2005 VARBusiness 500 Methodology

The 2005 VARBusiness 500 ranking of the largest solution providers in North America reflects the ultimate in collaboration among VARs, who filled out a lengthy entry form to be considered for this listing, and VARBusiness' research and editorial teams, who were responsible for collecting, verifying and analyzing the plethora of data. VARBusiness also partnered with research firm Answers Research as part of the data collection and interpretation process.

More specifically, VARBusiness designed the 2005 survey, which was accessible on our Web site from mid-February through mid-April, to assist with the data collection. We invited last year's VARBusiness 500 list to participate, then supplemented the list by inviting additional candidates from our circulation database. We also conducted Internet searches and telephone interviews during that same time frame.

Survey responses were analyzed for each company's ability to meet this year's VARBusiness 500 rankings. Missing data was obtained in follow-up telephone interviews or via the Internet. For public companies, research included going through all available financial statements and SEC documents to identify the appropriate revenue. For private firms, research included Internet searches, interviews, confirmation letters and e-mail from company executives.

Finalists were ranked according to their fiscal year 2004 revenue; in cases where a services division of a larger organization, included non-services revenue, the services-only revenue was calculated to show only reseller-related services segment of its business.

--Marilyn O'Hara