diff --git a/config_auditor/utils.py b/config_auditor/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3396261
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config_auditor/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import List, Optional
+
+
+def find_config_file(path: Path, names: List[str]) -> Optional[Path]:
+    for name in names:
+        config_path = path / name
+        if config_path.exists():
+            return config_path
+
+        for parent in path.parents:
+            config_path = parent / name
+            if config_path.exists():
+                return config_path
+
+    return None
+
+
+def get_exit_code(issue_count: int, critical_count: int) -> int:
+    if critical_count > 0:
+        return 4
+    elif issue_count > 0:
+        return 4
+    return 0
+
+
+def format_severity(severity: str) -> str:
+    colors = {
+        "critical": "red",
+        "warning": "yellow",
+        "info": "blue",
+    }
+    return colors.get(severity, "white")
+
+
+def print_error(message: str, exit_code: int = 1):
+    print(f"Error: {message}", file=sys.stderr)
+    sys.exit(exit_code)
+
+
+def validate_path(path: str) -> Path:
+    p = Path(path)
+    if not p.exists():
+        print_error(f"Path does not exist: {path}", 2)
+    if not p.is_dir():
+        print_error(f"Path is not a directory: {path}", 2)
+    return p