diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e5c32b0..ad1b798 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 coverage.out
 .vscode
-bin/**
+bin/process*
 *.log
 .env
 # local build output via go build
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ae56c63..6bf2ae5 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -149,12 +149,33 @@ process2:
 ```yaml
 process2:
   depends_on:
-  process2:
-    condition: process_completed_successfully # or "process_started" (default)
+    process3:
+      condition: process_completed_successfully # or "process_started" (default)
   process3:
     condition: process_completed_successfully
 ```
 
+##### ✅ Termination Parameters
+
+```yaml
+process1:
+  command: "pg_ctl start"
+  shutdown:
+    command: "pg_ctl stop"
+    timeout_seconds: 10 # default 10
+    signal: 15 # default 15, but only if command is not defined or empty
+```
+
+`shutdown` is optional and can be omitted. The default behaviour in this case: `SIGTERM` is issued to the running process.
+
+In case only `shutdown.signal` is defined `[1..31] ` the running process will be terminated with its value.
+
+In case the the `shutdown.command` is defined:
+
+1. The `shutdown.command` is executed with all the Environment Variables of the main process
+2. Wait `shutdown.timeout_seconds` for its completion (if not defined wait for 10 seconds)
+3. In case of timeout the process will receive the `SIGKILL` signal
+
 #### ✅ <u>Output Handling</u>
 
 ##### ✅ Show process name
diff --git a/bin/.gitkeep b/bin/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/process-compose.yaml b/process-compose.yaml
index c3f5f49..81c103c 100644
--- a/process-compose.yaml
+++ b/process-compose.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ processes:
       restart: "on-failure"
       backoff_seconds: 2
     depends_on:
-      process2:
+      _process2:
         condition: process_completed_successfully
       process3:
         condition: process_completed
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ processes:
     environment:
       - 'EXIT_CODE=0'
 
-  process2:
+  _process2:
     command: "./test_loop.bash process2"
     log_location: ./pc.proc2.log
     availability:
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ processes:
     environment:
       - 'ABC=2221'
       - 'PRINT_ERR=111'
-      - 'EXIT_CODE=0'
+      - 'EXIT_CODE=2'
+    shutdown:
+      command: "pkill -f process2"
+      signal: 15
+      timeout_seconds: 2
 
   process3:
     command: "./test_loop.bash process3"
@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ processes:
     #   restart: on-failure
     environment:
       - 'ABC=2221'
-      - 'EXIT_CODE=1'
+      - 'EXIT_CODE=4'
 
   kcalc:
     command: "kcalc"
diff --git a/src/app/config.go b/src/app/config.go
index dcff264..c30806f 100644
--- a/src/app/config.go
+++ b/src/app/config.go
@@ -24,14 +24,15 @@ type Project struct {
 
 type Processes map[string]ProcessConfig
 type ProcessConfig struct {
-	Name          string
-	Disabled      bool                   `yaml:"disabled,omitempty"`
-	Command       string                 `yaml:"command"`
-	LogLocation   string                 `yaml:"log_location,omitempty"`
-	Environment   []string               `yaml:"environment,omitempty"`
-	RestartPolicy RestartPolicyConfig    `yaml:"availability,omitempty"`
-	DependsOn     DependsOnConfig        `yaml:"depends_on,omitempty"`
-	Extensions    map[string]interface{} `yaml:",inline"`
+	Name           string
+	Disabled       bool                   `yaml:"disabled,omitempty"`
+	Command        string                 `yaml:"command"`
+	LogLocation    string                 `yaml:"log_location,omitempty"`
+	Environment    []string               `yaml:"environment,omitempty"`
+	RestartPolicy  RestartPolicyConfig    `yaml:"availability,omitempty"`
+	DependsOn      DependsOnConfig        `yaml:"depends_on,omitempty"`
+	ShutDownParams ShutDownParams         `yaml:"shutdown,omitempty"`
+	Extensions     map[string]interface{} `yaml:",inline"`
 }
 
 type ProcessState struct {
@@ -74,6 +75,12 @@ type RestartPolicyConfig struct {
 	MaxRestarts    int    `yaml:"max_restarts,omitempty"`
 }
 
+type ShutDownParams struct {
+	ShutDownCommand string `yaml:"command,omitempty"`
+	ShutDownTimeout int    `yaml:"timeout_seconds,omitempty"`
+	Signal          int    `yaml:"signal,omitempty"`
+}
+
 const (
 	// ProcessConditionCompleted is the type for waiting until a process has completed (any exit code).
 	ProcessConditionCompleted = "process_completed"
diff --git a/src/app/process.go b/src/app/process.go
index 2ced201..d793a1f 100644
--- a/src/app/process.go
+++ b/src/app/process.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package app
 
 import (
 	"bufio"
+	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"math/rand"
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 	"sync"
+	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/f1bonacc1/process-compose/src/pclog"
@@ -18,6 +20,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 )
 
+const (
+	DEFAULT_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_SEC = 10
+)
+
 type Process struct {
 	globalEnv []string
 	procConf  ProcessConfig
@@ -156,6 +162,33 @@ func (p *Process) WontRun() {
 
 }
 
+func (p *Process) shutDown() error {
+	if isStringDefined(p.procConf.ShutDownParams.ShutDownCommand) {
+		return p.doConfiguredStop(p.procConf.ShutDownParams)
+	}
+	return p.stop(p.procConf.ShutDownParams.Signal)
+}
+
+func (p *Process) doConfiguredStop(params ShutDownParams) error {
+	timeout := params.ShutDownTimeout
+	if timeout == 0 {
+		timeout = DEFAULT_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_SEC
+	}
+	log.Debug().Msgf("killing %s with timeout %d ...", p.GetName(), timeout)
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Duration(timeout)*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, getRunnerShell(), getRunnerArg(), params.ShutDownCommand)
+	cmd.Env = p.getProcessEnvironment()
+
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		// the process termination timedout and it will be killed
+		log.Error().Msgf("killing %s with timeout %d failed", p.GetName(), timeout)
+		return p.stop(int(syscall.SIGKILL))
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (p *Process) onProcessEnd() {
 	if isStringDefined(p.procConf.LogLocation) {
 		p.logger.Close()
diff --git a/src/app/process_unix.go b/src/app/process_unix.go
index b1386b2..71fe9fe 100644
--- a/src/app/process_unix.go
+++ b/src/app/process_unix.go
@@ -2,12 +2,22 @@
 
 package app
 
-import "syscall"
+import (
+	"syscall"
+)
 
-func (p *Process) stop() error {
+const (
+	min_sig = 1
+	max_sig = 31
+)
+
+func (p *Process) stop(sig int) error {
+	if sig < min_sig || sig > max_sig {
+		sig = int(syscall.SIGTERM)
+	}
 	pgid, err := syscall.Getpgid(p.cmd.Process.Pid)
 	if err == nil {
-		return syscall.Kill(-pgid, syscall.SIGKILL)
+		return syscall.Kill(-pgid, syscall.Signal(sig))
 	}
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/src/app/process_windows.go b/src/app/process_windows.go
index 2db6845..977c869 100644
--- a/src/app/process_windows.go
+++ b/src/app/process_windows.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 )
 
-func (p *Process) stop() error {
+func (p *Process) stop(sig int) error {
 	//p.cmd.Process.Kill()
 	kill := exec.Command("TASKKILL", "/T", "/F", "/PID", strconv.Itoa(p.cmd.Process.Pid))
 	return kill.Run()
diff --git a/src/app/project.go b/src/app/project.go
index 44a6220..8a9a73b 100644
--- a/src/app/project.go
+++ b/src/app/project.go
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func (p *Project) StopProcess(name string) error {
 		log.Error().Msgf("Process %s is not running", name)
 		return fmt.Errorf("process %s is not running", name)
 	}
-	proc.stop()
+	proc.shutDown()
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/test_loop.bash b/test_loop.bash
index 7693fa2..b163c6b 100755
--- a/test_loop.bash
+++ b/test_loop.bash
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+
+#trap "echo ERROR: The program is terminated ; exit" SIGTERM
+trap 'echo CODE: $?; exit $EXIT_CODE' 1 2 3 15
+
 LOOPS=30000
 for (( i=1; i<=LOOPS; i++ ))
 do
-  sleep 0.01
+  #sleep 0.01
+  sleep 0.5
 
   if [[ -z "${PRINT_ERR}" ]]; then
     echo "test loop $i loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop loop $1 $ABC"