Start here: Use the SIC Code Lookup & Directory to search by keyword or browse the industry hierarchy.
How to Find Your SIC Code: Lookup Tools and Primary SIC Classification
Your SIC code is the code that best represents the primary revenue-producing activity performed at a specific business location (establishment). A defensible selection identifies the dominant activity using practical proxies (commonly revenue), then confirms the SIC definition and scope on the code detail page.
Compliance standard: In credit systems, registrations, research, and legacy reporting, the “correct” SIC code is the one that matches the establishment’s dominant activity and aligns with the official SIC definition and boundary logic.
Jump to:
- SIC vs NAICS: structure comparison
- Why SIC codes matter
- Understanding the SIC hierarchy
- Underwriting gravity (risk rating context)
- Why one company may need multiple SIC codes (visual)
- Expert tip: Extended SIC codes
- Search vs. classify (workflow diagram)
- Crosswalk concept: SIC ↔ NAICS
- How primary activity is determined
- Find your SIC code (lookup & directory)
- Why code detail pages are the final stop
- Defensible selection checklist
- Top 10 most searched SIC codes
- Register your SIC code
- Why use SICCODE.com
- Key takeaway
SIC Codes (Standard Industrial Classification) are legacy industry classification identifiers used to describe what a business primarily does. Because SIC is widely embedded in historical datasets, credit systems, and legacy reporting workflows, selecting the correct SIC code improves comparability and reduces cross-dataset discrepancies.
SIC vs NAICS: Visual Structure Comparison
Users often confuse SIC and NAICS because both describe industry activity. The key difference is structural: SIC is a legacy 4-digit standard, while NAICS extends to 6 digits to support more modern segmentation.
SIC (Legacy structure)
Division→
Major Group (2)→
Industry Group (3)→
Industry (4-digit)
Official SIC definitions are standardized at the 4-digit level.
NAICS (Modern structure)
Sector (2)→
Subsector (3)→
Industry Group (4)→
Industry (5)→
National Industry (6)
NAICS expands to 6 digits for modern government and program requirements.
See SIC Codes vs NAICS Codes for how the systems differ in real-world use.
Why SIC Codes Matter
SIC codes function as a shared industry language across government, lenders, analysts, and data providers. They support structured reporting, benchmarking, and longitudinal analysis.
Regulatory & Statistical Use
Used for historical economic analysis, legacy reporting, and research comparability across time periods.
Commercial & Credit Systems
Used by credit bureaus and vendors to group businesses for peer comparison, underwriting context, and industry benchmarking.
Risk rating: In many lending and underwriting systems, SIC functions as a first-pass risk filter. Accuracy affects the peer group you are benchmarked against and can influence automated review triggers.
Marketing & Segmentation
Supports list building and targeting when legacy SIC-based segmentation is required by a platform, dataset, or workflow.
Research & Analytics
Enables consistent grouping for competitive analysis, historical datasets, and industry trend reporting.
Understanding the SIC Hierarchy (The Drill-Down Effect)
SIC classification becomes more specific as you drill down. Users typically start with broad divisions and narrow to a precise 4-digit SIC code.
Division
→
Major Group (2-digit)
→
Industry Group (3-digit)
→
Industry (4-digit SIC)
The 4-digit SIC code is the standard “final level” used in most legacy datasets, registrations, and credit systems.
Underwriting Gravity: Why Accuracy Changes Outcomes
Expert insight: In commercial lending, your SIC code often acts as a “risk filter.” Accuracy isn’t just about labels—it helps ensure your business is benchmarked against the correct peer group during credit scoring and underwriting.
A misclassified SIC can place an otherwise low-risk business into the wrong comparison set, which can lead to unnecessary documentation requests or mismatched risk assumptions.
Why One Company May Need Multiple SIC Codes (Establishment-Level Visual)
SIC is commonly applied at the establishment level. If different locations perform different dominant activities, using separate SIC codes improves accuracy for credit systems, insurance, and reporting.
Headquarters (Company)
Governance, finance, leadership functions
Company identity is not the same as establishment activity.
Establishment A (Warehouse)
Dominant activity: distribution / warehousing
May require a different SIC than an office.
Establishment B (Office)
Dominant activity: services / administration
Separate activity can justify a separate SIC classification.
Practical outcome: separating codes by location helps underwriting and reporting reflect the correct activity-based profile.
Expert Tip: “Extended SIC” Codes (6 or 8 Digits)
Expert tip: SIC extensions
While the official SIC standard stops at 4 digits, many commercial datasets use Extended SIC (often 6- or 8-digit variants, sometimes called “SIC+2” or “SIC+4”) to add modern granularity for categories that did not exist in the legacy manual.
SICCODE.com provides extended paths where applicable to help modern businesses remain discoverable in legacy and commercial systems while still anchoring classification to the official 4-digit baseline.
Search vs. Classify (Make the Workflow Concrete)
Keyword search helps you discover candidate SIC codes. Classification is the verification step that makes the selection defensible.
1) Start with a keyword
Example: “restaurant”, “software”, “advertising”, “meat packing”
Example: “restaurant”, “software”, “advertising”, “meat packing”
2) Review candidate results
Shortlist codes that appear relevant
Shortlist codes that appear relevant
3) Open the SIC Code Detail Page
Read the official definition + scope
Read the official definition + scope
4) Confirm boundaries
Verify included/excluded examples
Verify included/excluded examples
5) Select the verified code
Document why it matches the dominant activity
Document why it matches the dominant activity
For defensible usage in credit, compliance, and data governance, the Code Detail Page is the mandatory final stop.
Crosswalk Concept: SIC ↔ NAICS
SIC and NAICS do not map 1:1. In many cases, one SIC code can correspond to multiple NAICS codes because NAICS is more granular and is structured differently.
SIC (4-digit)
Legacy industry bucket
Legacy industry bucket
NAICS option A (6-digit)
Modern category
Modern category
NAICS option B (6-digit)
Alternative split
Alternative split
NAICS option C (6-digit)
Another valid split
Another valid split
For background, see SIC Codes vs NAICS Codes.
How Primary Business Activity Is Determined
An establishment’s primary activity is typically the activity that accounts for the largest share of revenue (or the best available proxy). When revenue is unclear, additional proxies such as employment, operating expenses, production costs, or capital investment can be used as tie-breakers.
Common pitfall: the “Everything” search
Do not try to find one SIC code that covers 100% of your business. SIC is designed to classify your dominant activity. If your company performs multiple activities, use the code that best matches the activity that dominates the establishment.
Find Your SIC Code (Lookup & Directory)
Why SIC Code Detail Pages Are the Final Stop
SIC Code Detail Pages are designed to support defensible classification and consistent use across systems. They typically include:
- Official industry definitions
- Included and excluded business examples
- Related and cross-referenced codes
- Extended SIC classifications
- Other related code systems
Defensible SIC Selection Checklist
- Identify the specific establishment being classified
- List the activities performed at that location
- Select the dominant activity using a measurable proxy (start with revenue)
- Confirm scope and boundaries on the SIC code detail page
- Document the rationale for credit, compliance, analytics, or data governance use
Quick Reference: Top 10 Most Searched SIC Codes
The following industries represent some of the most frequently queried classifications and serve as a practical starting point for many users.
Mobile tip: Scroll horizontally to view the full table.
| SIC Code | Industry Description | Common Examples | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5812 | Eating Places | Restaurants, Fast Food, Cafeterias | View details |
| 7372 | Prepackaged Software | SaaS, Mobile Apps, Software Developers | View details |
| 8742 | Management Consulting Services | Business Strategy, Marketing Consultants | View details |
| 1521 | General Contractors – Single-Family Houses | Single-Family Home Remodeling/Building | View details |
| 6531 | Real Estate Agents and Managers | Brokers, Property Management | View details |
| 8011 | Offices and Clinics of Doctors of Medicine | General Practitioners, Specialists | View details |
| 7311 | Advertising Agencies | Full-service Ad Agencies, Digital Marketing | View details |
| 0782 | Lawn and Garden Services | Landscaping, Mowing, Arborists | View details |
| 4724 | Travel Agencies | Tour Operators, Corporate Travel | View details |
| 5411 | Grocery Stores | Supermarkets, Convenience Stores | View details |
The 1987 Standard
The official government definitions for SIC codes are based on the 1987 SIC Manual. While the economy has evolved, this manual remains a primary reference for historical data and legacy reporting frameworks. SICCODE.com maintains these definitions and adds modern usability guidance for current workflows.
Expert Tip: Establishment vs. Enterprise
SIC codes are commonly applied at the establishment level (a specific location). If your company operates different activities at different sites, maintaining a distinct SIC code per location improves accuracy in credit, compliance, and commercial databases.
Register Your SIC Code on SICCODE.com
After identifying your SIC code, you can associate that classification with your business profile on SICCODE.com.
Why registration matters: In vendor vetting, credit workflows, and commercial databases, industry codes function as declared business attributes. Publishing your code in a structured, reference-backed environment reduces ambiguity and supports stronger downstream trust.
- Disclose your selected SIC code in a classification-first context
- Create a consistent reference point for partners and data users
- Support internal data governance and audit readiness
- Reduce discrepancies between self-reported and third-party assignments
Why Use SICCODE.com?
SICCODE.com provides continuously maintained industry classification resources used by businesses, researchers, and institutions. Our tools support accurate SIC and NAICS identification, verification, and application across real-world use cases.
Key Takeaway
Selecting the correct SIC code ensures your business is represented accurately wherever industry data is used. Use the SIC Code Lookup & Directory as the fastest starting point, then confirm your selection on the code detail page to apply it consistently across registrations, credit systems, and datasets.
If you have classification questions, please contact us.