SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) and NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes are systems used to group businesses based on their primary activities. These codes help you quickly find and target companies in specific industries, saving time and improving efficiency.
SIC codes
Each SIC code is a 4-digit number representing a specific industry or business activity. The codes are hierarchical, with broader categories at the top and more specific ones at the bottom.
SIC codes are commonly used for:
Market research and competitive analysis
Identifying industries for B2B sales and marketing
Government reporting and regulations
Example:
73xx: Business Services
7372: Prepackaged Software
NAICS codes
NAICS uses a 6-digit code system, offering finer granularity and covering new industries not addressed by SIC.
NAICS codes are commonly used for:
Targeting specific industries in prospecting
Conducting economic and market analysis
Facilitating trade and industry research
Example:
54xxxx: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
541511: Custom Computer Programming Services
How to use SIC and NAICS filters
SIC and NAICS filters are available under the Industry filter in Lusha Search, allowing you to search companies based on industry codes. They're especially useful for precision targeting — you can quickly find companies that align with your ICP, tailor searches to include multiple codes or mix codes with industry types, and craft messaging based on a company's primary activity.
Begin by entering a single SIC or NAICS code into the filter to focus on a specific industry. For example, if you're targeting the software sector, use the relevant SIC/NAICS code to find companies that meet this criterion.
To refine your results further, pair a general industry type (e.g., Technology or Healthcare) with corresponding SIC or NAICS codes. This combination ensures you're narrowing the scope to companies that fit both the broader category and the precise classification.
You can also add multiple SIC or NAICS codes within the same search query — useful for covering a range of sub-industries or related sectors in one go.
💡 Note: Using more filters will narrow down your search results.
For the most accurate results, you can use both NAICS and SIC codes together — this increases precision and ensures you're capturing a comprehensive list of companies that fit your search criteria.