NAICS Lookup Help

*Tips for Utilizing the NAICS & SIC Keyword Search Tool*

Determining the Appropriate Code for Your Business:

 

NAICS lookup help - where do I start?
How do I get a NAICS Code? Has one been assigned to me?

NAICS is a Self-Assigned System. Essentially what that means is you pick the code that best suits your business and use it when asked for your code. No one assigns you a NAICS Code!

How do I look up a Company's NAICS Code?

To identify the NAICS Code being used for a specific company, visit the US Company Lookup Tool by NAICS.com. To identify the proper code for your company, use the NAICS SEARCH TOOLS to identify the code that best reflects your primary business activity (revenue producing activity.)

Does My Business have a NAICS Code?

Yes. As long as you have a business you must have a business activity. Your code merely describes your Primary and Secondary Income-Producing Lines of business.

Can I use more than one code?

Yes. Most businesses have more than one revenue-producing line of business.

Do we have to Register with NAICS Association?

No! We are just here to help you determine the best code for your business using our online tools, as well as to provide effective Targeted Marketing Lists and mission-critical Data-Appends to your Customer Databases.

How Do I use the Online Tools?

The Keyword Search allows you to put in a single keyword such as “Restaurant” or “Plumbing”, “Computers” or “Consulting”, and returns all codes that contain that word in the title or in the description. Look through the results and you should find the answer. Whether you are a wholesaler of plumbing parts or are an actual plumbing company a keyword search on the term “Plumbing” will get you to the appropriate code. The Industry Drill-Down table allows you to hone in on Wider Industry Categories such as “Construction” or “Manufacturing” to find all of the full six digit codes that fall within that Industry. Identify the code that appears closest to your line of business and you are finished.

What if I still can’t find my code?

Contact the Census Bureau via this email address! They are the official US Government Authority who manages the NAICS Coding System. Go to www.Census.gov or Call (888) 756-2427 You can Call or E-mail them with your questions. *Please don’t Call or E-mail NAICS Association requesting help with a code! We receive hundreds of calls daily and simply cannot make the code determination for you. The Census Bureau is the authority in these matters!

How do I find my SIC Code, or, I have my SIC Code, how do I find my NAICS Code?

We offer Cross-References – both SIC to NAICS and NAICS to SIC, on the NAICS and SIC Crosswalk Page which enables you to cross over from one coding system to the other. If you can find one code you can obtain the other. TIP: If you are an existing business use our new US Company Lookup Tool to Download your Company’s D&B Marketing Record. It contains the NAICS Code that D&B has listed for your Company.


NAICS Keyword Search Tool Tips:


Tip 1: When using the Keyword Search use a single keyword such as "Dentist" or "Event" or "Pharmacy". If "Pharmacy" doesn’t work try the plural – "Pharmacies". Multiple words are too complex for the search engine in many cases.
Tip 2: Import/Export are not a part of the NAICS System. If you Import or Export you are most likely a Merchant Wholesaler.
Tip 3: If you sell Commercial Products you are a Wholesaler even if you think you are a Retailer. i.e. If you Retail Medical Supplies or Heavy Equipment, you are actually considered a Wholesaler in the NAICS System.
Tip 4: For any type of rental, use the word “Rental” in the Keyword Search and then look through the results for the correct one. Same for "Repair".
Tip 5: If you are an Event Planning Company, search on the term "Event".
Tip 6: Not every type of company has a dedicated NAICS Code.  If you can't find an exact match, look for a NAICS Code that acts as a catch-all for nonspecific industries.  They tend to end in "XXXX99" or "XXXX90".
Tip 7: If you click on a NAICS Code in the Keyword Search, it'll take you to the description page.  You can then look at "Cross-References"  to determine if there is a related code that is better suited to your line of business.