ARG
ARG is a vendor-agnostic technology advisory and consulting firm founded in 1991 that helps enterprise and mid-market clients evaluate, procure, and manage IT solutions, earning revenue primarily through vendor commissions and powering recommendations with its ARGenius AI platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersManassas, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ARG does
ARG, Inc. is a privately held technology advisory and consulting firm founded in 1991 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia, that operates as a vendor-agnostic broker helping enterprise and mid-market clients navigate complex technology purchasing decisions. The firm advises more than 4,000 organizations across multiple industries and is compensated primarily through commissions and fees paid by the technology vendors and service providers whose solutions are recommended, rather than through direct client fees, with reported client outcomes averaging 25% savings on IT spend and an NPS of 86. Its core platform is ARGenius, a Salesforce-integrated AI-enabled data intelligence system built on 34 years of proprietary firsthand data from thousands of client implementations, providing pricing benchmarks, real-time vendor performance insights, and decision acceleration for proposals and vendor evaluations. The portfolio spans cloud migration, SD-WAN and connectivity, UCaaS/CCaaS communications, managed security, IT expense management, colocation (access to 1,200+ data centers), advanced IoT, managed IT, and AI advisory services, delivered through a managing-partner platform model with regional offices including the Northeast (acquired 2018 from Carousel Industries) and Florida (acquired via GNS in 2022). Following an $84.7M SEC Form D exempt offering in October 2022 and a February 2026 strategic growth investment from Bear Creek Partners, ARG has institutionalizing an M&A-led national expansion strategy under CEO Mike Shonholz and President James Larsen.
ARG firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ARG
- Legal name
- ARG, Inc.
- Website
- https://myarg.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ARG is a vendor-agnostic technology advisory and consulting firm founded in 1991 that helps enterprise and mid-market clients evaluate, procure, and manage IT solutions, earning revenue primarily through vendor commissions and powering recommendations with its ARGenius AI platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ARG industry classification
Industry- Product category
- IT Consulting and Technology Advisory
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- ERP Implementation & Systems Integration Services (BPAEAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Advisory (BPAHAFAA)
Keywords
Where ARG is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manassas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
ARG business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Technology Advisory Consulting: ARG provides technology advisory and consulting services, typically at no charge to clients. The firm generates revenue through commissions and fees paid by technology vendors and service providers whose solutions are recommended to clients, functioning as a technology broker or advisor in the channel.
- Managed Services: Ongoing managed services including IT expense management, managed security, managed IT, and network support. Revenue is generated through recurring service fees and vendor relationships.
- AI-Powered Analytics Services: AI-enabled data analytics and intelligence services delivered through the ARGenius platform, providing benchmarking, vendor performance analysis, and decision support for clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Advisory consulting provided at no cost to clients |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
ARG product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ARG is a vendor-agnostic technology advisory and consulting firm that helps enterprise and mid-market clients navigate complex IT decisions across cloud, connectivity, communications, security, expense management, colocation, IoT, and managed IT. The firm generates revenue primarily through vendor commissions and managed services fees, providing advisory at no direct cost to clients. Its proprietary ARGenius AI platform analyzes 34 years of accumulated client data to support vendor evaluation, pricing benchmarks, and decision-making.
Product overview
ARG is a technology advisory and consulting firm offering IT Clarity—a comprehensive platform combining proprietary AI intelligence and expert advisory services. The core offering includes ARGenius, an AI-enabled data intelligence system built on Salesforce analyzing 34 years of proprietary client data. The portfolio spans multiple solution areas including Cloud Solutions, SD-WAN & Connectivity, Communications (UCaaS & CCaaS), Managed Security, Expense Management (ITEM & EMM), Colocation, Advanced IoT, Managed IT, and Artificial Intelligence. ARG helps over 4,000 clients navigate technology decisions by providing access to innovative solutions across cloud services, cybersecurity, managed IT, networking, contact center technology, connectivity, unified communications, expense management, data center, advanced IoT, AI and emerging technologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ARGenius: Proprietary AI-enabled data intelligence system built on over 30 years of proprietary firsthand data from thousands of successful client implementations. Integrated with Salesforce-based system to analyze accumulated data and accelerate decision-making for client proposals and vendor evaluations.
Products and services
- ARGenius Proprietary AI-enabled data intelligence system built on Salesforce with over 30 years of proprietary firsthand data from thousands of successful client implementations. Provides pricing benchmarks and real-time vendor performance insights for faster decision-making on client proposals and vendor evaluations.
- Cloud Solutions Cloud migration and services advisory including IaaS, DaaS, and cloud-based collaboration and connectivity solutions to improve business operations for enterprise and mid-market clients.
- SD-WAN & Connectivity Network solutions advisory that simplifies management, optimizes performance, and reduces costs across multi-location enterprise environments.
- Communications (UCaaS & CCaaS) Unified Communications as a Service and Contact Center as a Service solutions advisory for improved user experience and customer experience.
- Managed Security Cybersecurity advisory and managed security services including managed detection and response, security posture assessment, and fractional CISO services.
- Expense Management (ITEM & EMM) IT Expense Management and Technology Expense Management advisory services to optimize costs, improve business processes, and provide visibility into technology spending.
- Colocation Data center colocation advisory services with access to over 1,200 data centers globally, including edge computing and high-performance computing solutions.
- Advanced IoT Internet of Things advisory solutions transforming business operations through sensors, ultra-low-cost connectivity, analytics, and real-time tracking.
- Managed IT Managed IT services advisory to align solutions with business objectives, speed time-to-market, and deliver greater value to end users.
- Artificial Intelligence Advisory AI advisory and implementation services to help clients adopt AI confidently, reduce risk, improve performance, and scale intelligently.
Quantifiable outcome
- 25% average savings on IT spending for clients
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use ARG
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ARG technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability7 records
Feature2 records
ARG partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Comcast (Advisory Board)coreARG participates on Comcast's advisory board, providing strategic input on technology strategies and early visibility into emerging capabilities. This position allows ARG to advocate for client needs in provider roadmap development.
- Dialpad (Advisory Board)coreARG participates on Dialpad's advisory board, helping shape product strategies and ensuring early access to transformative solutions. Craig Walker, Dialpad CEO, noted that ARG's advisory board participation helps guide solutions that deliver meaningful value to end users.
- RingCentral (Advisory Board)coreARG participates on RingCentral's advisory board, providing strategic input on technology strategies and early visibility into emerging capabilities.
- Expedient (Advisory Board)coreARG participates on Expedient's Partner Advisory Board, bringing the true voice of the client into every discussion and helping ensure strategies and solutions are aligned with evolving end user needs.
- Global Network Services (GNS)coreARG acquired Florida-based Global Network Services (GNS), an IT services agent focused on voice and networking services in North America. The acquisition expanded ARG's geographic reach and service portfolio, including security and cloud solutions. GNS's founder Sue Messner continued as Managing Partner, and the practice achieved over 36% residual commission growth within three years of acquisition.
- Northeast Consulting Practice (from Carousel Industries)coreARG acquired a technology consulting practice from Carousel Industries serving the Northeast region. The practice and seven industry veterans joined ARG, bringing 500 business clients concentrated from New York to Maine, bringing total clients to 4,000.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ARG competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CDW: One of the largest direct IT solutions providers in the U.S., offering hardware, software, cloud, security, and managed services to enterprise and mid-market clients. Highly comparable to ARG given overlapping vendor relationships and target customer base, though CDW operates a much larger direct sales model rather than commission-only advisory.
- SHI International: Large IT solutions provider offering hardware, software, cloud, and services to enterprise customers. Comparable to ARG in solution breadth and target market, though SHI operates a direct sales/distributor model with deeper scale and a more limited advisory-only offering.
- Insight Enterprises: Global IT solutions integrator offering hardware, software, services, and cloud solutions. Comparable to ARG given overlap in target customers (enterprise/mid-market) and solution portfolio, though Insight operates at much larger scale with direct enterprise sales rather than commission-funded advisory.
Direct peers
- Telarus: Technology services distributor and master agent specializing in UCaaS, CCaaS, SD-WAN, cloud, and security. Closely comparable to ARG as both operate vendor-agnostic advisor/broker models earning commissions from telecom and cloud providers while serving enterprise and mid-market clients.
- Sandler Partners: Master agent and technology distributor serving as a vendor-agnostic advisor for voice, networking, cloud, and security solutions. Directly comparable to ARG in business model (commission-funded advisory), customer base (enterprise/mid-market), and solution portfolio.
- Bridgepointe Technologies: Technology advisory firm providing vendor-neutral guidance on cloud, networking, security, and communications to mid-market and enterprise clients. Closely comparable to ARG in advisory-only positioning, channel-partner revenue model, and solution breadth.
- Intelisys (ScanSource): Master agent/distributor for technology advisors, now part of ScanSource, providing sales support, training, and back-office tools for agents selling cloud, communications, and security. Operates a commission-funded model similar to ARG, though at the distributor layer above individual advisors.
- Carousel Industries: IT solutions and managed services provider focused on communications, networking, and security. Highly comparable to ARG given historical overlap (ARG acquired Carousel's Northeast consulting practice in 2018) and similar vendor relationships in UCaaS/CCaaS and managed services.
Emerging players
- AppDirect: Technology marketplace platform connecting advisors, resellers, and end customers with cloud and SaaS solutions. Compares to ARG as an alternative channel between vendors and end customers, though AppDirect operates a software-led marketplace model versus ARG's human-advisor approach.
- Coretelligent: Managed services and IT solutions provider specializing in managed security, cloud, and colocation for mid-market clients. Overlaps with ARG in managed security and cloud advisory offerings, though Coretelligent operates a more services-led (less advisory-led) model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ARG social profiles
Digital presenceARG compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
ARG financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ARG leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
ARG subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
ARG funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ARG M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ARG
What does ARG do?
ARG is a vendor-agnostic technology advisory and consulting firm that helps enterprise and mid-market clients navigate complex IT decisions across cloud, connectivity, communications, security, expense management, colocation, IoT, and managed IT. The firm generates revenue primarily through vendor commissions and managed services fees, providing advisory at no direct cost to clients. Its proprietary ARGenius AI platform analyzes 34 years of accumulated client data to support vendor evaluation, pricing benchmarks, and decision-making.
Is ARG a public or private company?
ARG is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ARG founded?
ARG was founded in 1991. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ARG based?
ARG is headquartered in Manassas, United States, in the North America region.
How does ARG make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Advisory Consulting is the primary driver. The others are managed Services and AI-Powered Analytics Services.
Who are ARG's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CDW, SHI International and Insight Enterprises. Direct peers are Telarus, Sandler Partners, Bridgepointe Technologies, Intelisys (ScanSource) and Carousel Industries. Emerging players are AppDirect and Coretelligent.
Does ARG have an API?
No public API is recorded for ARG.
What industry is ARG in?
ARG's product category is IT Consulting and Technology Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAGAA, ERP Implementation & Systems Integration Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAFAA, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Advisory. Its NAICS code is 541690 and its SIC code is 8742.