Small Business Size Standard Exceptions

SBA establishes a numerical definition for each for-profit industry using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). A small business size standard is numerical and represents the largest a concern can be and still be considered a small business.  This numerical definition is called a "size standard." For several NAICS codes, certain industry characteristics exist that have warranted a separate segmented size standard for a segment of the industry. These are known as Size Standard Exceptions. The standard can be higher or lower than the general size standard for that industry (see SBA's Table of Size Standards at www.sba.gov/size for a complete listing of NAICS codes and size standards).

The Dynamic Small Business Search has always included the segmented small business size standard exceptions for certain NAICS codes. CCR has incorporated these exceptions into the profiles of its trading partners. The Small Business Types will display if a trading partner qualifies as a small business for the general size standard or for each segmented standard.