of the default branch of the repository.
-          NOTE: This can only be set after a repository has already been created, and after a correct reference has been created for the target branch inside the repository.
-          This means a user will have to omit this parameter from the initial repository creation and create the target branch inside of the repository prior to setting this attribute.
+          NOTE: The configured default branch must exist in the repository.
+          If the branch doesn't exist yet, or if you are creating a new
+          repository, please add the desired default branch to the `branches`
+          variable, which will cause Terraform to create it for you.
         END
       }
 
@@ -529,6 +532,43 @@ section {
         }
       }
 
+      section {
+        title = "Branches Configuration"
+
+        variable "branches" {
+          type        = list(branch)
+          default     = []
+          description = <<-END
+            Can also be type `list(string)`. Create and manage branches within your repository.
+            Additional constraints can be applied to ensure your branch is created from another branch or commit.
+            Every `string` in the list will be converted internally into the `object` representation with the `key` argument being set to the `string`. `object` details are explained below.
+          END
+
+          attribute "name" {
+            required    = true
+            type        = string
+            description = <<-END
+              The name of the branch to create.
+            END
+          }
+
+          attribute "source_branch" {
+            type        = string
+            description = <<-END
+              The branch name to start from. Uses the configured default branch per default.
+            END
+          }
+
+          attribute "source_sha" {
+            type        = bool
+            default     = true
+            description = <<-END
+             The commit hash to start from. Defaults to the tip of `source_branch`. If provided, `source_branch` is ignored.
+            END
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
       section {
         title = "Deploy Keys Configuration"
 
@@ -1046,6 +1086,15 @@ section {
       END
     }
 
+    output "branches" {
+      type        = object(branches)
+      description = <<-END
+        All repository attributes as returned by the [`github_branch`]
+        resource containing all arguments as specified above and the other
+        attributes as specified below.
+      END
+    }
+
     output "full_name" {
       type        = string
       description = <<-END
@@ -1138,6 +1187,7 @@ section {
       title   = "Terraform Github Provider Documentation"
       content = <<-END
         - https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/repository
+        - https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/branch 
         - https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/repository_collaborator
         - https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/repository_deploy_key
         - https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/repository_project
diff --git a/main.tf b/main.tf
index bb0aa54..9ca5320 100644
--- a/main.tf
+++ b/main.tf
@@ -144,6 +144,30 @@ resource "github_repository" "repository" {
   }
 }
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Manage branches
+# https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/branch
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+locals {
+  branches_temp = [
+    for b in var.branches : try({ name = tostring(b) }, b)
+  ]
+
+  branches = {
+    for b in local.branches_temp : lookup(b, "id", b.name) => b
+  }
+}
+
+resource "github_branch" "branch" {
+  for_each = { for branch in local.branches : branch.name => branch }
+
+  repository    = github_repository.repository.name
+  branch        = each.value.name
+  source_branch = try(each.value.source_branch, null)
+  source_sha    = try(each.value.source_sha, null)
+}
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Set default branch
 # https://registry.terraform.io/providers/integrations/github/latest/docs/resources/branch_default
@@ -154,6 +178,8 @@ resource "github_branch_default" "default" {
 
   repository = github_repository.repository.name
   branch     = local.default_branch
+
+  depends_on = [github_branch.branch]
 }
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/outputs.tf b/outputs.tf
index 76918c6..e42cac5 100644
--- a/outputs.tf
+++ b/outputs.tf
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-output "repository" {
-  value       = github_repository.repository
-  description = "All attributes and arguments as returned by the github_repository resource."
-}
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# OUTPUT CALCULATED VARIABLES (prefer full objects)
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 output "full_name" {
   value       = github_repository.repository.full_name
@@ -28,6 +27,20 @@ output "git_clone_url" {
   description = "URL that can be provided to git clone to clone the repository anonymously via the git protocol."
 }
 
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# OUTPUT ALL RESOURCES AS FULL OBJECTS
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+output "repository" {
+  value       = github_repository.repository
+  description = "All attributes and arguments as returned by the github_repository resource."
+}
+
+output "branches" {
+  value       = github_branch.branch
+  description = "A map of branch objects keyed by branch name."
+}
+
 output "collaborators" {
   value       = github_repository_collaborator.collaborator
   description = "A map of collaborator objects keyed by collaborator.name."
@@ -65,3 +78,7 @@ output "secrets" {
   value       = [for secret in github_actions_secret.repository_secret : secret.secret_name]
   description = "List of secrets available."
 }
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# OUTPUT MODULE CONFIGURATION
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/test/unit-complete/main.tf b/test/unit-complete/main.tf
index b436ed6..bd661e4 100644
--- a/test/unit-complete/main.tf
+++ b/test/unit-complete/main.tf
@@ -49,8 +49,16 @@ module "repository" {
   archived               = false
   topics                 = var.topics
 
-  admin_collaborators = ["terraform-test-user-1"]
+  branches = [
+    {
+      name = "develop"
+    },
+    {
+      name = "staging"
+    },
+  ]
 
+  admin_collaborators = ["terraform-test-user-1"]
 
   admin_team_ids = [
     github_team.team.id
@@ -140,9 +148,15 @@ resource "github_branch" "development" {
 module "repository-with-defaults" {
   source = "../.."
 
-  name        = var.repository_with_defaults_name
-  description = var.repository_with_defaults_description
-  defaults    = var.repository_defaults
+  name           = var.repository_with_defaults_name
+  description    = var.repository_with_defaults_description
+  defaults       = var.repository_defaults
+  default_branch = "development"
+
+  branches = [
+    "development",
+    "prod",
+  ]
 }
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/variables.tf b/variables.tf
index 3c8728d..674855a 100644
--- a/variables.tf
+++ b/variables.tf
@@ -13,6 +13,17 @@ variable "name" {
 # These variables have defaults, but may be overridden.
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+variable "branches" {
+  description = "(Optional) A list of branches to be created in this repository."
+  type        = any
+  # type = list(object({
+  #   name          = string
+  #   source_branch = optional(string)
+  #   source_sha    = optional(string)
+  # }))
+  default = []
+}
+
 variable "defaults" {
   description = "(Optional) Overwrite defaults for various repository settings"
   type        = any