diff --git a/create-user.sh b/create-user.sh
index 05e9a87..1c75d88 100644
--- a/create-user.sh
+++ b/create-user.sh
@@ -1,52 +1,65 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-echo "🔐 Flexible User Creation Script"
-echo "-------------------------------"
+echo "== Flexible User Creation Script =="
+echo
 
 # Prompt for username
-read -p "👤 Enter username to create (required): " USERNAME
+read -p "Username to create (required): " USERNAME
 if [[ -z "$USERNAME" ]]; then
-    echo "❌ Error: Username is required."
+    echo "Error: Username is required."
     exit 1
 fi
 
 # Prompt for public key
-read -p "🔑 Paste the SSH public key: " PUBKEY
+read -p "Paste the SSH public key: " PUBKEY
 if [[ -z "$PUBKEY" ]]; then
-    echo "❌ Error: Public key is required."
+    echo "Error: Public key is required."
     exit 1
 fi
 
 # Prompt for optional groups
-read -p "👥 Enter comma-separated groups to add (e.g. sudo,docker): " GROUPS
+read -p "Comma-separated groups to add (e.g. sudo,docker): " GROUPS
+GROUPS=$(echo "$GROUPS" | tr -d '[:space:]')  # remove all whitespace
 IFS=',' read -ra GROUP_ARRAY <<< "$GROUPS"
 
-# Create user
-echo ""
-echo "📋 Creating user: $USERNAME"
-useradd -m -s /bin/bash "$USERNAME"
-
-# Add user to groups if any provided
-if [[ -n "$GROUPS" ]]; then
-    for group in "${GROUP_ARRAY[@]}"; do
-        group_trimmed=$(echo "$group" | xargs)  # trim spaces
-        if [[ -n "$group_trimmed" ]]; then
-            echo "➕ Adding $USERNAME to group: $group_trimmed"
-            usermod -aG "$group_trimmed" "$USERNAME"
-        fi
-    done
+# Check if user exists
+if id "$USERNAME" &>/dev/null; then
+    echo "[*] User '$USERNAME' already exists. Skipping creation."
+else
+    echo "[+] Creating user: $USERNAME"
+    useradd -m -s /bin/bash "$USERNAME"
 fi
 
-# Set up SSH
-echo "🔒 Setting up SSH access..."
-mkdir -p /home/$USERNAME/.ssh
-echo "$PUBKEY" > /home/$USERNAME/.ssh/authorized_keys
-chmod 700 /home/$USERNAME/.ssh
-chmod 600 /home/$USERNAME/.ssh/authorized_keys
-chown -R $USERNAME:$USERNAME /home/$USERNAME/.ssh
+# Add user to groups
+for group in "${GROUP_ARRAY[@]}"; do
+    if [[ -n "$group" ]]; then
+        if getent group "$group" > /dev/null; then
+            echo "[+] Adding $USERNAME to group: $group"
+            usermod -aG "$group" "$USERNAME"
+        else
+            echo "[!] Warning: Group '$group' does not exist. Skipping."
+        fi
+    fi
+done
+
+# Setup SSH access
+AUTHORIZED_KEYS="/home/$USERNAME/.ssh/authorized_keys"
+mkdir -p "$(dirname "$AUTHORIZED_KEYS")"
+touch "$AUTHORIZED_KEYS"
+chmod 700 "$(dirname "$AUTHORIZED_KEYS")"
+chmod 600 "$AUTHORIZED_KEYS"
+chown -R "$USERNAME:$USERNAME" "/home/$USERNAME/.ssh"
+
+# Add key if not already present
+if grep -Fxq "$PUBKEY" "$AUTHORIZED_KEYS"; then
+    echo "[*] Public key already present. Skipping."
+else
+    echo "$PUBKEY" >> "$AUTHORIZED_KEYS"
+    echo "[+] Public key added."
+fi
 
 # Done
-echo ""
-echo "✅ User '$USERNAME' created."
-[[ -n "$GROUPS" ]] && echo "📦 Groups added: ${GROUP_ARRAY[*]}"
-echo "🎉 SSH key installed and permissions secured."
+echo
+echo "[✓] User '$USERNAME' setup complete."
+[[ ${#GROUP_ARRAY[@]} -gt 0 ]] && echo "[✓] Groups added: ${GROUP_ARRAY[*]}"
+echo "[✓] SSH access configured."