NAICS 541618 Quarterly Industry Report
Other Management Consulting Services
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 541618Sector: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This report analyzes NAICS 541618: Other Management Consulting Services based on the 2022 North American Industry Classification System. Data sources include the U.S. Additional data is drawn from [Bureau of Labor Statistics[6].. Census Bureau](https://data.census.gov/) Economic Census, which tracks establishment counts and employment figures, and the SBA[7] size standards used for Fair Market Value assessments in government contracting and business valuation.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the other management consulting services industry.
NAICS Sector
54
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Industry Definition & Overview
Other Management Consulting Services (NAICS 541618) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing management consulting services that do not fall into more specialized categories such as administrative and general management, human resources, marketing, or process and logistics consulting. This includes telecommunications and utilities management consulting. Per Census Bureau[5] data, the industry comprises over 39,000 establishments employing nearly 25,000 consultants.
Small boutique firms dominate the industry structure. Firms with fewer than ten employees represent 87 percent of all consulting businesses, while larger firms capture over 90 percent of industry revenue. This concentration pattern creates a bifurcated market where global consultancies serve enterprise clients and small specialists serve niche segments. Growth is driven by digital transformation initiatives, artificial intelligence integration, and increased demand for organizational change management.
The broader management consulting market was valued at approximately $374 billion in 2023, with NAICS 541618 capturing the specialized segments not covered by more specific classifications. Market projections show compound annual growth near 5 percent through 2031. Demand continues expanding as organizations confront complex challenges requiring specialized expertise in telecommunications infrastructure, utilities management, and other technical domains beyond traditional management consulting categories. Federal government agencies represent a substantial client base, with defense, energy, and healthcare agencies regularly procuring specialized consulting services under this classification.
What's Included in This Industry
- Telecommunications management consulting services
- Utilities management consulting and advisory services
- Organizational development and effectiveness consulting
- Change management and transformation advisory
- Strategic planning consulting not elsewhere classified
- Business process consulting for specialized industries
- Specialized management consulting excluding HR, marketing, and logistics
- Industry-specific management advisory services
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 |
| Subsector | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541 |
| Industry Group | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 5416 |
| NAICS Industry | Management Consulting Services | 54161 |
| National Industry | Other Management Consulting Services | 541618 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 541611 | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | Administrative and General Management Consulting covers core operating advice on administrative issues such as financial planning and business process improvement, providing a broader range of management consulting than the specialized focus of 541618. |
| 541612 | Human Resources Consulting Services | Human Resources Consulting focuses specifically on HR-related advisory services including compensation, employee benefits, and personnel policies, which are explicitly excluded from 541618's classification scope. |
| 541613 | Marketing Consulting Services | Marketing Consulting Services specializes in developing marketing strategies, opinion polling, and marketing advisory services, a distinct functional specialty excluded from the 541618 classification. |
| 541614 | Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services | Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting advises on manufacturing operations, supply chain management, and warehouse operations, representing a distinct consulting specialty excluded from 541618. |
| 541512 | Computer Systems Design Services | Computer Systems Design Services covers IT consulting, software development, and network systems design, representing technology-focused consulting distinct from the general management consulting in 541618. |
| 541519 | Other Computer Related Services | Other Computer Related Services includes information technology consulting and specialized technical services that fall outside the scope of general management consulting covered by 541618. |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 22.3% | 2,906 |
| 2 | Texas | 10.6% | 1,378 |
| 3 | California | 9.1% | 1,180 |
| 4 | Illinois | 6.1% | 792 |
| 5 | Virginia | 4.3% | 566 |
| 6 | New York | 4.2% | 551 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 3.9% | 510 |
| 8 | Georgia | 3.3% | 435 |
| 9 | Utah | 3.2% | 417 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 2.8% | 369 |
% Of Establishments
0%
22%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
1,984
Total SBA Loans
$434.7M
Total Loan Volume
$219K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
11.00%
Average Interest Rate
10,968
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The Small Business Administration[7] establishes the size standard for NAICS 541618 at $19.0 million in average annual receipts. Businesses meeting this threshold qualify as small businesses under federal contracting programs and may be eligible for SBA-backed loans, procurement assistance, and other small business development services. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[9] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Bank | 432 | $57.9M | $134K |
| 2 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 56 | $33.7M | $602K |
| 3 | The Huntington National Bank | 80 | $29.4M | $367K |
| 4 | TD Bank, National Association | 80 | $25.5M | $319K |
| 5 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 72 | $22.3M | $309K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the difference between NAICS 541618 and NAICS 541611?
NAICS 541611 covers Administrative and General Management Consulting, focusing on broad operating advice for financial planning, strategic planning, and business process improvement. NAICS 541618 specifically captures specialized management consulting services such as telecommunications and utilities management advisory that don't fit the more defined categories of HR, marketing, or logistics consulting.
What types of services are included in NAICS 541618?
NAICS 541618 encompasses strategic planning and organizational development, change management and organizational transformation, telecommunications and utilities management consulting, organizational effectiveness improvement, and specialized business process consulting not covered by other management consulting codes. Census Bureau NAICS 541618[10]
How many establishments operate in the NAICS 541618 industry?
Per Census Bureau data[5], there are approximately 39,551 establishments classified under NAICS 541618 employing about 24,717 people. Small boutique consulting firms with fewer than ten employees comprise the vast majority of businesses, yet larger firms capture most of the revenue.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541618?
The SBA[11] defines the size standard for NAICS 541618 as $19.0 million in average annual receipts. Businesses not exceeding this threshold qualify as small businesses for federal programs, SBA-backed loans, and small business contracting set-asides.
What market growth is expected for management consulting services?
Market projections show the U.S. management consulting market growing from about $132 billion in 2026 to $168 billion by 2031, representing a compound annual growth rate near 5 percent. Key growth drivers include digital transformation, AI integration, sustainability consulting, and increased organizational change management demand.
What are the geographic concentrations of management consulting firms?
Major consulting hubs include New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Houston, and Seattle. North America represents about 37 percent of the global management consulting market, with concentration in major metropolitan areas offering large corporate client bases and specialized consulting talent. BLS Employment Data[12]
What professional certifications are relevant for management consultants?
The Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation administered by the Institute of Management Consultants USA (IMC USA)[13] is the leading professional certification. It requires a bachelor's degree, minimum three years of consulting experience, and demonstrated competency across management areas. The certification enjoys global reciprocity across 50 countries.
What trade associations serve the management consulting industry?
The Institute of Management Consultants USA[13] offers CMC certification and professional community resources. Additional industry bodies include the Association of Management Consulting Firms and CMC-Global[14], which represents management consulting institutes across 50 countries with over 64,000 consultants.
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. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]U.S. Additional data is drawn from [Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504 loans sba.gov
- [10]Census Bureau NAICS 541618 census.gov
- [11]SBA sba.gov
- [12]BLS Employment Data bls.gov
- [13]Institute of Management Consultants USA (IMC USA) imcusa.org
- [14]CMC-Global cmc-global.org
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