Ask Kodiak Guide to NAICS (2024)

FAQs

How to figure out NAICS code? ›

On the website you can use the 2022 NAICS search field to search for NAICS codes by keyword (e.g., publishing or transportation). Once you identify the appropriate major group or sector, you can drill down into more specific categories until you find the 6-digit code that is most accurate for your business.

Finding NAICS Codes on the Free Web

You can find a company's or industry's NAICS code by going to the Census Bureau's North American Industry Classification System page.

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.)

Most states don't really require assigning a NAICS code for forming an LLC. However, you may need a NAICS code if your state sets a NAICS code requirement along with your LLC formation.

Choose the one that most closely corresponds to your primary business activity or refine your search to obtain other choices (example seen below from naics.com). Rather than searching through a list of primary business activities, you may also browse the NAICS Codes and titles to find your code.

It is essential to use the correct NAICS code for your business as it is used for various government reporting and data collection purposes.

Using NAICS to Grow Your Business

We've established the benefits of having a NAICS code for your business if you rely on government contract work. Having a NAICS code is a requirement to participate in government bids and contracts. Without one, your company is dead in the water and ineligible for government work.

The first two digits of the code designate the sector, the third designates the subsector, the fourth digit designates the industry group, the fifth digit designates the NAICS industry, and the sixth digit designates the national industry. Please refer to https://www.census.gov/naics/ for additional information.

Can I change my NAICS code? ›

Since your NAICS code isn't officially registered with any one issuing agency, there isn't an official way to change it. Instead, you'll have to reach out to each organization to whom you provided a NAICS code and inform them of your new number.

The 5 digit NAICS code is the level at which there is comparability in the code and definitions for most of the NAICS sectors across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The 6 digit level allows for country specific detail. A complete and valid NAICS code consists of SIX digits.

Please contact the Census Bureau for assistance in determining your NAICS code for your personal business. You can call them at 1-888-756-2427 or email them at naics@census.gov.

If you don't have an NAICS code to reference, go to https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/ and you can use the look up tools to help you find an appropriate NAICS code for your company.

A business does not 'apply' for a NAICS code. As explained above, statistical agencies generally assign NAICS codes based on information provided by a business on an application form, an administrative report, or on a survey or census report form.

NAICS codes classify businesses based on the particular product or service they supply. A business will generally have a primary NAICS code, but it can also have multiple NAICS codes if it sells multiple products and services. To find your NAICS code, view the NAICS code list at the U.S. Census Bureau .

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying entity establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. Find the applicable NAICS Code.

The first 2 digits of the NAICS represent general categories of economic activity, or sectors. The third digit designates the subsector, fourth digit stands for the industry group the fifth digit designates the NAICS industry and the sixth digit represents the national industry.