diff --git a/dev_requirements/requirements-coverage.in b/dev_requirements/requirements-coverage.in
index d1e1a80..987838e 100644
--- a/dev_requirements/requirements-coverage.in
+++ b/dev_requirements/requirements-coverage.in
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 # specific requirements for the tox coverage env
 coverage
+pytest_loguru
diff --git a/dev_requirements/requirements-coverage.txt b/dev_requirements/requirements-coverage.txt
index 7829865..b24cbfa 100644
--- a/dev_requirements/requirements-coverage.txt
+++ b/dev_requirements/requirements-coverage.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,27 @@
-# SHA1:6dafbcf610e9f81897b65ee9142715ab2e793f9e
+# SHA1:5c99babe62754a9fe23771e877f18d99a3faa208
 #
 # This file is autogenerated by pip-compile-multi
 # To update, run:
 #
 #    pip-compile-multi
 #
+colorama==0.4.6
+    # via
+    #   loguru
+    #   pytest
 coverage==7.4.3
     # via -r dev_requirements\requirements-coverage.in
+iniconfig==2.0.0
+    # via pytest
+loguru==0.7.2
+    # via pytest-loguru
+packaging==24.0
+    # via pytest
+pluggy==1.4.0
+    # via pytest
+pytest==8.1.1
+    # via pytest-loguru
+pytest-loguru==0.3.0
+    # via -r dev_requirements\requirements-coverage.in
+win32-setctime==1.1.0
+    # via loguru
diff --git a/dev_requirements/requirements-tests.in b/dev_requirements/requirements-tests.in
index 5497961..4dacd38 100644
--- a/dev_requirements/requirements-tests.in
+++ b/dev_requirements/requirements-tests.in
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 # specific requirements for the tox tests env
 pytest
+pytest_loguru # makes loguru logs accessible to pytest
diff --git a/dev_requirements/requirements-tests.txt b/dev_requirements/requirements-tests.txt
index 2c7326b..3d4ba11 100644
--- a/dev_requirements/requirements-tests.txt
+++ b/dev_requirements/requirements-tests.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# SHA1:0eaa389e1fdb3a1917c0f987514bd561be5718ee
+# SHA1:c2ec5869b1beb7fc76c4dcc722605bc1512f62aa
 #
 # This file is autogenerated by pip-compile-multi
 # To update, run:
@@ -6,12 +6,22 @@
 #    pip-compile-multi
 #
 colorama==0.4.6
-    # via pytest
+    # via
+    #   loguru
+    #   pytest
 iniconfig==2.0.0
     # via pytest
+loguru==0.7.2
+    # via pytest-loguru
 packaging==24.0
     # via pytest
 pluggy==1.4.0
     # via pytest
 pytest==8.1.1
+    # via
+    #   -r dev_requirements\requirements-tests.in
+    #   pytest-loguru
+pytest-loguru==0.3.0
     # via -r dev_requirements\requirements-tests.in
+win32-setctime==1.1.0
+    # via loguru
diff --git a/src/migmose/__main__.py b/src/migmose/__main__.py
index 049c804..72885d3 100644
--- a/src/migmose/__main__.py
+++ b/src/migmose/__main__.py
@@ -2,19 +2,13 @@
 contains CLI logic for migmose.
 """
 
-import json
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Generator, Union
 
 import click
-import docx  # type: ignore[import]
-from docx.document import Document  # type: ignore[import]
-from docx.oxml import CT_Tbl  # type: ignore[import]
-from docx.table import Table, _Cell  # type: ignore[import]
-from docx.text.paragraph import Paragraph  # type: ignore[import]
-from loguru import logger
 from maus.edifact import EdifactFormat
 
+from migmose.parsing import find_file_to_format, parse_raw_nachrichtenstrukturzeile, preliminary_output_as_json
+
 
 # add CLI logic
 @click.command()
@@ -27,11 +21,11 @@
 )
 @click.option(
     "-mt",
-    "--message_type",
+    "--message_format",
     type=click.Choice(list(map(lambda x: x.name, EdifactFormat)), case_sensitive=False),
     # Taken from https://github.com/pallets/click/issues/605#issuecomment-889462570
-    prompt="Please specify which message type to be parsed.",
-    help="Defines the set of message types to be parsed.",
+    prompt="Please specify which message format to be parsed.",
+    help="Defines the set of message formats to be parsed.",
     multiple=True,
 )
 @click.option(
@@ -41,85 +35,16 @@
     prompt="Please enter the path to the directory which should contain the output files.",
     help="Set path to directory which contains the output files. If the directory does not exist, it will be created.",
 )
-def main(input_dir: Path, output_dir, message_type: list[EdifactFormat]) -> None:
+def main(input_dir: Path, output_dir, message_format: list[EdifactFormat]) -> None:
     """
     Main function. Uses CLI input.
     """
-    dict_files = find_file_to_type(message_type, input_dir)
-    for m_type, file in dict_files.items():
+    dict_files = find_file_to_format(message_format, input_dir)
+    for m_format, file in dict_files.items():
         mig_table = parse_raw_nachrichtenstrukturzeile(file)
         for item in mig_table:
             print(item)
-        preliminary_output_as_json(mig_table, m_type, output_dir)
-
-
-def find_file_to_type(message_types: list[EdifactFormat], input_dir: Path) -> dict[EdifactFormat, Path]:
-    """
-    finds the file with the message type in the input directory
-    """
-    file_dict = {}
-    for message_type in message_types:
-        list_of_all_files = [
-            file for file in input_dir.iterdir() if message_type in file.name and file.suffix == ".docx"
-        ]
-        if len(list_of_all_files) == 1:
-            file_dict[message_type] = list_of_all_files[0]
-        elif len(list_of_all_files) > 1:
-            logger.warning(f"⚠️ There are several files for {message_type}.", fg="red")
-        else:
-            logger.warning(f"⚠️ No file found for {message_type}.", fg="red")
-    if file_dict:
-        return file_dict
-    logger.error("⚠️ No files found in the input directory.", fg="red")
-    raise click.Abort()
-
-
-def preliminary_output_as_json(table: list[str], message_type: EdifactFormat, output_dir: Path) -> None:
-    """
-    writes the preliminary output as json
-    """
-    if not output_dir.exists():
-        output_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    file_path = output_dir.joinpath(f"{message_type}_preliminary_output.json")
-    structured_json = {line: None for line in table}
-    with open(file_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as json_file:
-        json.dump(structured_json, json_file, indent=4, encoding="utf-8")
-    logger.info(f"Created and wrote to {file_path}")
-
-
-def get_paragraphs_up_to_diagram(parent: Union[Document, _Cell]) -> Generator[Union[Paragraph, Table], None, None]:
-    """Goes through paragraphs and tables"""
-    # pylint: disable=protected-access
-    if isinstance(parent, Document):
-        parent_elm = parent.element.body
-    elif isinstance(parent, _Cell):
-        parent_elm = parent._tc
-    else:
-        raise ValueError("Passed parent argument must be of type Document or _Cell")
-
-    for child in parent_elm.iterchildren():
-        if isinstance(child, CT_Tbl):
-            yield Table(child, parent)
-
-
-def parse_raw_nachrichtenstrukturzeile(input_path: Path) -> list[str]:
-    """
-    parses raw nachrichtenstrukturzeile from a table. returns list of raw lines
-    """
-    # pylint: disable=protected-access
-    doc = docx.Document(input_path)
-    docx_objects = get_paragraphs_up_to_diagram(doc)
-    mig_tables = []
-    nachrichtenstruktur_header = "Status\tMaxWdh\n\tZähler\tNr\tBez\tSta\tBDEW\tSta\tBDEW\tEbene\tInhalt"
-    for docx_object in docx_objects:
-        for ind, line in enumerate(docx_object._cells):
-            # marks the beginning of the complete nachrichtentruktur table
-            if line.text == nachrichtenstruktur_header:
-                mig_tables.extend([row.text for row in docx_object._cells[ind + 1 :]])
-            break
-    # filter empty rows and headers
-    mig_tables = [row for row in mig_tables if row not in ("\n", nachrichtenstruktur_header)]
-    return mig_tables
+        preliminary_output_as_json(mig_table, m_format, output_dir)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/src/migmose/parsing.py b/src/migmose/parsing.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8ebb00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/migmose/parsing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+"""
+contains functions for file handling and parsing.
+"""
+
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Generator, Union
+
+import click
+import docx  # type: ignore[import]
+from docx.document import Document  # type: ignore[import]
+from docx.oxml import CT_Tbl  # type: ignore[import]
+from docx.table import Table, _Cell  # type: ignore[import]
+from docx.text.paragraph import Paragraph  # type: ignore[import]
+from loguru import logger
+from maus.edifact import EdifactFormat
+
+
+def find_file_to_format(message_formats: list[EdifactFormat], input_dir: Path) -> dict[EdifactFormat, Path]:
+    """
+    finds the file with the message type in the input directory
+    """
+    file_dict = {}
+    for message_format in message_formats:
+        list_of_all_files = [
+            file for file in input_dir.iterdir() if message_format in file.name and file.suffix == ".docx"
+        ]
+        if len(list_of_all_files) == 1:
+            file_dict[message_format] = list_of_all_files[0]
+        elif len(list_of_all_files) > 1:
+            logger.warning(f"⚠️ There are several files for {message_format}.", fg="red")
+        else:
+            logger.warning(f"⚠️ No file found for {message_format}.", fg="red")
+    if file_dict:
+        return file_dict
+    logger.error("❌ No files found in the input directory.", fg="red")
+    raise click.Abort()
+
+
+def preliminary_output_as_json(table: list[str], message_format: EdifactFormat, output_dir: Path) -> None:
+    """
+    Writes the preliminary output as json.
+    Serves only as a preliminary helper function until more precise class methods are implemented.
+    """
+    output_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    file_path = output_dir.joinpath(f"{message_format}_preliminary_output.json")
+    structured_json = {line: None for line in table}
+    with open(file_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as json_file:
+        json.dump(structured_json, json_file, indent=4)
+    logger.info(f"Created and wrote to {file_path}")
+
+
+def get_paragraphs_up_to_diagram(parent: Union[Document, _Cell]) -> Generator[Union[Paragraph, Table], None, None]:
+    """Goes through paragraphs and tables"""
+    # pylint: disable=protected-access
+    if isinstance(parent, Document):
+        parent_elm = parent.element.body
+    elif isinstance(parent, _Cell):
+        parent_elm = parent._tc
+    else:
+        raise ValueError("Passed parent argument must be of type Document or _Cell")
+
+    for child in parent_elm.iterchildren():
+        if isinstance(child, CT_Tbl):
+            yield Table(child, parent)
+
+
+def parse_raw_nachrichtenstrukturzeile(input_path: Path) -> list[str]:
+    """
+    parses raw nachrichtenstrukturzeile from a table. returns list of raw lines
+    """
+    # pylint: disable=protected-access
+    doc = docx.Document(input_path)
+    docx_objects = get_paragraphs_up_to_diagram(doc)
+    mig_tables = []
+    nachrichtenstruktur_header = "Status\tMaxWdh\n\tZähler\tNr\tBez\tSta\tBDEW\tSta\tBDEW\tEbene\tInhalt"
+    for docx_object in docx_objects:
+        for ind, line in enumerate(docx_object._cells):
+            # marks the beginning of the complete nachrichtentruktur table
+            if line.text == nachrichtenstruktur_header:
+                mig_tables.extend([row.text for row in docx_object._cells[ind + 1 :]])
+            break
+    # filter empty rows and headers
+    mig_tables = [row for row in mig_tables if row not in ("\n", nachrichtenstruktur_header)]
+    return mig_tables
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 2826330..5c5ca16 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ commands =
 
 [testenv:coverage]
 # the coverage environment is called by the Github Action that runs the coverage measurement
-changedir = unittests
 deps =
     {[testenv:tests]deps}
     -r dev_requirements/requirements-coverage.txt
diff --git a/unittests/test_parsing.py b/unittests/test_parsing.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7397c7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/unittests/test_parsing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+"""
+Test parsing routines.
+"""
+
+import json
+import logging
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from maus.edifact import EdifactFormat
+from pytest_loguru.plugin import caplog  # type: ignore[import] # pylint: disable=unused-import
+
+from migmose.parsing import find_file_to_format, parse_raw_nachrichtenstrukturzeile, preliminary_output_as_json
+
+
+class TestParsing:
+    """
+    Test class for parsing functions.
+    """
+
+    def test_find_file_to_format(self):
+        """
+        Test find_file_to_format function. Tests whether the MIG to edifact format ORDCHG is found in the test folder.
+        """
+        message_format = [EdifactFormat.ORDCHG]
+        input_dir = Path("unittests/test_data/")
+        file_dict = find_file_to_format(message_format, input_dir)
+        assert file_dict[EdifactFormat.ORDCHG] == input_dir / Path("ORDCHG_MIG_1_1_info_20230331_v2.docx")
+
+    def test_find_only_one_file(self, caplog):
+        """
+        Tests to find multiple formats when one is not present.
+        """
+        message_formats = [EdifactFormat.ORDCHG, EdifactFormat.ORDRSP]
+        input_dir = Path("unittests/test_data/")
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING):
+            file_dict = find_file_to_format(message_formats, input_dir)
+            assert f"No file found for {EdifactFormat.ORDRSP}." in caplog.text
+            assert file_dict[EdifactFormat.ORDCHG] == input_dir / Path("ORDCHG_MIG_1_1_info_20230331_v2.docx")
+
+    def test_parse_raw_nachrichtenstrukturzeile(self):
+        """
+        Test to parse the raw nachrichtenstrukturzeile from a docx file.
+        """
+        input_file = Path("unittests/test_data/ORDCHG_MIG_1_1_info_20230331_v2.docx")
+        mig_table = parse_raw_nachrichtenstrukturzeile(input_file)
+        assert len(mig_table) == 18
+        assert "Nachrichten-Kopfsegment" in mig_table[0]
+        assert "Nachrichten-Endesegment" in mig_table[-1]
+
+    def test_preliminary_output_as_json(self, tmp_path):
+        """Tests the preliminary output as json function.
+        Asserts that the outputfile exists and has the correct content."""
+        table = ["line1", "line2", "line3"]
+        message_format = EdifactFormat.ORDCHG
+        output_dir = tmp_path / Path("output")
+
+        preliminary_output_as_json(table, message_format, output_dir)
+
+        file_path = output_dir / f"{message_format}_preliminary_output.json"
+        assert file_path.exists()
+
+        with open(file_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as json_file:
+            content = json.load(json_file)
+            assert content == {"line1": None, "line2": None, "line3": None}