NAICS 813910 Quarterly Industry Report
Business Associations
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 813910Sector: Other Services (except Public Administration) (81)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Business Associations (NAICS 813910) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], Bureau of Labor Statistics[9], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, nonprofit sector analysts, and association management advisors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the business associations industry.
NAICS Sector
81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Industry Definition & Overview
Business Associations (NAICS 813910) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in promoting the business interests of their members per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Activities include chamber of commerce operations, trade association management, industry standards development, business directory maintenance, legislative advocacy on behalf of member industries, economic development promotion, and business networking event coordination.
This classification covers membership organizations that represent commercial interests at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Chambers of commerce promote local business climates and serve as community economic development catalysts, while national trade associations such as the National Retail Federation, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the American Petroleum Institute advocate for specific industry sectors before Congress and regulatory agencies. Revenue comes primarily from membership dues, convention and meeting fees, advertising sales in trade publications, sponsorship income, and certification program fees. Per Census Bureau[6] data, approximately 18,000 establishments employ roughly 33,000 workers across chamber of commerce, trade group, and industry board operations. Many associations generate additional income through trade show exhibition sales, continuing education programs, and industry-specific insurance or purchasing cooperatives that draws on collective membership buying power.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $27 million in average annual receipts. Under IRS[8] classification, most business associations qualify as 501(c)(6) business leagues exempt from federal income tax on member activity revenue. The Lobbying Disclosure Act requires associations engaged in federal legislative advocacy to register and report lobbying expenditures.
What's Included in This Industry
- Chamber of commerce operations
- Trade association management
- Industry standards development
- Legislative advocacy for member industries
- Business networking event coordination
- Trade show and convention management
- Industry research and publication services
- Business directory and referral operations
- Member certification and credentialing programs
- Economic development promotion
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 81 |
| Subsector | Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 813 |
| Industry Group | Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 8139 |
| NAICS Industry | Business Associations | 81391 |
| National Industry | Business Associations | 813910 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 813920 | Professional Organizations | Professional Organizations promotes practitioner interests through membership groups that parallel business associations but focus on individual professional development, credentialing, and practice standards rather than commercial industry advocacy |
| 813930 | Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations | Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations represents worker interests that sometimes align and sometimes conflict with business association advocacy positions on labor policy, workplace regulation, and economic legislation |
| 813410 | Civic and Social Organizations | Civic and Social Organizations operates community membership groups that collaborate with chambers of commerce on local economic development, business climate improvement, and community event programming |
| 813319 | Other Social Advocacy Organizations | Other Social Advocacy Organizations pursues social welfare objectives that intersect with business association interests when advocacy campaigns address economic policy, workforce development, and community investment priorities |
| 561920 | Convention and Trade Show Organizers | Convention and Trade Show Organizers produces events that business associations contract for or compete with when staging annual conventions, industry expos, and member networking conferences |
| 541611 | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services provides consulting expertise that business associations deliver to members through advisory programs, benchmarking studies, and best-practice toolkits developed for specific industries |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 8.6% | 1,288 |
| 2 | Texas | 7.1% | 1,070 |
| 3 | Illinois | 4.8% | 719 |
| 4 | Florida | 4.6% | 695 |
| 5 | New York | 4.1% | 616 |
| 6 | Virginia | 3.5% | 533 |
| 7 | Georgia | 3.4% | 513 |
| 8 | Ohio | 3.4% | 513 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 3.3% | 492 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 3.0% | 455 |
% Of Establishments
0%
9%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
32
Total SBA Loans
$4.9M
Total Loan Volume
$152K
Average Loan Size
8 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.62%
Average Interest Rate
112
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Business Associations (NAICS 813910) has a size standard of $27 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[10] may support qualifying business association operations including conference facility improvements and technology infrastructure investments. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First National Bank of Pennsylvania | 16 | $4.0M | $248K |
| 2 | Platte Valley Bank | 8 | $640K | $80K |
| 3 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 8 | $240K | $30K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for trade associations?
NAICS 813910 covers business associations including chambers of commerce, trade associations, industry boards, and business leagues per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[7], the threshold is $27 million in average annual receipts for federal small business contracting eligibility for business association entities.
How many business associations operate in the U.S.?
Per Census Bureau[6] data, approximately 18,000 business association establishments employ roughly 33,000 workers across chamber of commerce, trade group, and industry board operations nationwide.
What tax-exempt status do business associations hold?
The IRS[8] classifies most business associations as 501(c)(6) business leagues, exempting member activity revenue from federal income tax while non-member revenue may be subject to unrelated business income tax.
How are business associations funded?
Revenue comes from membership dues, convention and meeting fees, trade publication advertising, sponsorship income, certification program fees, and trade show exhibition sales per Bureau of Labor Statistics[9] industry classification data.
What is the difference between a chamber of commerce and a trade association?
Chambers of commerce promote the general business climate of a geographic area, while trade associations advocate for specific industries per Census Bureau[6] classification. Both operate under NAICS 813910 as business membership organizations.
Do business associations lobby?
Many business associations engage in legislative advocacy. The Lobbying Disclosure Act requires organizations spending above threshold amounts on federal lobbying to register and file periodic expenditure reports with Congress.
What regulatory oversight applies?
The IRS[8] monitors 501(c)(6) tax-exempt compliance, state attorneys general oversee charitable solicitation where applicable, and the Lobbying Disclosure Act governs federal advocacy reporting for associations engaged in legislative lobbying activities.
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]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]IRS irs.gov
- [9]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by Fair Market Value (“Fair Market Value”) for informational purposes only. It is provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Fair Market Value makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, completeness, or accuracy of the data or information contained herein. This publication is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or business decisions based on the information presented.
To the extent permitted by law, Fair Market Value disclaims all liability for loss or damage, direct and indirect, suffered or incurred by any person resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the data in this publication.
Copyright © 2026 Fair Market Value. All rights reserved. All data, information, articles, graphs, and content contained in this publication are copyrighted works and Fair Market Value hereby reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded to a third party, or distributed without the prior written permission of Fair Market Value.