diff --git a/app/dao/services_dao.py b/app/dao/services_dao.py
index 8753b2dc4..0b5f3e245 100644
--- a/app/dao/services_dao.py
+++ b/app/dao/services_dao.py
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ def dao_create_service(service, user, service_id=None, service_permissions=None)
     service.id = service_id or uuid.uuid4()  # must be set now so version history model can use same id
     service.active = True
     service.research_mode = False
+    service.crown = service.organisation_type == 'central'
 
     for permission in service_permissions:
         service_permission = ServicePermission(service_id=service.id, permission=permission)
diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index 9d81073c7..fdd00fa9a 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ class Service(db.Model, Versioned):
         db.String(255),
         nullable=True,
     )
+    crown = db.Column(db.Boolean, index=False, nullable=False, default=True)
 
     association_proxy('permissions', 'service_permission_types')
 
diff --git a/migrations/versions/0149_add_crown_to_services.py b/migrations/versions/0149_add_crown_to_services.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1b34f9e2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/versions/0149_add_crown_to_services.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+"""
+
+Revision ID: 0149_add_crown_column_to_services
+Revises: 0148_add_letters_as_pdf_svc_perm
+Create Date: 2017-12-04 12:13:35.268712
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+revision = '0149_add_crown_to_services'
+down_revision = '0148_add_letters_as_pdf_svc_perm'
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    op.add_column('services', sa.Column('crown', sa.Boolean(), nullable=True))
+    op.execute("""
+        update services set crown = True
+        where organisation_type = 'central'
+    """)
+    op.execute("""
+        update services set crown = False
+        where crown is null
+    """)
+    op.alter_column('services', 'crown', nullable=False)
+
+    op.add_column('services_history', sa.Column('crown', sa.Boolean(), nullable=True))
+    op.execute("""
+        update services_history set crown = True
+        where organisation_type = 'central'
+    """)
+    op.execute("""
+        update services_history set crown = False
+        where crown is null
+    """)
+    op.alter_column('services_history', 'crown', nullable=False)
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    op.drop_column('services', 'crown')
+    op.drop_column('services_history', 'crown')
diff --git a/tests/app/dao/test_services_dao.py b/tests/app/dao/test_services_dao.py
index d601bd59d..21a88eecf 100644
--- a/tests/app/dao/test_services_dao.py
+++ b/tests/app/dao/test_services_dao.py
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ def test_create_service(sample_user):
                       email_from="email_from",
                       message_limit=1000,
                       restricted=False,
+                      organisation_type='central',
                       created_by=sample_user)
     dao_create_service(service, sample_user)
     assert Service.query.count() == 1
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ def test_create_service(sample_user):
     assert service_db.prefix_sms is True
     assert service.active is True
     assert sample_user in service_db.users
+    assert service_db.crown is True
 
 
 def test_cannot_create_two_services_with_same_name(sample_user):