XL EagleSIC code (Standard Industrial Classification code)
SIC code stands for Standard Industrial Classification code. SIC codes are 4-digit industry codes the U.S. government created in the 1930s to classify businesses. Starting in 1997, NAICS replaced SIC for federal statistics, and federal contracting and SBA size standards now use NAICS.
SIC codes still show up in a few places, such as some Securities and Exchange Commission filings, older state forms, and commercial mailing lists.
Why it matters to a small contractor
For federal bids you can ignore SIC codes and focus on NAICS. If a state or local form asks for a SIC code, use an online crosswalk to translate your NAICS code.
Example
A county vendor form asks for a SIC code. The owner uses a NAICS to SIC crosswalk table to find the matching older code for her janitorial company.
SIC code: common questions
Do I need a SIC code for SAM registration?
No. SAM registration uses NAICS codes.
Why do some sites still list SIC codes?
Older databases and some agencies never fully switched, and some data vendors keep SIC for their own classification.
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