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NAICS 541810, industry

NAICS 541810: Advertising agencies

NAICS 541810 is the industry code for advertising agencies. Use it on loan applications, tax forms and registrations. Explore financing for professional services and start your application when you are ready.

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What 541810 covers

Advertising agencies create advertising campaigns and place ads in media for clients. They handle creative development, copywriting, production oversight and media placement across print, broadcast, digital and outdoor channels. Full service and digital ad agencies both fit.

Included in this code

  • Full service advertising agencies
  • Digital advertising agencies
  • Creative and copywriting for ads
  • Campaign development
  • Social media advertising agencies
  • Paid search agencies

Not this code

Businesses that use 541810

Full service ad agencyDigital performance agencySocial media ad agency

Financing for this trade

Agencies often front media costs for clients, so they use lines of credit and invoice factoring to cover media buys until clients pay, plus SBA 7(a) loans to hire or acquire another agency. Lenders look at retainer revenue, client concentration, how media spend is billed and passed through, and receivables aging.

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Is 541810 the right code for an advertising agency?

Yes. 541810 fits agencies that create ad campaigns and place them in media for clients, whether traditional or digital. Paid search, paid social and creative agencies commonly belong here. If you only buy media without creative work, 541830 is closer. Public relations firms use 541820, and pure strategy advisors use 541613.

What is the SBA size standard for 541810?

SBA sets the size standard for 541810 at $25.5 million in average annual receipts, averaged over the last five completed fiscal years and counting affiliates. Advertising agencies at or under that figure qualify as small businesses for SBA 7(a) and 504 loans and for federal small business set asides. Most independent advertising agencies fall well inside the limit, so size is rarely what decides an SBA application.

How do ad agencies finance media buys?

Many use a revolving line of credit or invoice factoring to pay media vendors before clients pay, especially on 60 day terms. SBA 7(a) loans fund hiring and agency acquisitions. Lenders look closely at retainer agreements, the share of revenue from top clients, and whether media is billed up front or passed through.

What does NAICS 541810 cover?

Advertising agencies. Industry level code in NAICS 2022, under 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services, 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services, 5418 Advertising, public relations, and related services, 54181 Advertising agencies.

What financing do NAICS 541810 businesses use?

Equipment financing, working capital, SBA loans and invoice factoring are the products placed most for professional services businesses. Start an application and the AI matches the deal to lenders that fund this code.

Where do I put NAICS 541810?

On the SBA loan application, on federal Schedule C or Form 1120, on SAM.gov and state registrations, and on most lender applications. A business can report more than one code; use this one if it describes what produces most of your revenue.