SIC Code UK: What It Is, How to Find Yours, and Which One to Choose (2026)

A SIC code UK is a five-digit number that classifies what your business does, and every UK limited company must pick at least one when it registers at Companies House. SIC stands for Standard Industrial Classification. You choose it during formation, it appears on your public record, and you confirm it every year on your Confirmation Statement. Pick the right one and banking, HMRC, and Stripe all run smoother. Pick a bad one and you can flag as high-risk before you ever take a payment.

If you are forming a UK Ltd from Morocco, Egypt, the UAE, Turkey, or anywhere outside the UK, this guide walks you through exactly which code to choose and how to change it later if you get it wrong.

What Is a SIC Code? (Plain-English Definition)

A SIC code is a standard label the UK government uses to group companies by industry. Companies House assigns one to every company at formation, and it flows through to HMRC, the Office for National Statistics, and anyone who searches your public record.

The current standard is the ONS SIC 2007 classification. It contains 731 individual codes covering everything from arable farming to app development. Each code is five digits, and each maps to a broader industry section.

Here is the short version of the SIC code meaning: it answers one question, “What does this company actually do?” You are not signing a contract with the code. You are describing your main trading activity so the state can classify it.

If nothing fits your business at all, code 99999 exists as a catch-all for “dormant company” or activities with no suitable classification. Use it only when nothing else applies, because banks and payment processors dislike vague or dormant codes.

Why Does Your UK Company Need a SIC Code?

It is a legal requirement. When you form a company, the Companies House IN01 form asks for at least one SIC code. You cannot complete registration without it.

Beyond the legal box-tick, your code does real work:

• Public record. Anyone searching your company on Companies House sees your SIC code. Customers, suppliers, and investors read it.
• HMRC and tax. HMRC uses your classification when it looks at your sector.
• Banking. Business banks factor your SIC code into account approval. A high-risk code can slow or block an application.
• Payment processors. Stripe, PayPal, and others read your code during risk scoring. Some codes get declined automatically.

For non-resident founders, that last point matters most. You are already a slightly higher-risk applicant because you live abroad. A clean, accurate code removes one reason for a processor to say no. If you are just starting, our walkthrough on how to register a company in the UK covers where the SIC code sits in the full process.

How to Find the Right SIC Code UK for Your Business

The official source is the ONS SIC 2007 list, which Companies House publishes as a searchable finder. Do not guess from a random blog. Match your activity to the closest real code.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the official Companies House SIC code finder.
2. Type a plain-English description of your main activity, for example “online retail” or “software”.
3. Read the matching descriptions carefully. Pick the one that best fits your primary trading activity, not a vague parent category.
4. Note the five-digit number. That is what you enter on the IN01 form.
5. If you do two or more things, repeat and pick up to four codes (more on that below).

The 731 codes are grouped into industry sections labelled A to S. A few that matter for founders:

• Section G covers wholesale and retail, including ecommerce.
• Section J covers information and communication, including software and media.
• Section M covers professional and technical activities, including consulting.
• Section K covers finance, including holding companies.

For online businesses, a handful of codes cover most cases: 47910 for retail sold online, 62090 for IT services, 73110 for advertising agencies, and 63990 for information services not classified elsewhere.

Top SIC Codes for Common Business Types

Here are the codes founders reach for most often. Match your real activity, not just what sounds close.

For most ecommerce and dropshipping founders, 47910 is the answer. You sell physical products online without a physical shop, and that is exactly what the code covers. If you sell services or software instead, use 62020 or 62090.

Setting up an online store? Our packages built for digital sellers, like the Digital Pro Suite, pair a clean formation with Tide banking and an enhanced address, which helps when a bank checks your industry code.

Can You Have More Than One SIC Code?

Yes. A company can hold up to four SIC codes. Many founders ask “how many SIC codes can a company have,” and the answer is between one and four, no more.

Use multiple codes when you genuinely do more than one thing. Example: you run an online store (47910) and also offer consulting on the side (70229). Both are real, so list both.

The first code you list is treated as your primary activity. The others are secondary. Keep the primary code as the thing that generates most of your revenue, because that is the one banks and processors weigh most.

Do not stack four unrelated codes just to look busy. A tight, honest set of codes reads better than a scattergun list. If your activities change later, you update the list on your next Confirmation Statement.

What Happens If You Choose the Wrong SIC Code?

Relax, it is not permanent. A wrong SIC code is one of the easiest company details to fix, and there is no penalty for correcting it.

That said, the wrong code can cause friction:

• Some codes flag as high-risk with payment processors, even if your actual business is low-risk.
• A vague or dormant code (like 99999) can slow a bank account application.
• A code that clearly does not match your website can raise questions during verification.

To change it, you file an updated Confirmation Statement through Companies House WebFiling, or ask your formation agent to do it. The Confirmation Statement is where you confirm or amend your codes each year, so it is the natural place to correct a mistake.

SIC Codes and Stripe: What Non-Resident Founders Need to Know

Stripe reads your SIC code as part of its risk scoring when you apply for an account. It is not the only signal, but it is one Stripe checks against your stated business and your website.

Certain sectors trigger automatic caution or outright decline: gambling, adult content, pharmaceuticals, firearms, and some financial services. If your SIC code sits in one of those buckets, expect friction.

The good news: most ecommerce and service codes are low-risk. Codes like 47910 (online retail), 62020 (IT consultancy), and 70229 (management consulting) rarely cause problems on their own. The trick is making sure your code, your website, and your product descriptions all tell the same story.

Non-resident founders get more scrutiny than UK residents, so consistency matters. If your code says online retail but your site looks like a crypto exchange, that mismatch is a red flag. For the full checklist, read our guide on Stripe verification requirements before you apply.

If you want a human to walk you through gateway approval, our Stripe Consulting service exists for exactly this, especially when you are applying from outside the UK.

How to Add or Change Your SIC Code (Step by Step)

There are two moments you deal with your SIC code: at formation and afterwards. Here is how each works.

At company formation

1. During registration, the IN01 form asks for your SIC code.
2. Search the finder, pick one to four codes, and enter them.
3. Order your primary activity first.
4. Submit. Your codes go live on your public record once Companies House approves the company.

After formation

1. Log in to Companies House WebFiling.
2. Start a Confirmation Statement (form CS01).
3. When prompted, review your SIC codes and edit them.
4. Add, remove, or reorder codes so they reflect what you actually do now.
5. Confirm and file. The change appears on your public record.

Via a formation agent

If you formed through a service, ask them to update the codes for you. Most handle the Confirmation Statement as part of their package, so you just tell them the new codes and they file. A package like ScaleUp bundles the Confirmation Statement, VAT, and accounting, which keeps your filings tidy as you grow.

One more thing worth checking while you are in the company record: your shareholders and share structure. If you set the company up quickly, review our UK company shareholders guide so the ownership matches your intentions.

Quick Recap

A SIC code UK is a five-digit label describing your main business activity. You must pick at least one at formation, you can hold up to four, and you confirm or change them each year on your Confirmation Statement. For ecommerce and dropshipping, 47910 is the standard choice. For software or consulting, look at 62020 and 70229. Keep the code honest and consistent with your website, and your banking and Stripe applications go far more smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a SIC code?

A SIC code is a five-digit Standard Industrial Classification number that describes what a UK company does. Companies House assigns one to every company at formation and uses it to group businesses by industry.

How many SIC codes can a company have?

A UK company can have between one and four SIC codes. You must list at least one at formation and can hold a maximum of four. The first code you list is treated as your primary business activity.

What is the SIC code for an ecommerce or online business?

The most common ecommerce SIC code is 47910, which covers retail sale via mail order houses or the internet. This is also the standard code for most dropshipping businesses that sell physical products online.

Can I change my SIC code after registration?

Yes. You change your SIC code by filing an updated Confirmation Statement through Companies House WebFiling, or by asking your formation agent to do it. There is no penalty for correcting or updating a code.

Does my SIC code affect my Stripe account?

Yes. Stripe reads your SIC code as part of its risk scoring. Most ecommerce and service codes are low-risk, but codes linked to gambling, pharmaceuticals, adult content, or firearms can be declined. Make sure your code matches your website.

What SIC code do I use if nothing fits?

Code 99999 exists as a catch-all for dormant companies or activities with no suitable classification. Use it only when no other code applies, because banks and payment processors treat vague or dormant codes with caution.

Where do I find the official UK SIC code list?

The official list is the ONS SIC 2007 classification, published as a searchable finder on the Companies House website. It contains 731 codes grouped into industry sections labelled A to S.

Is a SIC code the same as a business licence?

No. A SIC code only classifies your industry for statistical and public-record purposes. It is not a licence or permission to trade, and having a code does not authorise regulated activities that need separate approval.