NAICS 513210 Quarterly Industry Report
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Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 513210Sector: Information (51)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 513210 industry report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], the Bureau of Labor Statistics[7], and the Small Business Administration[8]. Our research team analyzes subscription revenue metrics, user growth rates, and SaaS valuation multiples to produce benchmarks tailored to software publishing operations. This report on NAICS 513210 is updated quarterly to reflect evolving pricing models and competitive dynamics in the software market.
Industry Definition & Overview
Software Publishers (NAICS 513210) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in computer software publishing, carrying out operations necessary for producing and distributing software including design, documentation, installation support, and ongoing customer service. These firms may develop software internally or acquire and publish titles created by third-party developers. Distribution occurs through physical media, downloads, and increasingly through subscription-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery models.
The industry spans operating systems, productivity suites, enterprise resource planning platforms, cybersecurity tools, creative software, video games, database management systems, and vertical market applications for industries such as healthcare, finance, and education. Subscription and cloud-based revenue models have replaced perpetual license sales as the dominant pricing structure at most publishers. This shift generates recurring revenue that improves cash flow predictability but requires ongoing product investment to retain subscribers.
Software publishing is one of the largest information sector industries by revenue and employment. The Census Bureau[4] reported over 12,000 software publishing establishments in recent counts, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] tracks employment for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and product managers who form the core workforce. Major publishers are headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Austin, and the greater New York metro area, though remote work has expanded geographic distribution of smaller firms. Custom software development for individual clients falls under NAICS 541511, not this code.
What's Included in This Industry
- Operating system and platform software publishing
- Business productivity and office suite software
- Enterprise resource planning and CRM application publishing
- Cybersecurity and antivirus software products
- Video game publishing for PC, console, and mobile
- Database management system software
- Creative and multimedia software tools
- SaaS subscription platform management
- Software documentation and user support services
- Software licensing and distribution management
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Information | 51 |
| Subsector | Publishing Industries | 513 |
| Industry Group | Software Publishers | 5132 |
| NAICS Industry | Software Publishers | 51321 |
| National Industry | Software Publishers | 513210 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 541511 | Custom Computer Programming Services | Custom computer programming services develop bespoke software for individual clients, whereas publishers in this code create products sold to broad markets |
| 541512 | Computer Systems Design Services | Computer systems design services integrate and configure published software products within client technology environments and infrastructure |
| 518210 | Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | Data processing and hosting providers supply the cloud infrastructure that SaaS publishers depend on to deliver applications to subscribers |
| 541519 | Other Computer Related Services | Other computer-related services firms provide testing, implementation, and consulting work that supports software publisher product deployments |
| 334111 | Electronic Computer Manufacturing | Electronic computer manufacturers produce the hardware platforms on which published software runs, creating interdependent product ecosystems |
| 516210 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | Media streaming distribution platforms distribute entertainment software and digital content that overlaps with video game publishing |
SBA Lending Summary
696
Total SBA Loans
$323.2M
Total Loan Volume
$464K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.59%
Average Interest Rate
7,688
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: The SBA size standard[9] for NAICS 513210 is $47 million in average annual receipts, meaning publishers below this revenue threshold qualify as small businesses for federal programs. Software firms can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for product development, marketing, and working capital, while SBA 504 loans[11] support office real estate and data center investments. Thousands of independent software publishers operate well under the threshold, though a few dozen large firms generate billions in annual revenue.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathward National Association | 16 | $40.0M | $2.5M |
| 1 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 40 | $40.0M | $1.0M |
| 1 | Fortis Bank | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 4 | Northeast Bank | 144 | $31.7M | $220K |
| 5 | Port 51 Lending LLC | 8 | $20.5M | $2.6M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 513210?
NAICS 513210 covers establishments that publish computer software for broad market distribution. This includes operating system publishers, SaaS platform companies, video game publishers, enterprise application firms, cybersecurity software vendors, and creative software tool makers.
How is NAICS 513210 different from 541511?
NAICS 513210 covers publishers that create and distribute software products designed for many users, while 541511 covers firms that develop custom software tailored to a single client's specifications. A SaaS platform sold to thousands of subscribers falls under 513210; a bespoke application built for one company falls under 541511, per Census Bureau classifications[12].
What is the SBA size standard for software publishers?
The SBA sets the size standard for NAICS 513210 at $47 million in average annual receipts over the preceding five fiscal years. Companies below this threshold qualify as small businesses for federal contracting and SBA lending, per the SBA size standards table[9].
What NAICS codes are related to software publishing?
Related codes include 541511 (custom programming), 541512 (systems design), 518210 (data hosting), 334111 (computer manufacturing), and 516210 (media streaming). Each intersects with software publishing through development, infrastructure, or distribution relationships.
What industries are closely related to software publishers?
Closely related industries include custom programming (541511), cloud hosting (518210), systems integration (541512), computer hardware manufacturing (334111), and R&D services (541713). Each supports or depends on software publishers within the broader technology ecosystem.
What activities are included in software publishing?
Activities include software design and development, documentation, user support, licensing, distribution through downloads and physical media, SaaS platform operation, quality assurance testing, and ongoing product updates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] tracks the developer and engineering workforce.
Can software publishers get SBA loans?
Where are software publishers concentrated in the United States?
The San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle host the largest concentrations, anchored by major technology companies. Austin, Boston, New York, and Raleigh-Durham also maintain strong software publishing clusters, per Census Bureau County Business Patterns[13]. Remote work has expanded geographic distribution of smaller firms in recent years.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [7]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [8]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [9]SBA size standard sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]SBA 504 loans sba.gov
- [12]Census Bureau classifications census.gov
- [13]Census Bureau County Business Patterns census.gov
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