A NAICS code is a six-digit number assigned by the government to various distinct business industries. Its purpose is to numerically represent the entire field of economic activities: agriculture, forestry, fishing, and trapping; mining; construction; manufacturing; transportation, communications, electric, gas, and sanitary services; wholesale trade; retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; personal, business, professional, repair, recreation, and other services; and public administration.
The NAISC code was developed for use in the classification of establishments by type of activity in which they are engaged; for purposes of facilitating the collection, tabulation, presentation, and analysis of data relating to establishments; and for promoting uniformity and comparability in the presentation of statistical data collected by various agencies by the United States government, state agencies, trade associations, and private research organizations.
The NAICS was created to replace the earlier Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system and impose common classification standards for all countries in North America.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Return to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Start Your Own Business | Obtaining Small Business Financing
