diff --git a/cmd/nessusCsvSrv.go b/cmd/nessusCsvSrv.go
index 4a7f341..875234c 100644
--- a/cmd/nessusCsvSrv.go
+++ b/cmd/nessusCsvSrv.go
@@ -16,21 +16,20 @@ limitations under the License.
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
 	"github.com/pafussell/gophermap/parser"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
-// nessusCsvSrvCmd represents the nessusCsvSrv command
 var nessusCsvSrvCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "nessus-csv-srv",
 	Short: "read the Nessus csv output and print out services found by the \"Service Detection\" plugin",
 	Long:  ``,
-	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		fmt.Println("nessus-csv-srv called")
-		p := parser.New(args[0], nil)
-		p.NessusPrettyServicesCSV()
+	RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+		p := parser.New(filePath, nil, Verbose)
+		if err := p.NessusPrettyServicesCSV(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
 	},
 }
 
@@ -38,5 +37,4 @@ var filePath string
 
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(nessusCsvSrvCmd)
-	nessusCsvSrvCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&filePath, "PATH", "f", "", "Nessus CSV file to parse")
 }
diff --git a/cmd/nessusCsvWeb.go b/cmd/nessusCsvWeb.go
index c812689..19c5420 100644
--- a/cmd/nessusCsvWeb.go
+++ b/cmd/nessusCsvWeb.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
 	"github.com/pafussell/gophermap/parser"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
@@ -12,12 +10,12 @@ var nessusCsvWebCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "Read the Nessus csv output and print out all detected web servers",
 	Long:  ``,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		fmt.Println("nessus-csv-web called")
-		p := parser.New(args[0], nil)
+		p := parser.New(filePath, nil, Verbose)
 		p.NessusPrettyWebCSV()
 	},
 }
 
 func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(nessusCsvWebCmd)
+	nessusCsvSrvCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&filePath, "PATH", "f", "", "Nessus CSV file to parse")
 }
diff --git a/cmd/nessusXml.go b/cmd/nessusXml.go
index 78acd32..ac3a7c9 100644
--- a/cmd/nessusXml.go
+++ b/cmd/nessusXml.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
 	"github.com/pafussell/gophermap/parser"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
@@ -12,8 +10,7 @@ var nessusXmlCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "Read the Nessus xml output and print out services found by the \"Service Detection\" plugin",
 	Long:  ``,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		fmt.Println("nessus-xml called")
-		p := parser.New(args[0], nil)
+		p := parser.New(filePath, nil, Verbose)
 		p.NessusPrettyServiceXML()
 	},
 }
diff --git a/cmd/nessusXmlHigh.go b/cmd/nessusXmlHigh.go
index 256e1d2..3afc6d7 100644
--- a/cmd/nessusXmlHigh.go
+++ b/cmd/nessusXmlHigh.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
 	"github.com/pafussell/gophermap/parser"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
@@ -12,8 +10,7 @@ var nessusXmlHighCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "parse high/crit vulns from nessus xml",
 	Long:  ``,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		fmt.Println("nessus-xml-high called")
-		p := parser.New(args[0], nil)
+		p := parser.New(filePath, nil, Verbose)
 		p.NessusPrettyHighCritXML()
 	},
 }
diff --git a/cmd/nmap.go b/cmd/nmap.go
index b05b56e..a708af1 100644
--- a/cmd/nmap.go
+++ b/cmd/nmap.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ var nmapCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:  ``,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		fmt.Printf("nmap called, file = %v\n", args[0])
-		p := parser.New(args[0], nil)
+		p := parser.New(filePath, nil, Verbose)
 		p.NmapPrettyPrint()
 	},
 }
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 1956de9..027567a 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -1,37 +1,25 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
-var cfgFile string
-
-// rootCmd represents the base command when called without any subcommands
 var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "gophermap",
 	Short: "A parser for various network and vulnerability tools and formats",
 	Long:  `A parser for Nessus, NMap and Rumble scanner results file in various formats`,
-	// Uncomment the following line if your bare application
-	// has an action associated with it:
-	//	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) { },
 }
 
-// Execute adds all child commands to the root command and sets flags appropriately.
-// This is called by main.main(). It only needs to happen once to the rootCmd.
-func Execute() {
-	if err := rootCmd.Execute(); err != nil {
-		fmt.Println(err)
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
-}
+var Verbose bool
 
 func init() {
-	cobra.OnInitialize(initConfig)
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&Verbose, "verbose", "v", false, "verbose output")
 }
 
-// initConfig reads in config file and ENV variables if set.
-func initConfig() {
+func Execute() {
+	if err := rootCmd.Execute(); err != nil {
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/rumble.go b/cmd/rumble.go
index 79cc07d..fb8a2db 100644
--- a/cmd/rumble.go
+++ b/cmd/rumble.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ var rumbleCmd = &cobra.Command{
 a lot of version data in banners in the JSON blob. Thus the dedicated format. `,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		fmt.Println("rumble called")
-		p := parser.New(args[0], nil)
+		p := parser.New(filePath, nil, Verbose)
 		p.RumblePrettyPrint()
 	},
 }
diff --git a/parser/parser.go b/parser/parser.go
index 26ec12a..e255e77 100644
--- a/parser/parser.go
+++ b/parser/parser.go
@@ -17,14 +17,15 @@ import (
 
 type Parser struct {
 	FilePath string
-	Logger   io.Writer
+	Writer   io.Writer
+	Verbose  bool
 }
 
-func New(file string, out io.Writer) (p *Parser) {
+func New(file string, out io.Writer, verbose bool) (p *Parser) {
 	if out != nil {
-		p = &Parser{FilePath: file, Logger: out}
+		p = &Parser{FilePath: file, Writer: out, Verbose: verbose}
 	} else {
-		p = &Parser{FilePath: file, Logger: os.Stdout}
+		p = &Parser{FilePath: file, Writer: os.Stdout, Verbose: verbose}
 	}
 	return
 }
@@ -32,13 +33,11 @@ func New(file string, out io.Writer) (p *Parser) {
 func (p *Parser) getNmapParser(w io.Writer) (*gn.NmapRun, error) {
 	fb, err := ioutil.ReadFile(p.FilePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Error opening scan file: %v\n", p.FilePath)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	n, err := gn.Parse(fb)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Error parsing NMap file\n")
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return n, nil
@@ -47,13 +46,11 @@ func (p *Parser) getNmapParser(w io.Writer) (*gn.NmapRun, error) {
 func (p *Parser) getNessusParser(w io.Writer) (*gne.NessusData, error) {
 	fb, err := ioutil.ReadFile(p.FilePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Error opening Nessus file: %v\n", p.FilePath)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	n, err := gne.Parse(fb)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Error parsing Nessus file\n")
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return n, nil
@@ -62,7 +59,6 @@ func (p *Parser) getNessusParser(w io.Writer) (*gne.NessusData, error) {
 func (p *Parser) getCsvRecords(w io.Writer) ([][]string, error) {
 	fb, err := ioutil.ReadFile(p.FilePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Error opening Nessus file: %v\n", p.FilePath)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	br := bytes.NewReader(fb)
@@ -72,21 +68,46 @@ func (p *Parser) getCsvRecords(w io.Writer) ([][]string, error) {
 	return records, err
 }
 
+func (p *Parser) verboseNmapDump(np *gn.NmapRun) {
+	fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "Host count: %v\n", len(np.Hosts))
+	fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "Scanner: %v\n", np.Scanner)
+	fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "Profile name: %v\n", np.ProfileName)
+	fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "Scan start time: %v\n", np.Start)
+}
+
+func (p *Parser) verboseNessusDump(n *gne.NessusData) {
+	fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "Host count: %v\n", len(n.Report.ReportHosts))
+	fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "Report name: %v\n", n.Report.Name)
+}
+
+func (p *Parser) verboseNessusCsvDump(rr [][]string) {
+	if len(rr) > 0 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "CSV record count: %v\n", len(rr))
+		fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "CSV column count: %v\n", len(rr[0]))
+	} else {
+		fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "No rows found\n")
+	}
+}
+
 // NmapPrettyPrint consumes NMap XML and prints
 // formatted table of enumerated services
 func (p *Parser) NmapPrettyPrint() (err error) {
-	np, err := p.getNmapParser(p.Logger)
+	np, err := p.getNmapParser(p.Writer)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if p.Verbose {
+		p.verboseNmapDump(np)
+	}
+
 	// In my previous nmap parser I built a lot more logic into output options I would like to add next
 	// eg. ouput live hosts, output just a selected port
 	for _, host := range np.Hosts {
 		for _, ip := range host.Addresses {
 			for _, port := range host.Ports {
 				// fmt.Println("| ", ip.Addr, " | ", port.PortId, " | ", port.Service.Product, port.Service.Version)
-				fmt.Fprintf(p.Logger, "| %18s | %8s | %6s | %-22s %-8s |\n", ip.Addr, strconv.Itoa(port.PortId), port.Protocol, port.Service.Product, port.Service.Version)
+				fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "| %18s | %8s | %6s | %-22s %-8s |\n", ip.Addr, strconv.Itoa(port.PortId), port.Protocol, port.Service.Product, port.Service.Version)
 			}
 
 		}
@@ -98,11 +119,15 @@ func (p *Parser) NmapPrettyPrint() (err error) {
 // NessusPrettyServiceXML does a pretty print of nessus data
 // and takes in the .nessus style file
 func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyServiceXML() (err error) {
-	np, err := p.getNessusParser(p.Logger)
+	np, err := p.getNessusParser(p.Writer)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if p.Verbose {
+		p.verboseNessusDump(np)
+	}
+
 	// we might need some better logic here. Right now we just look for the plugin named
 	// Service Detection and output the plugin output with the port. Might be other plugins
 	// we want to add that have good data.
@@ -110,7 +135,7 @@ func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyServiceXML() (err error) {
 		for _, item := range host.ReportItems {
 			// change this...need to range over host properties to get tag == ip
 			if item.PluginName == "Service Detection" && item.PluginOutput[0:17] != "The service close" {
-				fmt.Fprintf(p.Logger, "| %18s | %8s | %-10s| %-32s |\n", host.Name, strconv.Itoa(item.Port), item.SvcName, item.PluginOutput[0:28])
+				fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "| %18s | %8s | %-10s| %-32s |\n", host.Name, strconv.Itoa(item.Port), item.SvcName, item.PluginOutput[0:28])
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -120,11 +145,15 @@ func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyServiceXML() (err error) {
 // NessusPrettyHighCritXML does a pretty print of nessus data
 // and takes in the .nessus style file; it prints all high and crit level findings
 func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyHighCritXML() (err error) {
-	np, err := p.getNessusParser(p.Logger)
+	np, err := p.getNessusParser(p.Writer)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if p.Verbose {
+		p.verboseNessusDump(np)
+	}
+
 	// we might need some better logic here. Right now we just look for the plugin named
 	// Service Detection and output the plugin output with the port. Might be other plugins
 	// we want to add that have good data.
@@ -132,7 +161,7 @@ func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyHighCritXML() (err error) {
 		for _, item := range host.ReportItems {
 			// change this...need to range over host properties to get tag == ip
 			if item.Severity == 3 || item.Severity == 4 {
-				fmt.Fprintf(p.Logger, "| %18s | %8s | %-28s \n", host.Name, strconv.Itoa(item.Port), item.PluginName)
+				fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "| %18s | %8s | %-28s \n", host.Name, strconv.Itoa(item.Port), item.PluginName)
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -143,14 +172,18 @@ func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyHighCritXML() (err error) {
 // NessusPrettyServicesCSV consumes an nessus csv and
 // prints out service and IP
 func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyServicesCSV() (err error) {
-	records, err := p.getCsvRecords(p.Logger)
+	records, err := p.getCsvRecords(p.Writer)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if p.Verbose {
+		p.verboseNessusCsvDump(records)
+	}
+
 	for row := 0; row < len(records); row++ {
 		if records[row][7] == "Service Detection" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(p.Logger, "| %14s | %8s | %22s\n", records[row][4], records[row][6], records[row][12])
+			fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "| %14s | %8s | %22s\n", records[row][4], records[row][6], records[row][12])
 		}
 	}
 	return
@@ -159,17 +192,21 @@ func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyServicesCSV() (err error) {
 // NessusPrettyWebCSV consumes an nessus csv and
 // prints out service and IP
 func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyWebCSV() (err error) {
-	records, err := p.getCsvRecords(p.Logger)
+	records, err := p.getCsvRecords(p.Writer)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if p.Verbose {
+		p.verboseNessusCsvDump(records)
+	}
+
 	for row := 0; row < len(records); row++ {
 		if records[row][7] == "HTTP Server Type and Version" {
 			re := regexp.MustCompile("\\n")
 			input := records[row][12]
 			input = re.ReplaceAllString(input, " ")
-			fmt.Fprintf(p.Logger, "| %14s | %8s | %22s\n", records[row][4], records[row][6], input)
+			fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "| %14s | %8s | %22s\n", records[row][4], records[row][6], input)
 		}
 	}
 	return
@@ -178,11 +215,15 @@ func (p *Parser) NessusPrettyWebCSV() (err error) {
 // RumblePrettyPrint is for parsing
 // Rumble scans in nmap xml format
 func (p *Parser) RumblePrettyPrint() (err error) {
-	n, err := p.getNmapParser(p.Logger)
+	n, err := p.getNmapParser(p.Writer)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if p.Verbose {
+		p.verboseNmapDump(n)
+	}
+
 	for _, host := range n.Hosts {
 		for _, ip := range host.Addresses {
 			fmt.Println("|--------------|-------------------|--------------|------------------|")
@@ -192,16 +233,16 @@ func (p *Parser) RumblePrettyPrint() (err error) {
 			} else {
 				for _, port := range host.Ports {
 					if port.Service.Product != "" {
-						fmt.Fprintf(p.Logger, "| %18s | %8s | %6s | %-22s %-8s |\n", ip.Addr, strconv.Itoa(port.PortId), port.Protocol, port.Service.Product, port.Service.Version)
+						fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "| %18s | %8s | %6s | %-22s %-8s |\n", ip.Addr, strconv.Itoa(port.PortId), port.Protocol, port.Service.Product, port.Service.Version)
 						continue
 					}
 					m := make(map[string]string)
 					b := []byte(port.Scripts[0].Output)
 					if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &m); err != nil {
-						fmt.Fprintf(p.Logger, "Error parsing embedded JSON\n")
+						fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "Error parsing embedded JSON\n")
 					}
 					if banner, exists := m["banner"]; exists {
-						fmt.Fprintf(p.Logger, "| %18s | %8s | %6s | %-22s |\n", ip.Addr, strconv.Itoa(port.PortId), port.Protocol, banner)
+						fmt.Fprintf(p.Writer, "| %18s | %8s | %6s | %-22s |\n", ip.Addr, strconv.Itoa(port.PortId), port.Protocol, banner)
 					}
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/parser/parser_test.go b/parser/parser_test.go
index 1db3b9c..6d96c2e 100644
--- a/parser/parser_test.go
+++ b/parser/parser_test.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestNmapPrettyPrintBadInputPath(t *testing.T) {
 	buffer := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	p := New("../test/testfiles/doesnotexist", buffer)
+	p := New("../test/testfiles/doesnotexist", buffer, false)
 	err := p.NmapPrettyPrint()
 
 	if err == nil {