NAICS Code Details Template 3 Example Code
NAICS 722320 Caterers
NAICS 722320 is the North American Industry Classification System code for establishments primarily engaged in providing single event-based food services.
Usually included
- Wedding and event caterers
- Banquet halls with catering staff
- Off-premise and corporate caterers
Business records available for NAICS 722320
Counts reflect records available in the SICCODE.com database.
Key facts
Official NAICS reference details for NAICS 722320 and the classification, crosswalk, and business-use fields most often associated with this code.
- NAICS code
- 7223206-digit national industry
- Official title
- Caterers2022 NAICS title
- Parent code
- 72232 – Caterers
- SBA size standard
- $9.0 millionAverage annual receipts
- Related SIC
- 5812 – Eating Places
- Classification scope
- Establishment-levelBased on primary activity
- Official source
- U.S. Census Bureau NAICS Reference
Official NAICS definition
The official definition is the baseline meaning of NAICS 722320. SICCODE.com adds plain-English scope notes, included and excluded activities, crosswalks, and classification guidance below.
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing single event-based food services. These establishments generally have equipment and vehicles to transport meals and snacks to events and/or prepare food at an off-premise site. Banquet halls with catering staff are included in this industry. Examples of events catered by establishments in this industry are graduation parties, wedding receptions, business or retirement luncheons, and trade shows.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS reference for NAICS 722320.
Classification note: NAICS 722320 centers on single event-based food service. A business may fall outside this code when its primary activity is restaurant dining, mobile food vending, ongoing contract food service, or facility rental without catering staff.
Description & scope
What NAICS 722320 means in practice and how the code is usually applied at the establishment level.
What this code covers: NAICS 722320 applies to caterers and banquet-hall food service operations that provide food for specific events rather than regular restaurant dining or long-term institutional food service.
How this category usually operates: Businesses in this category typically prepare menus for scheduled events, transport food and service equipment to an event site, and provide staff for serving, setup, or bartending.
Primary activity test: An establishment usually fits NAICS 722320 when its primary revenue-producing activity is providing food service for individual planned events.
Common misclassification issue: Catering is often confused with contract food service and mobile food service. Caterers serve individual events; contractors operate under ongoing arrangements; mobile vendors sell from trucks, carts, or similar units.
Included / excluded
Activities that usually fit NAICS 722320, and nearby activities that usually belong in another code.
Usually included
- Catering services for weddings, graduations, retirement events, business luncheons, and trade shows
- Banquet halls that provide catering staff as part of event-based food service
- Off-premise caterers that transport meals, service equipment, and staff to event locations
- Social catering services for private parties, receptions, and corporate functions
- Bartender services provided as part of an event-catering arrangement
Usually not included
- Preparing and serving food for immediate consumption from trucks or carts → 722330 – Mobile Food Services
- Providing food service at another party's location under an ongoing contract → 722310 – Food Service Contractors
- Renting event facilities without providing catering staff → 531120 – Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings
- Operating a full-service restaurant with table service as the primary activity → 722511 – Full-Service Restaurants
- Operating a limited-service restaurant or takeout counter as the primary activity → 722513 – Limited-Service Restaurants
Important: Included and excluded distinctions depend on primary activity, how revenue is earned, and how the establishment operates. A similar business label does not always mean the same NAICS code applies.
Commonly confused codes
Nearby NAICS codes often confused with NAICS 722320. The differences focus on practical business-activity distinctions rather than title similarity alone.
| Code | Title | Usually applies when | Key difference from 722320 | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 722511 | Food Service Contractors | The business provides food service at another party's location under a continuing contract. | Contract food service is ongoing; catering is generally single-event based. | Treating a continuing institutional or commercial food service contract as event catering. |
| 722330 | Mobile Food Services | The business prepares and sells food from trucks, carts, or mobile units for immediate consumption. | Mobile food vendors sell from vehicles or carts; caterers serve planned events. | Classifying a food truck as a caterer because it sometimes appears at events. |
| 722310 | Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings | The business provides food service at another party's location under a continuing contract. | Contract food service is ongoing; catering is generally single-event based. | Treating a continuing institutional or commercial food service contract as event catering. |
Edge cases and boundary situations
Realistic borderline situations where NAICS 722320 can be confused with another code.
Restaurant that also offers catering
Situation: A restaurant serves daily customers but also offers catering for weddings and corporate events.
Usually fits NAICS 722320 when: NAICS 722320 may apply when event-based catering is the establishment's primary activity and main revenue source.
May fit another code when: NAICS 722511 is generally more appropriate when regular full-service restaurant dining remains the primary activity.
Banquet hall or event venue
Situation: A venue hosts receptions and private events and may also provide food or beverage service.
Usually fits NAICS 722320 when: NAICS 722320 may apply when the venue primarily provides event-based food service with catering staff.
May fit another code when: NAICS 531120 may be more appropriate when the business primarily rents event space without providing catering staff.
Common business examples for NAICS 722320
Common operating models associated with NAICS 722320. These are not automatic classifications for every business using a similar label.
Common business types
- Wedding caterers
- Corporate event caterers
- Banquet halls with catering staff
- Social catering services
- Off-premise event caterers
Usually not this code when
- The business primarily operates as a restaurant and only accepts occasional catering orders.
- The business primarily sells food from a truck, cart, or other mobile unit for immediate consumption.
- The business provides ongoing food service at schools, hospitals, offices, or industrial sites under continuing contracts.
SBA size standard and government use
NAICS codes are used in federal statistics, business registration, procurement, lending, and eligibility workflows. The SBA size standard is one of the most common practical uses of a NAICS code.
SBA size standard
- NAICS code: 722320
- Size standard: $9.0 million
- Standard type: Average annual receipts
- Source: 13 CFR § 121.201 SBA size standards
Common government and business uses
- Federal statistical classification
- Business registration and industry identification
- SBA size standards and small-business eligibility review
- Federal contracting and vendor classification workflows
- Market research, appending, segmentation, and analytics
SBA note: Size eligibility can depend on receipts, employee counts, affiliates, program rules, and other SBA requirements. The size standard shown here is a reference point and should be reviewed against current SBA guidance for official eligibility decisions.
NAICS, SIC, and ISIC crosswalks
Crosswalks compare NAICS 722320 with prior NAICS versions, related SIC classifications, and international ISIC references. Relationships can be approximate when classification systems use different boundaries.
| Classification system | Code | Title | Relationship to NAICS 722320 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAICS 2022 | 722320 | Caterers | Current reference version used on this page |
| NAICS 2017 | 722320 | Caterers | Same code and title as the 2022 reference |
| NAICS 2012 | 722320 | Caterers | Same code and title as the 2022 reference |
| SIC | 5812 | Eating Places | Closest SIC relationship for legacy comparison |
| ISIC Rev. 4 | 5621 | Event Catering | International classification reference |
Crosswalk note: NAICS, SIC, and ISIC do not always classify industries using identical boundaries. Use crosswalks as references, then confirm the primary activity and classification rules before making official or high-stakes decisions.
Business data, lists, and reports for this industry
SICCODE.com maintains business data associated with NAICS 722320 for research, targeting, appending, segmentation, industry reporting, and analytics. This data is separate from the official NAICS definition. Counts reflect records available in the SICCODE.com database.
- 12,010company records
- 19,730contact emails
- 10,634phone numbers
- 7,718company websites
Business & email lists
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View companies & contacts →Industry reports
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Append or clean my file →Frequently asked questions
Practical classification questions for NAICS 722320.
What businesses are included in NAICS 722320?
What does not fit under NAICS 722320?
What is the difference between NAICS 722320 and 722310?
What SIC or ISIC code is related to NAICS 722320?
How many companies are classified under NAICS 722320?
Official sources and reference links
This page is grounded in official classification sources and supporting SICCODE.com review materials.
- U.S. Census Bureau 2022 NAICS reference for NAICS 722320
- Official NAICS structure and classification reference
- SBA Table of Size Standards, 13 CFR § 121.201
- NAICS, SIC, or ISIC concordance reference
- SICCODE.com Classification Methodology
- SICCODE.com Data Governance Framework
- SICCODE.com Industry Classification Review Team