What is a NAICS code, and how do I find mine?
NAICS codes classify what your business does. Government buyers use them to tag bids and to decide who counts as a small business. Here's how to pick yours.
NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes are six-digit numbers that describe an industry. For example, 238160 is roofing contractors and 541511 is custom computer programming.
Why they matter for bidding
- Bids are tagged with one. Every federal solicitation lists a NAICS code, so it's a quick way to spot work in your line.
- It decides if you're "small." The SBA sets a size standard (average annual revenue or number of employees) for each code. You can be small for one code and not another. That matters for set-asides.
- Your SAM.gov registration lists them. Add every code for work you actually do.
How to find yours
- Search the official list at census.gov/naics with a word for what you do.
- Pick the code that matches most of your revenue as your primary, and add others you also do.
- Check the SBA size standard for each at sba.gov/size-standards.
- Look at open bids in your trade (bids by trade) and note the codes buyers use.
Common questions
Can I have more than one NAICS code?
Yes. List every code for work you do in SAM.gov; one is your primary.
What if a bid uses a NAICS code I don't have?
You can often still bid if you can do the work, but for a set-aside you must be small under that bid's code. Add the code to SAM.gov if it fits your business.
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