Start with an accurate description of the company’s principal activity, then use the classification accepted by the current incorporation process. Check the wording and version rather than copying a code from a similar-looking business or an older guide.
Describe the work before looking for a number
Write two sentences explaining what the company will actually do and for whom. Focus on the product or service, how it will be supplied and the principal activity at launch. Avoid starting with a label such as “technology” or “consultancy” if that hides the work you need to classify.
The CRO’s incorporation guidance asks applicants to classify the company’s principal activity using NACE. Treat your short business description as the evidence for that choice. The name you like for marketing purposes may not describe the activity precisely enough.
Use official descriptions and explanatory notes
The CSO publishes NACE classification resources, including explanatory notes and correspondence tables. Compare the scope of plausible entries, rather than choosing the first title that contains a familiar word.
| Your working note | What to capture |
|---|---|
| Activity | What the customer is paying the company to do |
| Candidate entry | Code, label and classification version |
| Scope check | Relevant inclusions and exclusions |
| Uncertainty | Why another entry might fit |
| Confirmation | Presenter’s decision for the current application |
This makes the question easier for an agent to resolve and gives you a record of why a code was selected.
Check the version during the NACE transition
The CSO says it began introducing NACE Rev. 2.1 across statistical outputs in 2026, following preparatory work in 2025. It provides material explaining the transition from Rev. 2. A statistical publication’s new version is not proof that every registration screen changed at the same time.
For your application, inspect the live form and current presenter instructions. Record the version they actually use. If your research produces two different numbers for the same-looking activity, compare the versions and ask the presenter to confirm the applicable entry. Avoid converting a number from memory.
A fictional example: several services, one clear brief
A fictional design studio offers website projects, occasional workshops and a small range of printed stationery. The founder initially writes “creative services”. That description leaves the presenter guessing which work is central to the planned business.
The founder rewrites the brief to explain the main launch activity, how projects are sold and which other activities are secondary. The presenter compares the relevant descriptions and explains the chosen entry. This guide deliberately does not assign a numerical code to the example: the actual scope and current classification need to be checked.
Keep the activity explanation consistent
Give the same factual description to the people helping with incorporation and related setup. If different forms ask for different levels of detail, answer each question accurately rather than forcing identical wording everywhere. Keep a master description and note any differences that need explanation.
If the planned business changes before filing, tell the presenter before approving the documents. A new activity should trigger a fresh look at the brief. It is easier to discuss the change while the application is being prepared than after several people have acted on an outdated description.
Common NACE questions
- Can I copy a competitor’s code?
Use competitors as prompts for questions, not as proof. Your own activity and the applicable classification need to fit.
- Does the code replace a business description?
Keep the description. It helps the presenter understand why the classification was chosen and what remains uncertain.
- Which version should I use?
Confirm the classification supported by the current application process. The CSO transition is useful context, rather than a substitute for checking the form.
Sources & review
Editorial owner: Thomas O'Sullivan. Sources checked 17 October 2026. Professional review: Thomas O'Sullivan (Company formation expert and writer), 17 October 2026. Scope: The ten new 17 October guide drafts: current text, practical examples and official source references.
Examples are fictional and do not establish name or domain availability. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or provider. Report a correction.