Compare the activity, then the code
NAICS codes for consulting
“Consulting” does not identify one NAICS code. Compare the advice the establishment primarily provides: general management, human resources, marketing, operations and logistics, environmental issues, or another scientific or technical subject.
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
The activity changes the answer
Which work does the business primarily do?
Compare the service or product itself. The business name alone does not settle the classification.
Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Administrative or general management advice, strategic planning, budgeting, or a full range of management consulting.
Check the boundaryOperations and logistics advice, investment advice, training, recruitment and day-to-day office administration have separate cross-references.
Read the official definitionHuman Resources Consulting Services
HR policies and procedures, employee benefits, compensation systems, or wage and salary administration advice.
Check the boundaryPlacing applicants in jobs and executive recruitment are employment-agency activities; management training is also separate.
Read the official definitionMarketing Consulting Services
Marketing planning, pricing, sales forecasting, new-product development, or sales-management advice.
Check the boundaryCreating and placing advertising, carrying out public relations plans, or conducting marketing research points to other industries.
Read the official definitionProcess, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services
Advice on productivity, inventory, manufacturing operations, warehouse use, distribution networks, or logistics.
Check the boundaryArranging actual freight, operating warehouses, engineering industrial systems and designing integrated computer systems are separate activities.
Read the official definitionEnvironmental Consulting Services
Advice on environmental contamination, risk assessment or remediation planning.
Check the boundaryCarrying out remediation, environmental engineering and environmental testing have separate cross-references.
Read the official definitionOther Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Advice on scientific or technical subjects other than environmental issues, such as safety, energy, agriculture or security.
Check the boundaryManagement, computer hardware/software, engineering and landscape advice have more specific classifications.
Read the official definitionTake the candidates into the Finder
Open the official records side by side and download a source-backed shortlist.
When to investigate another classification
These activity differences take the comparison beyond the starting candidates.
Other management consulting
541618 · Other Management Consulting ServicesTelecommunications or utilities management consulting is explicitly included here. This residual code excludes the four named management-consulting specialties.
Census recordComputer systems integration advice
541512 · Computer Systems Design ServicesConsulting that plans and designs systems integrating hardware, software and communications should compare Computer Systems Design Services.
Census recordRecruiting and placing applicants
561311 · Employment Placement AgenciesEmployment placement differs from advice on HR policies or compensation.
Census recordManagement development training
611430 · Professional and Management Development TrainingThe management and HR consulting records direct training to Professional and Management Development Training.
Census recordFollow the decisive activity
Worked classification examples
Illustrative businesses for comparison, rather than individual filing advice.
A firm primarily advises clients on strategic planning and administrative business processes.
The definition lists strategic and organizational planning and business process improvement.
Compare 541611 · Administrative Management and General Management Consulting ServicesA specialist advises employers on compensation systems and employee benefits.
These are explicit HR-consulting definition areas.
Compare 541612 · Human Resources Consulting ServicesAn adviser develops pricing and sales-forecasting strategy without creating or placing ads.
The definition lists pricing and sales forecasting; advertising execution is separately cross-referenced.
Compare 541613 · Marketing Consulting ServicesA consultant recommends inventory and distribution-network improvements without transporting or storing goods.
Inventory management and distribution-network advice are included; actual freight arrangement and warehousing are separate.
Compare 541614 · Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting ServicesA multidisciplinary adviser evaluates contamination risks and recommends remediation.
The definition separates environmental advice and risk evaluation from carrying out remediation.
Compare 541620 · Environmental Consulting ServicesA specialist primarily provides safety consulting, excluding environmental work.
Safety consulting is an exact activity in this technical-consulting index.
Compare 541690 · Other Scientific and Technical Consulting ServicesAn agency recruits and places job applicants rather than advises on HR policy.
The HR-consulting cross-reference explicitly identifies Employment Placement Agencies.
Compare 561311 · Employment Placement AgenciesRead the classification behind the comparison
Official definitions and hierarchy
The wording below is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 records. Activity explanations above are from BiznTools.
541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing operating advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on administrative management issues, such as financial planning and budgeting, equity and asset management, records management, office planning, strategic and organizational planning, site selection, new business start-up, and business process improvement. This industry also includes establishments of general management consultants that provide a full range of administrative, human resource, marketing, process, physical distribution, logistics, or other management consulting services to clients. Illustrative Examples: Administrative management consulting services Financial management (except investment advice) consulting services General management consulting services Site selection consulting services Strategic planning consulting services
Open 541611 in the Census referenceHierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references
Official hierarchy
- 54Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 541Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 5416Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
- 54161Management Consulting Services
- 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Selected official activity phrases
- Administrative management consulting services
- Business management consulting services
- Business start-up consulting services
- Financial management consulting (except investment advice) services
- General management consulting services
- Medical office management consulting services or consultants
- Records management consulting services
- Reorganizational consulting services
Official cross-references
- Establishments primarily engaged in providing a range of day-to-day office administrative services, such as financial planning, billing and recordkeeping, personnel, and physical distribution and logistics, are classified in Industry 561110, Office Administrative Services;
- Establishments providing operations consulting services are classified in U.S. Industry 541614, Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services;
- Establishments primarily engaged in administering, overseeing, and managing other establishments of the company or enterprise (except government establishments) are classified in U.S. Industry 551114, Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices;
- Government establishments primarily engaged in administering, overseeing, and managing governmental programs are classified in Sector 92, Public Administration;
- Establishments primarily engaged in providing investment advice are classified in Industry 523940, Portfolio Management and Investment Advice;
- Establishments primarily engaged in providing professional and management development training are classified in Industry 611430, Professional and Management Development Training; and
- Establishments primarily engaged in providing executive search, recruitment, and placement services are classified in U.S. Industry 561312, Executive Search Services.
541612Human Resources Consulting Services
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations in one or more of the following areas: (1) human resource and personnel policies, practices, and procedures; (2) employee benefits planning, communication, and administration; (3) compensation systems planning; and (4) wage and salary administration. Illustrative Examples: Benefit or compensation consulting services Employee assessment consulting services Personnel management consulting services Human resources consulting services
Open 541612 in the Census referenceHierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references
Official hierarchy
- 54Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 541Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 5416Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
- 54161Management Consulting Services
- 541612Human Resources Consulting Services
Selected official activity phrases
- Actuarial consulting services (except insurance actuarial services)
- Benefit consulting services
- Compensation consulting services
- Compensation planning services
- Employee assessment consulting services
- Employee benefit consulting services
- Employee compensation consulting services
- Human resource consulting services
Official cross-references
- Providing professional and management development training--are classified in Industry 611430, Professional and Management Development Training;
- Listing employment vacancies and recruiting, referring, and placing applicants in employment--are classified in U.S. Industry 561311, Employment Placement Agencies; and
- Providing executive search, recruitment, and placement services--are classified in U.S. Industry 561312, Executive Search Services.
541613Marketing Consulting Services
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing operating advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on marketing issues, such as developing marketing objectives and policies, sales forecasting, new product developing and pricing, licensing and franchise planning, and marketing planning and strategy. Illustrative Examples: Customer services management consulting services New product development consulting services Marketing management consulting services Sales management consulting services
Open 541613 in the Census referenceHierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references
Official hierarchy
- 54Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 541Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 5416Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
- 54161Management Consulting Services
- 541613Marketing Consulting Services
Selected official activity phrases
- Customer service management consulting services
- Marketing consulting services
- Marketing management consulting services
- New product development consulting services
- Sales management consulting services
Official cross-references
- Creating advertising campaigns and placing such advertising in media--are classified in Industry 541810, Advertising Agencies;
- Developing and implementing public relations plans--are classified in Industry 541820, Public Relations Agencies;
- Creating direct mail advertising campaigns--are classified in Industry 541860, Direct Mail Advertising; and
- Developing and conducting marketing research or public opinion polling--are classified in Industry 541910, Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling.
541614Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing operating advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations in: (1) manufacturing operations improvement; (2) productivity improvement; (3) production planning and control; (4) quality assurance and quality control; (5) inventory management; (6) distribution networks; (7) warehouse use, operations, and utilization; (8) transportation and shipment of goods and materials; and (9) materials management and handling. Illustrative Examples: Freight rate or tariff rate consulting services Productivity improvement consulting services Manufacturing management consulting services Inventory planning and control management consulting services Transportation management consulting services
Open 541614 in the Census referenceHierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references
Official hierarchy
- 54Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 541Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 5416Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
- 54161Management Consulting Services
- 541614Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services
Selected official activity phrases
- Customs consulting services
- Efficiency management (i.e., efficiency expert) consulting services
- Freight rate auditor services
- Freight rate consulting services
- Freight traffic consulting services
- Inventory planning and control management consulting services
- Logistics and integrated supply chain management consulting services
- Logistics management consulting services
Official cross-references
- Planning and designing industrial processes and systems--are classified in Industry 541330, Engineering Services;
- Providing computer systems integration design services--are classified in U.S. Industry 541512, Computer Systems Design Services;
- Arranging transportation of freight between shippers and carriers--are classified in Industry 488510, Freight Transportation Arrangement; and
- Operating warehousing and storage facilities and providing related logistics services--are classified in Industry Group 4931, Warehousing and Storage.
541620Environmental Consulting Services
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on environmental issues, such as the control of environmental contamination from pollutants, toxic substances, and hazardous materials. These establishments identify problems (e.g., inspect buildings for hazardous materials), measure and evaluate risks, and recommend solutions. They employ a multidisciplined staff of scientists, engineers, and other technicians with expertise in areas, such as air and water quality, asbestos contamination, remediation, ecological restoration, and environmental law. Establishments providing sanitation or site remediation consulting services are included in this industry.
Open 541620 in the Census referenceHierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references
Official hierarchy
- 54Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 541Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 5416Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
- 54162Environmental Consulting Services
- 541620Environmental Consulting Services
Selected official activity phrases
- Ecological restoration consulting services
- Environmental consulting services
- Environmental reclamation planning services
- Sanitation consulting services
- Site remediation consulting services
- Wetland restoration planning services
Official cross-references
- Establishments primarily engaged in environmental remediation are classified in Industry 562910, Remediation Services;
- Establishments primarily engaged in providing environmental engineering services are classified in Industry 541330, Engineering Services;
- Establishments primarily engaged in providing environmental testing services are classified in Industry 541380, Testing Laboratories and Services;
- Establishments primarily engaged in promoting the preservation and protection of the environment are classified in U.S. Industry 813312, Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations;
- Establishments primarily engaged in individual activities as part of an ecological restoration project are classified according to the primary activity; and
- Government establishments primarily engaged in administering, overseeing, and managing governmental ecological restoration programs are classified in Industry 924110, Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs.
541690Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on scientific and technical issues (except environmental). Illustrative Examples: Agricultural consulting services Motion picture consulting services Biological consulting services Physics consulting services Chemical consulting services Radio consulting services Economic consulting services Safety consulting services Energy consulting services Security consulting services
Open 541690 in the Census referenceHierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references
Official hierarchy
- 54Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 541Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 5416Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
- 54169Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- 541690Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Selected official activity phrases
- Agricultural consulting services
- Agrology consulting services
- Agronomy consulting services
- Biological consulting services
- Building envelope consulting services
- Chemical consulting services
- Dairy herd consulting services
- Economic consulting services
Official cross-references
- Providing advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on management issues--are classified in Industry 54161, Management Consulting Services;
- Environmental consulting--are classified in Industry 541620, Environmental Consulting Services;
- Providing architectural (except landscape) consulting services--are classified in Industry 541310, Architectural Services;
- Providing landscape consulting services--are classified in Industry 541320, Landscape Architectural Services;
- Providing engineering consulting services--are classified in Industry 541330, Engineering Services;
- Providing building inspection services--are classified in Industry 541350, Building Inspection Services;
- Providing computer software and hardware consulting services--are classified in U.S. Industry 541512, Computer Systems Design Services;
- Providing insurance advisory services--are classified in U.S. Industry 524298, All Other Insurance Related Activities; and
- Providing construction activities or managing construction projects--are classified in Sector 23, Construction, according to the type of project.
Check the original source files
Definitions, titles, activity phrases and exclusions come from the same 2022 U.S. edition.