If you're looking at government contracts, you'll hit "NAICS code" immediately. Here's what it means without the jargon.
The short version
NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) is the government's standard code for industries. Each contract is tagged with a NAICS code that describes the kind of work being bought — for example, *238320* is painting contractors and *541512* is computer systems design.
Why it matters for contracts
- Agencies search and post opportunities by NAICS, so the right code is how the *right* contracts find *you*.
- Many small-business size standards and set-asides are defined per NAICS — your code can determine whether you count as "small" for a given contract.
- Your SAM.gov registration lists the NAICS codes you do business under.
How to find yours
1. Think about your primary line of work in plain terms (e.g., "commercial cleaning").
2. Search the official NAICS list at census.gov, or pick from a curated list (AskTuvo lets you choose your industry in plain English and maps it to the code for you).
3. You can have more than one NAICS code — add each line of business you genuinely perform.
A common mistake
Don't pick a code just because it has lots of contracts. Pick the codes that actually describe your work — bidding outside your real capability wastes time and hurts credibility.