SAM.gov Registration Checklist

EIN (Employer Identification Number)

Get one free from IRS.gov if you don't have one. Takes minutes online, or call 1-800-829-4933.

Legal business name and address

Must match your IRS records exactly. P.O. boxes are not accepted.

Bank account and routing number

For receiving contract payments via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Must be a U.S. bank.

NAICS code(s) for your business

Identify 3-5 codes that describe what you do. Use our NAICS Lookup tool if unsure. Open tool →

Product/Service Codes (PSC)

Optional but helpful. These are more specific than NAICS codes and describe exact products or services.

Create a Login.gov account

Go to login.gov — this is the government's single sign-on system. Use a personal email you'll have long-term.

Create SAM.gov account with Login.gov

Go to sam.gov and sign in with your Login.gov credentials. Choose 'Entity Registration'.

Get your UEI (Unique Entity Identifier)

This is assigned automatically during SAM.gov registration. It replaced the old DUNS number in 2022.

Select your entity type

Sole proprietorship, LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, etc. Must match your IRS classification.

Enter business information

Legal name, DBA (if any), physical address, mailing address, start date, fiscal year end.

Enter your EIN and TIN

Tax Identification Number. For sole proprietors this may be your SSN — you can use EIN instead for privacy.

Enter NAICS codes

Add your primary NAICS code and any secondary codes. These determine which contracts you'll see. Open tool →

Add Points of Contact

Government POC (person they call about contracts) and Electronic POC (person managing SAM registration).

Enter banking/EFT information

Routing number, account number, account type. This is where contract payments go.

Complete size determination

Enter your annual revenue and employee count. SAM uses this to verify you qualify as a small business under your NAICS codes.

Complete representations & certifications

Answer yes/no questions about your business. This is the longest section but mostly straightforward. Takes ~20 minutes.

Wait for IRS validation (3-5 business days)

SAM validates your EIN/TIN with the IRS. If it fails, double-check that your legal name matches IRS records exactly.

Wait for CAGE code assignment (up to 10 days)

A Commercial and Government Entity code is assigned automatically. No action needed from you.

Status changes to 'Active'

Total wait time is typically 7-25 business days. You'll receive an email when your registration is active.

Create a Capabilities Statement

A 1-2 page PDF summarizing your business, past performance, certifications, and contact info. This is your resume for contracting officers.

Apply for set-aside certifications

If you qualify for 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, or SDVOSB, apply now. These give you access to less competitive contracts. Open tool →

Set annual renewal reminder

SAM registration expires every year. Set a reminder 30 days before your expiration date to avoid losing your active status.