diff --git a/babs/base.py b/babs/base.py
index a5a2ea01..cc8b520f 100644
--- a/babs/base.py
+++ b/babs/base.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 import datalad.api as dlapi
 import pandas as pd
+import yaml
 
 from babs.input_datasets import InputDatasets, OutputDatasets
 from babs.scheduler import (
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@
 class BABS:
     """The BABS base class holds common attributes and methods for all BABS classes."""
 
-    def __init__(self, project_root):
+    def __init__(self, project_root, container_config=None):
         """The BABS class is for babs projects of BIDS Apps.
 
         The constructor only initializes the attributes.
@@ -108,13 +109,28 @@ def __init__(self, project_root):
         # attributes:
         self.project_root = str(project_root)
 
-        self.analysis_path = op.join(self.project_root, 'analysis')
+        if container_config is not None:
+            with open(container_config) as f:
+                cfg = yaml.safe_load(f)
+        else:
+            root_config_path = op.join(self.project_root, '.babs', 'babs_init_config.yaml')
+            cfg = {}
+            if op.exists(root_config_path):
+                with open(root_config_path) as f:
+                    cfg = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
+
+        analysis_dir = cfg.get('analysis_path', 'analysis')
+        self.analysis_path = op.normpath(op.join(self.project_root, analysis_dir))
         self._analysis_datalad_handle = None
 
         self.config_path = op.join(self.analysis_path, 'code/babs_proj_config.yaml')
 
-        self.input_ria_path = op.join(self.project_root, 'input_ria')
-        self.output_ria_path = op.join(self.project_root, 'output_ria')
+        self.input_ria_path = op.normpath(
+            op.join(self.project_root, cfg.get('input_ria_path', 'input_ria'))
+        )
+        self.output_ria_path = op.normpath(
+            op.join(self.project_root, cfg.get('output_ria_path', 'output_ria'))
+        )
 
         self.input_ria_url = 'ria+file://' + self.input_ria_path
         self.output_ria_url = 'ria+file://' + self.output_ria_path
@@ -128,6 +144,7 @@ def __init__(self, project_root):
         self.job_status_path_rel = 'code/job_status.csv'
         self.job_status_path_abs = op.join(self.analysis_path, self.job_status_path_rel)
         self.job_submit_path_abs = op.join(self.analysis_path, 'code/job_submit.csv')
+        self.analysis_root = op.dirname(self.analysis_path)
         self._shared_group_enabled_cache = None
         self._apply_config()
 
@@ -178,7 +195,7 @@ def _apply_config(self) -> None:
         self.wtf_key_info(flag_output_ria_only=True)
 
         self.input_datasets = InputDatasets(self.processing_level, config_yaml['input_datasets'])
-        self.input_datasets.update_abs_paths(Path(self.project_root) / 'analysis')
+        self.input_datasets.update_abs_paths(Path(self.analysis_path))
         self.ensure_shared_group_git_safe_directories()
 
     def _validate_pipeline_config(self) -> None:
diff --git a/babs/bootstrap.py b/babs/bootstrap.py
index 3827bff6..471948d1 100644
--- a/babs/bootstrap.py
+++ b/babs/bootstrap.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import csv
 import os
 import os.path as op
+import shutil
 import subprocess
 import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -25,6 +26,9 @@
 class BABSBootstrap(BABS):
     """A BABS subclass that implements the bootstrap process."""
 
+    def __init__(self, project_root, container_config=None):
+        super().__init__(project_root, container_config=container_config)
+
     def _apply_config(self):
         pass
 
@@ -114,14 +118,24 @@ def babs_bootstrap(
         self.queue = validate_queue(queue)
         system = System(self.queue)
 
-        # Create `analysis` folder: -----------------------------
+        # Create analysis folder: -----------------------------
         print('DataLad version: ' + get_datalad_version())
-        print('\nCreating `analysis` folder (also a datalad dataset)...')
+        print(f'\nCreating `{self.analysis_path}` folder (also a datalad dataset)...')
         create_kwargs = {'cfg_proc': 'yoda', 'annex': True}
         if self.shared_group is not None:
             create_kwargs['initopts'] = ['--shared=group']
         self._analysis_datalad_handle = dlapi.create(self.analysis_path, **create_kwargs)
         self.input_datasets.update_abs_paths(Path(self.analysis_path))
+
+        # Persist original config so other BABS commands can find it:
+        babs_dir = op.join(self.project_root, '.babs')
+        os.makedirs(babs_dir, exist_ok=True)
+        shutil.copy2(container_config, op.join(babs_dir, 'babs_init_config.yaml'))
+        if op.normpath(self.analysis_path) == op.normpath(self.project_root):
+            self.datalad_save(
+                path='.babs/babs_init_config.yaml',
+                message='Save babs init config',
+            )
         self.input_datasets.set_inclusion_dataframe(initial_inclusion_df, processing_level)
 
         # Prepare `.gitignore` ------------------------------
@@ -132,6 +146,9 @@ def babs_bootstrap(
             os.remove(gitignore_path)
         gitignore_file = open(gitignore_path, 'a')  # open in append mode
 
+        # not to track input/output RIA stores:
+        gitignore_file.write('\n' + op.basename(self.input_ria_path))
+        gitignore_file.write('\n' + op.basename(self.output_ria_path))
         # not to track `logs` folder:
         gitignore_file.write('\nlogs')
         # not to track `.*_datalad_lock`:
@@ -153,7 +170,7 @@ def babs_bootstrap(
 
         # Create `babs_proj_config.yaml` file: ----------------------
         print('Save BABS project configurations in a YAML file ...')
-        print("Path to this yaml file will be: 'analysis/code/babs_proj_config.yaml'")
+        print(f"Path to this yaml file will be: '{self.config_path}'")
 
         env = Environment(
             loader=PackageLoader('babs', 'templates'),
@@ -165,6 +182,7 @@ def babs_bootstrap(
         with open(self.config_path, 'w') as f:
             f.write(
                 template.render(
+                    analysis_dir=op.basename(self.analysis_path),
                     processing_level=self.processing_level,
                     queue=self.queue,
                     input_ds=self.input_datasets,
@@ -443,6 +461,7 @@ def _bootstrap_single_app_scripts(
             self.processing_level,
             system,
             project_root=op.dirname(self.analysis_path),
+            analysis_dir=op.basename(self.analysis_path),
             shared_group_mode=shared_group_mode,
         )
 
@@ -518,6 +537,7 @@ def _bootstrap_pipeline_scripts(self, container_ds, container_config, system):
             container_images=container_images,
             datalad_run_message='pipeline',
             project_root=op.dirname(self.analysis_path),
+            analysis_dir=op.basename(self.analysis_path),
         )
 
         with open(bash_path, 'w') as f:
@@ -599,6 +619,8 @@ def clean_up(self):
             if op.exists(self.analysis_path):  # analysis folder is created by datalad
                 print('Removing input dataset(s) if cloned...')
                 for in_ds in self.input_datasets:
+                    if in_ds._babs_project_analysis_path is None:
+                        continue
                     if op.exists(in_ds.babs_project_analysis_path):
                         # use `datalad remove` to remove:
                         _ = self.analysis_datalad_handle.remove(
diff --git a/babs/check_setup.py b/babs/check_setup.py
index 86bf9dbd..0249fb78 100644
--- a/babs/check_setup.py
+++ b/babs/check_setup.py
@@ -40,9 +40,10 @@ def babs_check_setup(self, submit_a_test_job):
             print('Did not request `--job-test`; will not submit a test job.')
 
         # Print out the saved configuration info: ----------------
+        analysis_dir = op.basename(self.analysis_path)
         print(
             'Below is the configuration information saved during `babs init`'
-            " in file 'analysis/code/babs_proj_config.yaml':\n"
+            f" in file '{analysis_dir}/code/babs_proj_config.yaml':\n"
         )
         with open(op.join(self.analysis_path, 'code/babs_proj_config.yaml')) as f:
             file_contents = f.read()
@@ -52,13 +53,13 @@ def babs_check_setup(self, submit_a_test_job):
         print('Checking the BABS project itself...')
         if not op.exists(self.analysis_path):
             raise FileNotFoundError(
-                "Folder 'analysis' does not exist in this BABS project!"
+                f"Folder '{analysis_dir}' does not exist in this BABS project!"
                 ' Current path to analysis folder: ' + self.analysis_path
             )
         print(CHECK_MARK + ' All good!')
 
-        # Check `analysis` datalad dataset: ----------------------
-        print("\nCheck status of 'analysis' DataLad dataset...")
+        # Check analysis datalad dataset: ----------------------
+        print(f"\nCheck status of '{analysis_dir}' DataLad dataset...")
         # Are there anything unsaved? ref: CuBIDS function
         analysis_statuses = {
             status['state']
diff --git a/babs/cli.py b/babs/cli.py
index f7dee487..85c47329 100644
--- a/babs/cli.py
+++ b/babs/cli.py
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ def babs_init_main(
 
     from babs import BABSBootstrap
 
-    babs_proj = BABSBootstrap(project_root)
+    babs_proj = BABSBootstrap(project_root, container_config=container_config)
     try:
         babs_proj.babs_bootstrap(
             processing_level,
diff --git a/babs/container.py b/babs/container.py
index 4424b833..ab445098 100644
--- a/babs/container.py
+++ b/babs/container.py
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ def generate_bash_participant_job(
         processing_level,
         system,
         project_root=None,
+        analysis_dir='analysis',
         shared_group_mode=False,
     ):
         """Generate bash script for participant job.
@@ -188,6 +189,7 @@ def generate_bash_participant_job(
             container_name=self.container_name,
             zip_foldernames=self.config['zip_foldernames'],
             project_root=project_root,
+            analysis_dir=analysis_dir,
         )
 
         with open(bash_path, 'w') as f:
diff --git a/babs/generate_submit_script.py b/babs/generate_submit_script.py
index 8242a4e2..fb745aec 100644
--- a/babs/generate_submit_script.py
+++ b/babs/generate_submit_script.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ def generate_submit_script(
     container_images=None,
     datalad_run_message=None,
     project_root=None,
+    analysis_dir='analysis',
 ):
     """
     Generate a bash script that runs the BIDS App singularity image.
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ def generate_submit_script(
         container_image_paths=container_image_paths,
         datalad_run_message=datalad_run_message,
         project_root=project_root,
+        analysis_dir=analysis_dir,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/babs/templates/job_submit.yaml.jinja2 b/babs/templates/job_submit.yaml.jinja2
index 9c6df77e..29ee0100 100644
--- a/babs/templates/job_submit.yaml.jinja2
+++ b/babs/templates/job_submit.yaml.jinja2
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 # '${max_array}' is a placeholder.
 {% endif %}
 
-cmd_template: '{{ submit_head }} {{ env_flags }} {{ name_flag_str }}{{ job_name }} {{ eo_args }} {{ array_args }} {% if test %}{{ babs.analysis_path }}/code/check_setup/call_test_job.sh{% else %}{{ babs.analysis_path }}/code/participant_job.sh {{ dssource }} {{ pushgitremote }} {{ babs.job_submit_path_abs }} {{ babs.project_root }}{% endif %}'
+cmd_template: '{{ submit_head }} {{ env_flags }} {{ name_flag_str }}{{ job_name }} {{ eo_args }} {{ array_args }} {% if test %}{{ babs.analysis_path }}/code/check_setup/call_test_job.sh{% else %}{{ babs.analysis_path }}/code/participant_job.sh {{ dssource }} {{ pushgitremote }} {{ babs.job_submit_path_abs }} {{ babs.analysis_root }}{% endif %}'
 job_name_template: '{{ job_name }}'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/babs/templates/participant_job.sh.jinja2 b/babs/templates/participant_job.sh.jinja2
index f3151cea..25eae8ee 100644
--- a/babs/templates/participant_job.sh.jinja2
+++ b/babs/templates/participant_job.sh.jinja2
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ CONTAINER_IMAGE_PATHS=(
 )
 
 for CONTAINER_JOB in "${CONTAINER_IMAGE_PATHS[@]}"; do
-  CONTAINER_SHARED="${PROJECT_ROOT}/analysis/${CONTAINER_JOB}"
+  CONTAINER_SHARED="${PROJECT_ROOT}/{{ analysis_dir }}/${CONTAINER_JOB}"
 
   if [ ! -e "${CONTAINER_SHARED}" ] && [ ! -L "${CONTAINER_SHARED}" ]; then
     echo "ERROR: shared container image not found at ${CONTAINER_SHARED}" >&2
diff --git a/tests/test_babs_workflow.py b/tests/test_babs_workflow.py
index 934c57ef..97c33df7 100644
--- a/tests/test_babs_workflow.py
+++ b/tests/test_babs_workflow.py
@@ -235,7 +235,10 @@ def test_init_forwards_shared_group(tmp_path):
         with mock.patch('babs.BABSBootstrap') as mock_bootstrap_cls:
             _enter_init()
 
-    mock_bootstrap_cls.assert_called_once_with(options.project_root)
+    mock_bootstrap_cls.assert_called_once_with(
+        options.project_root,
+        container_config=options.container_config,
+    )
     mock_bootstrap_cls.return_value.babs_bootstrap.assert_called_once_with(
         options.processing_level,
         options.queue,