GovCon Academy · Beginner
NAICS Codes Explained
8 min read
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is a six-digit code that classifies your business by industry. In federal contracting, your NAICS codes determine which opportunities you can see, your small business size standard, and your eligibility for set-aside contracts.
Why NAICS Codes Matter
Opportunity Matching
Contracting officers assign a NAICS code to every solicitation. If you don't have that code in SAM.gov, you may miss the opportunity entirely.
Size Standard
Each NAICS code has a specific size standard (revenue or employee count) that determines if you qualify as a "small business."
Set-Aside Eligibility
Set-aside contracts are tied to NAICS codes. You must qualify as small under the specific NAICS code used in the solicitation.
Market Targeting
GovCon AI uses your NAICS codes to filter the entire SAM.gov database and deliver only relevant opportunities to your inbox.
How to Read a NAICS Code
54
Sector: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
541
Subsector: Professional & Technical Services
541511
Industry: Custom Computer Programming Services
Size Standards: Are You "Small"?
The SBA sets size standards for every NAICS code — either as maximum annual revenue or maximum employee count. Size is determined on a contract-by-contract basis using the NAICS code in the solicitation, not your primary NAICS code.
| NAICS Code | Industry | Size Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 541511 | Custom Computer Programming Services | $34M revenue |
| 541512 | Computer Systems Design Services | $34M revenue |
| 561210 | Facilities Support Services | $47M revenue |
| 562910 | Remediation Services | 500 employees |
| 236210 | Industrial Building Construction | $45M revenue |
| 611420 | Computer Training | $12M revenue |
| 541611 | Management Consulting Services | $24.5M revenue |
| 621111 | Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health) | $16.5M revenue |
Full size standards: sba.gov/size-standards
How to Choose Your Codes
- 1.List every product and service your business provides.
- 2.Match each to a 6-digit NAICS code using the Census NAICS search tool or our free NAICS Finder.
- 3.Identify your primary NAICS — the one that represents your largest revenue stream.
- 4.Add all secondary codes to SAM.gov (there is no limit).
- 5.Verify your small business size under each code using the SBA size standards table.
Free Tool
Not sure which codes apply?
Use our free NAICS Code Finder — describe your business and our AI identifies the right codes instantly.
Use NAICS Finder →