The Great Plains Partner Model

Great Plains boasts more than 1,600 business partners, and its partner-focused sales channel is largely credited for its success among mid-sized businesses. Microsoft Great Plains will continue to offer the following business partnership programs:

Value Added Reseller (VAR) program. Great Plains does not sell directly to businesses, but only through VARs. Most VARs help businesses determine their needs, install systems, train employees, and provide ongoing support, although some outsource these functions to Great Plains Consultant partners.

Participating VARs must have experience selling financial systems, pay a starting fee of between US$4,500 and US$8,500 and annual fees of US$4,500, and meet various training commitments and annual sales goals.

Solution Developer program. More than 350 ISV partners create vertical applications that run with Great Plains applications. Solution Developer partners may sell these vertical applications through other Great Plains partners (including VARs) or may act as Great Plains VARs themselves. Solution Developer partners must pay an initial fee of US$5,000 to US$10,000, plus annual fees of US$2,000 to US$4,700, and must meet various technological and training requirements.