NAICS Code for Project Management Consulting

If you provide professional project management oversight or strategic guidance and need your NAICS code, here is your answer right away.

The primary NAICS code for general project management consulting is 541611, classified under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.

However, NAICS codes for project management can vary significantly depending on the industry you serve (e.g., Construction, IT, or Engineering).

Primary Project Management Codes

Industry Focus	NAICS Code	Industry Title
General Business	541611	Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Construction	236220	Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Information Technology	541512	Computer Systems Design Services
Engineering	541330	Engineering Services

What Does NAICS Code 541611 Cover?

According to the official 2022 NAICS data, code 541611 covers establishments primarily engaged in providing operating advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on administrative and general management issues.

For a project management consultant, this includes:

Strategic Planning: Providing oversight for large-scale corporate initiatives.
Business Process Improvement: Managing projects designed to improve organizational efficiency.
Reorganizational Consulting: Leading projects related to business restructuring or changes in management.
Site Selection: Managing projects focused on finding and developing new business locations.

The important distinction here is administrative and general oversight. If your project management involves “at-risk” construction or technical engineering design, you must use the codes for those specific industries.

Does My Consulting Business Qualify for Code 541611?

Your business qualifies for NAICS code 541611 if:

You act as an advisor or external manager for business projects.
Your primary revenue comes from consulting fees for planning and oversight.
You do not provide the actual labor for the project (e.g., you manage the construction project but don’t lay the bricks).

Your business may not qualify if:

You Manage Construction Projects: Project management for buildings is usually classified under the type of building being constructed, such as 236220 (Commercial) or 236115 (Residential).
You Manage IT/Software Projects: If you are managing the integration of computer systems or software development, use 541512.
You Provide Engineering Oversight: Project management that requires a licensed engineer falls under 541330.
You Provide Office Support: Day-to-day routine office management (rather than specific project-based consulting) falls under 561110.

Where Will You Need This Code?

Here is where project management consultants will frequently use code 541611:

SBA Loan Applications. Lenders use this code to evaluate the risk profile of the management consulting industry. It is necessary for SBA 7(a) loans used for working capital or business acquisition.

Federal Contracting via SAM.gov. The federal government frequently hires project management consultants for agency-wide initiatives. You must register on SAM.gov with 541611 to be eligible for these professional service contracts.

Business Insurance. Insurance providers use 541611 to determine rates for Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) insurance, which protects you against claims of negligence or bad advice.

Tax Filings and Compliance. The IRS uses this code to monitor compliance and categorize your business for statistical and audit purposes.

541611 in the NAICS Hierarchy

Every NAICS code sits inside a structured hierarchy. Here is exactly where 541611 fits:

Level	Code	Title
Sector	54	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Subsector	541	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Industry Group	5416	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
NAICS Industry	54161	Management Consulting Services
National Industry	541611	Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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