diff --git a/lib/baes.rb b/lib/baes.rb
index 71fef54..84676bf 100644
--- a/lib/baes.rb
+++ b/lib/baes.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ class Baes::Error < StandardError; end
 
 require_relative "baes/configuration"
 require_relative "baes/configuration/helpers"
+require_relative "baes/helpers"
 
 require_relative "baes/actions"
 require_relative "baes/branch"
diff --git a/lib/baes/git.rb b/lib/baes/git.rb
index 400b082..af9c773 100644
--- a/lib/baes/git.rb
+++ b/lib/baes/git.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 # module to encapsulate git commands in the shell
 module Baes::Git
+  extend Baes::Helpers::Commands
   extend Baes::Configuration::Helpers
 
   class GitError < StandardError; end
@@ -80,28 +81,5 @@ def delete_branches(branch_names)
       output.puts("deleting branches")
       output.puts(run_or_raise("git branch -d #{branch_names.join(" ")}"))
     end
-
-    private
-
-    def run_or_raise(command)
-      stdout, stderr, status = Open3.capture3(command)
-
-      unless status.success?
-        output.puts(stderr)
-
-        raise GitError, "failed to run '#{command}'"
-      end
-
-      stdout.strip
-    end
-
-    def run_returning_status(command)
-      stdout, stderr, status = Open3.capture3(command)
-
-      output.puts(stdout)
-      output.puts(stderr) unless stderr.empty?
-
-      status
-    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/baes/helpers.rb b/lib/baes/helpers.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac2cd7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/baes/helpers.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+# module to encapsulate helpers
+module Baes::Helpers
+end
+
+require_relative "helpers/commands"
diff --git a/lib/baes/helpers/commands.rb b/lib/baes/helpers/commands.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2fe1e68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/baes/helpers/commands.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+# module to encapsulate shell commands
+module Baes::Helpers::Commands
+  # run command and raise error on failure
+  def run_or_raise(command)
+    stdout, stderr, status = Open3.capture3(command)
+
+    unless status.success?
+      output.puts(stderr)
+
+      raise Baes::Git::GitError, "failed to run '#{command}'"
+    end
+
+    stdout.strip
+  end
+
+  # run command and return status
+  def run_returning_status(command)
+    stdout, stderr, status = Open3.capture3(command)
+
+    output.puts(stdout)
+    output.puts(stderr) unless stderr.empty?
+
+    status
+  end
+end