How to Find Company SIC Codes

SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) codes are four-digit numbers used for business tax and classification purposes based on similar operating criteria. A SIC code can apply to an international corporation or an individual business owner; multiple SIC codes can apply to a single business, and some companies do not have a SIC code at all. SIC codes are useful for doing market business research on competing companies or when trying to find out what North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code to assign to a new business. These simple tips on finding company SIC codes can help make your search a little easier.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Find SIC codes by company name using business directories, which often categorize businesses by their SIC codes.

2. Search for company SIC codes at the library in the reference book section. Use books like the Standard and Poor's "Register of Corporations" or Dun and Bradstreet's "Million-Dollar Directory." These books cross-reference existing companies with their identified SIC codes. Also check out the "Standard Industrial Classification Manual" or the "North American Industrial Classification Manual" and cross-reference back to what the corresponding SIC code would be based on the current NAICS number.

3. Use publicly available websites. The official NAICS website has search capabilities for finding NAICS codes and the corresponding SIC codes. The U.S. Department of Labor also has a list of online SIC codes through the OSHA department, searchable by type of industry. They are useful when identifying what codes to use for new businesses (see Resources).

4. Search the NAICS website for SIC codes by doing a keyword search in the NAICS code search and finding out what the current code is for a particular industry. Go to the SIC drill-down menu on the homepage and find the corresponding NAICS business title. Click on the title to get the breakdown of industries. Note the two-digit code of interest. Then go back to the homepage and do a SIC code search using the two-digit code followed by an asterisk. The search works using the first number followed by an asterisk as well.

5. Look up SIC codes on the OSHA website by doing a keyword search of the industry a company runs or offers. It may take more than one keyword search before finding the right SIC code. Newer service and technology industries may not have individual SIC codes and are categorized under SIC codes titled "Items Not Elsewhere Classified."

6. Request assistance in figuring out what a new business NAICS code would be by completing the online request form at the NAICS website. Answer a few questions about the business and its primary operations, and they will respond by email (see Resources).

Tips & Warnings

• SIC codes were replaced by six-digit NAICS codes starting in 1997 for use by industries in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

• Include the SIC or NAICS code and the corresponding industry title information together.

• Some companies may have more than one SIC code since they conduct more than one business (as categorized by the SIC codes).

• The U.S. Census Bureau only lists NAICS codes and so is not very helpful.

Resources

• NAICS: Code Search
• U.S. Department of Labor: SIC Code Search