Unified Corporate Entity & Classification Registry
Instant, client-side reference lookup for NAICS classification, legacy SIC crosswalks, SBA size standards, and IRS PBA codes. Free and authoritative.
Corporate Compliance Directories & Reference Tools
Direct crawl pathways to our core classification code engines, historical mapping databases, and compliance resources.
NAICS Code Directory
Complete 2022 North American Industry Classification System with full definition index.
SIC Code Directory
Legacy 1987 Standard Industrial Classification manual for historical risk filing systems.
SIC ↔ NAICS Crosswalk
Transitive mapping tools bridging old industrial classifications to 2022 standards.
Compliance Guides
Detailed tutorials on SBA size metrics, receipts calculations, and registration IDs.
Compliance Glossary
Official terminology definitions and citations for corporate registrars and legal officers.
Featured Compliance Resources
SBA Size Standards Guide
Master the legal rules of the Small Business Administration set-aside qualifications.
Calculating Annual Receipts
Step-by-step math for receipts-based standards averaging over five fiscal years.
DUNS to Unique Entity ID Transition
Understanding the GSA transition from proprietary D&B markers to GSA UEI.
Authoritative Data. Simplified.
Designed for compliance teams, contractors, and corporate research. Get consolidated classifications in one screen.
SBA Size Standards
Verify small business eligibility status instantly with standard-matched receipt limits and employee bounds.
Verify size criteria →Transitive Crosswalks
Trace 1987 SIC codes through the full historical NAICS concordance chain (1997 → 2022) with 100% path provenance.
Test crosswalks →Identity Validators
Format check LEIs, UEIs, CAGE codes, and DUNS. Offline ISO checksum routines with optional live GLEIF lookups.
Open validators →Interactive NAICS Decoder
Visualize the structural hierarchy of any 6-digit NAICS code. Break down classification sectors, subsectors, and groups.
Key Corporate Identifiers Reference
Comparison of primary regulatory and industry classification systems utilized in business registers.
| Identifier | Format | Governing Agency | Primary Purpose | Licensing Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAICS | 6-digit Numeric | U.S. Census Bureau | Economic statistics & SBA size audits | Public Domain |
| SIC | 4-digit Numeric | OSHA / OMB (Legacy) | Risk modeling & SEC EDGAR categorization | Public Domain |
| Unique Entity ID (UEI) | 12-char Alphanumeric | General Services Admin (GSA) | Identifying federal contracting prime awardees | Public Domain |
| CAGE Code | 5-char Alphanumeric | Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) | Military logistics & physical facility check | Public Domain |
| DUNS Number | 9-digit Numeric | Dun & Bradstreet | Private commercial credit scoring | Proprietary |
| LEI | 20-char Alphanumeric | GLEIF / accredited LOUs | Financial market trade transparency (ISO 17442) | Public Domain (GLEIF Open Data) |
💡 Expert Compliance Guidance
DUNS to UEI Transition: Effective April 4, 2022, the federal government retired the proprietary D&B DUNS number for entity registration. All contractors must now use the GSA-managed 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI) generated in SAM.gov.
DLA CAGE holds: When submitting new registrations, verify that your legal business name and physical address match state registry records exactly. Discrepancies between SAM and DLA records will trigger a CAGE Hold, requiring uploading manual verification files.
Need Custom Corporate Classification Data?
Get in touch for custom crosswalk mappings, bulk classification API integration, and tailored data feeds for ERP databases.
Contact Our Data Team →Frequently Asked Questions
Substantive answers to common questions about corporate registries, classification systems, and federal identifier compliance.
What is the purpose of the Entity Codes compliance registry? ▾
The Entity Codes compliance registry provides a unified, instant, client-side directory for NAICS industry classifications, legacy SIC mappings, SBA small business size standards, IRS PBA codes, and format validation routines for corporate identifiers like LEI, UEI, and CAGE.
What is the difference between a NAICS code and a SIC code? ▾
NAICS is a six-digit system introduced in 1997 that classifies establishments based on their production processes (how they work). SIC is a legacy four-digit system introduced in the late 1930s that classifies them based on product output (what they produce).
How do I look up my company's primary NAICS code? ▾
You can enter keywords or codes into the instant search box on our homepage. It will query the 1,012 U.S. national industries in the active 2022 NAICS database and display definitions and size standards.
What is an SBA small business size standard? ▾
An SBA size standard is the maximum revenue (gross receipts averaged over 5 years) or employee headcount (averaged over 24 months) a business concern can have to qualify as a small business for federal contracting set-asides and SBA programs.
Why did the GSA retire the DUNS number for federal contractors? ▾
The GSA retired the DUNS number on April 4, 2022, to eliminate reliance on a proprietary identification system owned by Dun & Bradstreet, replacing it with the government-owned 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI) generated on SAM.gov.
What is a CAGE code and who needs one? ▾
A Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code is a 5-character facility identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to verify physical addresses for entities performing defense contracts or receiving federal awards.
What is a Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) and is it required for all businesses? ▾
An LEI is a global 20-character identifier (ISO 17442) managed by GLEIF. It is not required for all businesses, but is mandated by financial regulators for entities participating in large-scale financial markets and derivative trades.
How does the interactive NAICS decoder work? ▾
The NAICS decoder breaks down any 6-digit NAICS code into its hierarchical levels: Sector (first 2 digits), Subsector (3rd digit), Industry Group (4th digit), Industry (5th digit), and National Industry (6th digit) to visualize its structure.
What is an IRS Principal Business Activity (PBA) code? ▾
An IRS PBA code is a six-digit classification derived from the NAICS taxonomy that businesses must declare on Schedule C (Form 1040) or corporate returns to categorize their primary economic activity for IRS statistical audits.
Is the entity classification data on this site official? ▾
The data on entitycodes.org is compiled directly from official public-domain sources (including the U.S. Census Bureau, SBA, IRS, DLA, and GLEIF) but is provided for reference only. Users should verify critical details with the official issuing authority.
Sources & References
- U.S. Census Bureau: North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Manual
- U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Table of Small Business Size Standards
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR): 13 CFR Part 121 - Small Business Size Regulations
- U.S. General Services Administration (GSA): System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Unique Entity ID Guide
- Defense Logistics Agency: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) CAGE Search and Registration
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): SEC EDGAR Filer Standard Industrial Classification Codes
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Instructions for Schedule C (Form 1040) Principal Business Activity (PBA) Codes
- United Nations Statistics Division: International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC)
- Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF): GLEIF Golden Copy and Reference Data Registry