diff --git a/manage.sh b/manage.sh
index 1811b4a..db8daba 100755
--- a/manage.sh
+++ b/manage.sh
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ die() {
 	exit 1
 }
 
-if ((BASH_VERSINFO[0] < 5 ||
-	(BASH_VERSINFO[0] == 5 && BASH_VERSINFO[1] < 1))); then
+if ((BASH_VERSINFO[0] < 5 || (\
+	BASH_VERSINFO[0] == 5 && BASH_VERSINFO[1] < 1))); then
 	die "Bash 5.1 or newer is required"
 fi
 
@@ -57,28 +57,34 @@ usage() {
 	cat <<EOF
 Usage: $(basename "$0") COMMAND [STACK]
 
-Commands:
-  up        Create and start containers
-  start     Start existing containers
-  stop      Stop containers
-  restart   Restart containers
-  down      Stop and remove containers and networks
-  pull      Pull images
-  update    Pull images and apply Compose changes
-  ps        Show container status
-  logs      Follow logs for a stack
-  config    Render Compose configuration for a stack
-  images    Show configured images and versions
-  list      List discovered stacks and their stage/status
+Lifecycle:
+  up [STACK]       Create and start containers
+  start [STACK]    Start existing containers
+  stop [STACK]     Stop containers
+  restart [STACK]  Restart containers
+  down [STACK]     Stop and remove containers and networks
+  pull [STACK]     Pull images
+  update [STACK]   Pull images and apply Compose changes
 
-Bulk execution:
-  up/start/restart/pull/update run before, default, then after.
-  stop/down run the same stages in reverse order.
-  Each before/after declaration creates an ordered stage.
-  Stacks within a stage run in parallel up to its configured limit.
-  ps/images/list keep ordered output.
+Inspect:
+  ps [STACK]       Show container status
+  logs STACK       Follow logs
+  config STACK     Render Compose configuration
+  images [STACK]   Show configured images and versions
+  list             List stacks, stages, and management status
+  help, -h, --help Show this help
 
-Configuration: $CONFIG_FILE
+Stage configuration:
+  max_parallel N                    Set default concurrency (0 = unlimited)
+  before [--parallel N] STACK...    Add an early stage
+  after [--parallel N] STACK...     Add a late stage
+  exclude STACK...                  Exclude stacks from bulk operations
+
+  Each before/after declaration is one ordered stage; unlisted stacks form
+  the default stage. Lifecycle commands run before -> default -> after,
+  reversed for stop/down. A failed stage skips all remaining stages.
+
+Config: $CONFIG_FILE
 EOF
 }
 
@@ -590,16 +596,23 @@ acquire_lock() {
 		die "another manage.sh operation is already running"
 }
 
-load_config
-discover_stacks
-validate_config_stacks
-build_execution_stages
-
 ACTION="${1:-}"
 TARGET="${2:-}"
 
 [[ $# -le 2 ]] || die "too many arguments"
 
+case "$ACTION" in
+help | -h | --help)
+	usage
+	exit 0
+	;;
+esac
+
+load_config
+discover_stacks
+validate_config_stacks
+build_execution_stages
+
 case "$ACTION" in
 up | start | stop | restart | down | pull | update)
 	acquire_lock
@@ -634,9 +647,6 @@ list)
 	[[ -z "$TARGET" ]] || die "list does not accept a stack name"
 	list_stacks
 	;;
-help | -h | --help)
-	usage
-	;;
 *)
 	usage
 	exit 1