SNI codes and industry search: how to target the right companies
By the Leadsfinder team · · 2 min read
If you want to work a specific industry in Sweden, the path almost always runs through the SNI code. It's the Swedish industrial classification that captures what a company actually does — and therefore the most precise filter you have when building a segment. Here's how to use it.
What is an SNI code?
SNI is the Swedish Standard Industrial Classification, built on the EU's NACE standard. Every company is classified by its activity, from a broad division down to a detailed five-digit code. A construction firm, an accounting agency and an e-commerce shop all have different SNI codes — and that difference is exactly what you want to filter on.
| Level | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Division | Letter (A–U) | C — Manufacturing |
| Main group | 2 digits | 25 — Fabricated metal products |
| Group | 3 digits | 256 |
| Subgroup | 4 digits | 2562 |
| Detail group (SNI code) | 5 digits | 25620 |
Using SNI for segmentation
Start broad and narrow down. Pick the division or main group that matches your target industry, look at how many companies it contains, then layer on more filters — region, size, status — until the segment is manageable and relevant.
- Start from your ideal customer profile and translate it into one or more SNI codes.
- Combine SNI with region and size — industry alone is rarely enough.
- Be aware a business can have a primary code that doesn't capture everything it does.
Common pitfalls
The SNI code describes the registered primary activity, not necessarily the full reality. A company classified as 'consulting' may in practice sell software. So use the code as a strong first pass, but expect to complement it with other signals before you call.
Another mistake is choosing too narrow. If your segment gets too small, neighbouring codes within the same main group often hold customers you're missing. Test a few adjacent codes before you commit.
From code to pipeline
Once the SNI filter is right, you have a segment that genuinely mirrors your market. In Leadsfinder you search and filter the whole Swedish register on SNI among other fields, save the segment, and move straight on to prioritising and reaching out — with no detour through spreadsheets.