What Is a Value-Added Reseller?

Value-added resellers — also called VARs, or just plain resellers — are companies that combine computer components to build complete systems. For example, a VAR might take a computer chip, printer,

In addition to selling hardware and software, most resellers also offer strategic planning, system design, implementation, training, asset tracking, technical support, wiring, database development, Web development, consulting and research. For smaller businesses, a VAR is generally the vendor of choice for designing, setting up and implementing customized computer systems.

A VAR may be referred to as hardware-centric if it derives most of its revenue from selling hardware or service-centric if a majority of its revenues comes from selling services.

What a VAR Isn't
As with most things regarding technology, the scope of what VARs do is constantly changing. There are slight differences between VARs and similar types of service providers: