541211 Offices of Certified Public Accountants

Official definition

This U.S. industry comprises establishments of accountants that are certified to audit the accounting records of public and private organizations and to attest to compliance with generally accepted accounting practices. Offices of certified public accountants (CPAs) may provide one or more of the following accounting services: (1) auditing financial statements; (2) designing accounting systems; (3) preparing financial statements; (4) developing budgets; and (5) providing advice on matters related to accounting. These establishments may also provide related services, such as bookkeeping, tax return preparation, and payroll processing.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Providing tax return preparation services only are classified in U.S. Industry 541213, Tax Preparation Services.
• Providing payroll processing services only are classified in U.S. Industry 541214, Payroll Services.
• Providing accounting, bookkeeping, and billing services are classified in U.S. Industry 541219, Other Accounting Services.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Businesses that use this code

• Bookkeeping business
• Accounting firm
• Tax preparation business

Activities listed under 541211

The Census index assigns these 13 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

• Accountants' (i.e., CPAs) offices, certified public
• Accountants' (i.e., CPAs) private practices, certified public
• Accounting (i.e., CPAs) services, certified public
• Auditing accountants' (i.e., CPAs) offices
• Auditing accountants' (i.e., CPAs) private practices
• Auditing services (i.e., CPA services), accounts
• Auditors' (i.e., CPAs) offices, accounts
• Auditors' (i.e., CPAs) private practices, accounts
• Certified accountants' offices
• Certified public accountants' (CPAs) offices
• CPAs' (certified public accountants) offices
• Public accountants' (CPAs) offices, certified
• Public accountants' (CPAs) private practices, certified

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 541211

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 541211, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $26.5 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 6920), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

• 69201Accounting and auditing activitiesUK SIC
• 69202Bookkeeping activitiesUK SIC
• 69203Tax consultancyUK SIC

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Similar codes to compare

• 541213Tax Preparation Services
• 541214Payroll Services
• 541219Other Accounting Services