diff --git a/plum/service_collection.py b/plum/service_collection.py
index b73511a9..3803bafc 100644
--- a/plum/service_collection.py
+++ b/plum/service_collection.py
@@ -34,4 +34,13 @@ class ServiceCollection(list):
             if service.name == name:
                 return service
 
+    def start(self):
+        for container in self:
+            container.start()
+
+    def stop(self):
+        for container in self:
+            container.stop()
+
+
 
diff --git a/plum/tests/service_collection_test.py b/plum/tests/service_collection_test.py
index 1715c299..080ee2cf 100644
--- a/plum/tests/service_collection_test.py
+++ b/plum/tests/service_collection_test.py
@@ -38,3 +38,21 @@ class ServiceCollectionTest(ServiceTestCase):
         
         self.assertEqual(collection[0].name, 'db')
         self.assertEqual(collection[1].name, 'web')
+
+    def test_start_stop(self):
+        collection = ServiceCollection([
+            self.create_service('web'),
+            self.create_service('db'),
+        ])
+
+        collection.start()
+
+        self.assertEqual(len(collection[0].containers), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(len(collection[1].containers), 1)
+
+        collection.stop()
+
+        self.assertEqual(len(collection[0].containers), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(len(collection[1].containers), 0)
+
+