What is a Company Prefix? | GS1 US (2025)

Do I Need a Company Prefix?

Retailers, online marketplaces, distributors, and other partners often require UPC barcodes that come specifically from GS1 because it shows that you are a business they can trust. A Company Prefix helps to identify your company as the owner of your UPC barcode and the product that it’s on. When retailers check your UPCs in the GS1 database, they will see your company name associated with that product. If the barcode is associated with another company or is simply not found, you may risk rejection, or worse, you may incur additional costs to relabel your products with a barcode that meets retailer requirements. With your GS1 Company Prefix license, you can be sure that your UPCs are truly unique, are registered only to your company, and can be shared across trading partners.

Brands that have many different types of products that come in various colors, styles, sizes, flavors, or scents often license a GS1 Company Prefix. GS1 Prefixes are great for companies with growing product lines. It gives you the barcodes you need for today plus barcodes at your fingertips to quickly respond to growth opportunities.

What is a Company Prefix? | GS1 US (2025)

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