Anil Bhadhuria | ABCom Private Limited

From students needing laptops for online classes to businesses requiring temporary workstations for projects, the demand for adaptable technology solutions is higher than ever. It’s no longer about owning every device; it’s about accessing the right tools at the right time. The IT equipment and laptop rental industry has emerged as a crucial sector, offering businesses and individuals flexible and cost-effective access to the latest devices.
One company that has not only navigated this competitive landscape but thrived is ABCom Private Limited, India’s largest IT equipment and laptop rental company. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Mumbai, ABCom has rapidly grown under the leadership of its founder, Anil Bhadhuria. Anil’s entrepreneurial journey began 25 years prior with AB Cartridges Private Limited, a successful printer rental and supplies business. Drawing on this extensive experience in customer service and logistical operations, Anil recognized a growing need for IT equipment rentals, especially during the pandemic-induced shift to remote work.
Reactivating the already registered ABCom, he pivoted the company’s focus to providing a wide range of rental laptops, tablets, desktops, and monitors. This strategic move proved to be a game-changer, with ABCom surpassing the sales figures of his established business within just three years.
ABCom operates on a Pan-India scale, serving over 25,000 clients across more than 250 cities. Renting with ABCom is designed for maximum convenience; customers simply provide basic documentation, and ABCom takes care of everything else, including maintenance and support.
In the spotlight is founder Anil Bhadhuria in an interview of our prestigious “The 10 Outstanding Business Leaders To Watch in 2025” edition. Learn from his insights and valuable lessons as an entrepreneur to excel and make it best company. Stay tuned and know his tale of success.

Prime Insights: Brief us on the inception story of the company.

The story of ABCom begins with my first company, AB Cartridges Private Limited, which I built over 25 years. We specialize in printer rentals and supplies, serving top clients like McDonald’s, Zoom, and KFC. We were deeply entrenched in that business, importing and distributing cartridges across India. Then, the pandemic hit. Suddenly, my existing clients asked for laptops to support their remote workforces. Although ABCom was registered back in 2015, it was inactive. We’d considered expanding into IT rentals then but were hesitant to diverge from our established business. However, this new demand was a clear signal.
Initially, I was concerned about the high cost of laptops, but we decided to take the leap. We reactivated ABCom and began focusing on laptop rentals. This proved to be a pivotal decision. Within just three years, ABCom surpassed the sales figures AB Cartridges had achieved in 25 years. It was extraordinary!
We realized the immense potential of IT rentals and shifted our full focus to ABCom. We’ve since expanded our offerings beyond laptops and MacBooks to include iMacs and even mobile phone rentals. It’s been an incredible journey of adapting to market needs and embracing new opportunities.

Prime Insights: How have you kept the balance between your personal life and professional one?

Balancing personal and professional life is easier for me because my wife is also in the same industry. She manages our company’s finances, while I focus on sales and administration. This shared involvement in the business eliminates many potential challenges. We understand each other’s work and responsibilities, creating a seamless integration between our personal and professional lives. I primarily focus on acquiring new customers, and she handles the financial aspects, allowing us to effectively divide and conquer. Having our family involved in the same business has been a significant advantage.

Prime Insights: What kind of clients do you serve, any special mentions?

We serve a wide range of clients across various industries. Our customer base is roughly 60% individual customers, including students and IT startups, and 40% corporate clients. We have our presence PAN India. Our rapid growth in just three years stems from offering a one-stop shop for diverse IT needs. Unlike single-brand providers like Lenovo, we offer multiple brands—Mac, Dell, various mobile phones—all under one umbrella.
This is a key differentiator.
For example, if a corporate client has employees who prefer different brands, we can accommodate those preferences. This flexibility makes us the first choice for many businesses because they get access to a wide variety of products from a single vendor, simplifying their IT procurement process.

Prime Insights: What strategies do you use to ensure consistent service quality and customer satisfaction across all locations?

We currently have 82 employees on our payroll. Beyond that, we work with a network of 762 partners across India. These partners are crucial to our operations, handling service support, deliveries, and equipment pickups. Unlike delivery services, our partners provide comprehensive support, including on-site repairs and maintenance. So, if a customer experiences any issues with their rented equipment, we ensure prompt service through our partner network. We cater to both corporate clients and individual customers, including freelancers and students.

Prime Insights: Are there other competitors also in the market giving the same service? How do you stand out?

Yes, there are other competitors in the IT and laptop rental market, but our approach sets us apart. My background with AB Cartridges, where I pioneered printer rentals, gave me invaluable experience in customer interaction, support, and product management. This experience is our core differentiator.
Many rental companies focus solely on major metropolitan areas, but we have a Pan-India presence, reaching even smaller cities and towns—what we call A, B, C, D, and E class cities. This extensive reach is thanks to our network of 762 partners.
This infrastructure, built over 20 years with AB Cartridges, allows us to serve customers anywhere in India. With the rise of work-from-home, people are spread across the country, not just in major hubs. Whether someone is in a large city like Surat or a smaller ones, they can access our services.
Other companies might say, ‘We don’t have service in that location,’ but at ABCom, ‘no’ isn’t in our vocabulary. We make it possible for anyone, anywhere in India, to get the IT equipment they need.

Prime Insights: How do you keep up the pace with the changing market trends?

I believe in living in present only. I dnt bother myself by constantly anticipating future trends. I don’t dwell on always thinking about what’s next. Live in today, dont think about what will happen tomorrow? For that, you better think tomorrow only.
We never initially planned to offer laptop or mobile rentals, but we adapted to market demands when the opportunities arose. We actively seek new challenges and believe in addressing them proactively. I simply belive in facing challenges head on and making best out of it. By sheer hardwork and enriching experience of 25 years in rental industry, we make sure that ABCom remains at the forefront of the IT rental industry, ready to meet evolving customer needs.

Prime Insights: Do you believe R&D is essential for the growth of your company?

Not needed. While I appreciate its value in some industries, I don’t believe formal R&D is needed for our current business model. Let me explain. Take Nokia, for example. Even they, with all their research, couldn’t foresee their decline.
In our industry, technology like laptops and mobile phones is constantly evolving. Rather than conducting formal research, we focus on being agile and responsive to market demands. If a new device emerges tomorrow, we’re confident in our ability to quickly adapt and offer it for rent.
My 25+ years of experience in the service industry has taught me that adaptability is key. We’re not selling products; we’re selling a service. This means we can pivot and offer new services based on customer needs.
For example, if there’s demand for TV rentals tomorrow, we can readily provide that. We’re not limited by product development cycles. I’ve seen companies like Bajaj Finserv grow exponentially by simply meeting market demands. They didn’t start with a grand research plan; they adapted to customer needs.
That’s our philosophy at ABCom – leveraging our experience and expertise to provide the services our customers require, whatever they may be.

Prime Insights: What were the initial challenges faced by your business?

The biggest challenge in any industry, and especially when starting ABCom’s laptop rental business, is finance. Even established giants like Tata face financial hurdles. When we decided to launch this new venture, acquiring the necessary capital was our primary concern.
However, our 25-year history with AB Cartridges proved invaluable. We had built strong relationships with banks over those years, and they trusted us. This existing trust allowed us to secure the necessary financial support to get ABCom off the ground. Without that established trust and access to capital, starting this new venture would have been incredibly difficult. Our past experience was definitely a key factor in ABCom’s success.

Prime Insights: What is the customer for you?

For me, the customer is everything. They are the core of our business, and treating them well is our core value. Without customers, a company is nothing. I believe in providing the best possible service, because if a customer isn’t satisfied, they won’t recommend us to others. In fact, referrals account for over 10% of our business, which speaks volumes about the positive experiences our clients have. These referrals often come from IT professionals, administrators, and HR personnel within companies. When these individuals move to new organizations, they often bring us with them, recommending our services to their new employers.
This organic growth is invaluable. Many companies aren’t even aware that IT equipment like laptop rentals are a viable option. They assume they have to purchase equipment outright. This is especially relevant in today’s job market, where employee turnover can be high. Imagine a company investing `60,000 in a laptop for an employee who leaves after just a few months. That’s a significant loss. With our rental service, they can access the same equipment for a fraction of the cost—around `1,500-`2,000 per month—mitigating that risk.
We’ve worked with some of the largest companies in India and even globally, including one of the world’s top five banks. We provide services to major players in various industries. These large corporations choose us because we offer a flexible, cost-effective, and reliable solution for their IT needs. They recognize the value of renting rather than investing in depreciating assets, especially given the rapid pace of technological advancements.

Prime Insights: Do you feel Ceo’s today face equal competition or is there an ‘it’s okay’ attitude to it?

Frankly, I believe CEOs today face a mix of intense competition and, in some cases, a more relaxed approach. It depends on the specific industry, the company’s stage, and the individual CEO’s philosophy. Ultimately, I believe that prioritizing the work itself, regardless of who performs it, is crucial for success. We’re moving towards a future where roles may become more fluid, and adaptability will be key.

Prime Insights: How necessary do you feel it is to keep your employees content, and how do you ensure it?

In my experience, employee retention boils down to offering a competitive package. While factors like company culture and benefits are important, ultimately, employees are looking for fair compensation. Even at highly reputable companies like Tata, employees will move for a better offer. We’ve found that providing a good package leads to long-term employee retention; some of our employees have been with us for over 20 years. We also provide additional support and facilities to our valuable, long-term staff.
I believe that true loyalty, where an employee would stay regardless of external offers, is rare—perhaps less than 10% of the workforce. Most employees, understandably, prioritize their own career growth and financial well-being. It’s a pragmatic approach. Just as customers will switch to a competitor for a better price, employees will seek better opportunities.
However, we’ve also seen employees who leave for higher pay eventually return to ABCom because of the overall quality of their experience here. We focus on providing a good work environment and competitive compensation, understanding that it’s a two-way street. We believe in providing the best possible service to our employees so that they provide the best possible service to our customers. This focus on quality is what brings employees and customers back to us.

Prime Insights: Who do you look up to and what do you convey further to the ones who look up to you?

Frankly, I simply love what I do. I’m the director, but I don’t even include that title in my signature. I don’t focus on titles; I focus on the work. My key to success is loving what I do, whether it’s managing sales, finances, or supporting my team. Even with 82 employees on payroll and 762 partners, I’m deeply involved in the day-to-day operations. I know my partners by name and location; I understand the business at every level. We’ve served over 5,000 customers, and I’m intimately familiar with the business.
My message to those who look up to me is simple: find something you’re passionate about and dedicate yourself to it. When you put your heart into your work, success naturally follows. Because I’ve done every job myself, from the ground up, I can easily spot if someone is trying to take advantage. If I sense something, I usually let it go. If it’s a small amount, like someone inflating expenses, I often choose to overlook it. I’ve come from a background where my starting salary was just `772 in 2002, so I understand the employee mentality. I know how hard people work. It’s a waste of energy to micromanage every detail.
I believe in giving people leverage. If someone makes a small mistake or even tries to cheat me out of a small amount of money, I usually ignore it. It’s not worth the stress or the time. I believe that if I can’t even control my own family, how can I expect to control my employees? I pay them for their work, they are not my children. They are providing a service. Focusing on small things like someone taking a few thousand rupees in fraudulent vouchers is not worth my time or energy. It’s better to focus on the bigger picture and build a strong, sustainable business.

Prime Insights: What message do you want to give to those Business Leaders who give up on their dreams because of some stereotypes?

To be honest, life is too precious to give up. Look at Vadapav in Mumbai – a simple street food, but hugely successful because people love it. That’s the key – passion. If you’re not passionate about your dream, it’ll be hard to find success. If you’re passionate, work with all your energy. If not, it’s better not to pursue something half-heartedly—you won’t get the results you seek.
When I started, I knew nothing about finance. My wife, with her financial expertise, and I, with my sales skills, built our company from scratch. There was a time when a bank denied me a small loan of `6 lakhs. Years later, they became my biggest client, relying entirely on my company during the pandemic.
This bank needed 500 laptops urgently for remote work. They had a strict policy of directly purchasing laptops from OEMs. But with the pandemic hitting, they needed a rental solution. Here’s where we took a risk. It was a massive `5 crore project. I took a risk, investing my entire `1 crore savings. They even secured special approvals from the U.S. and a one-year lock-in to work with us! The laptops were delivered on time, and today, this bank continues to be one of our happiest clients.
The same bank that wouldn’t lend us a small sum now needed crores worth of equipment. It paid off. This bank’s entire India workforce used our rental laptops. They saved crores by working from home, and we built a strong dependency.
This journey taught me two things: first, always have faith in your vision, and second, take calculated risks. Without risk, there’s no reward. If I had overanalyzed or doubted myself, this milestone wouldn’t have happened.
My message is simple—don’t cry over challenges or limitations. Either solve the problem or move forward with courage. Life doesn’t wait, and neither should you. Put your heart into your work, stay true to your goals, and success will follow. Every stereotype and setback is just a stepping stone if you keep moving forward.

Prime Insights: How are you giving back to society (CSR)?

There is an old saying for the good work you do; if you give by right hand then your left hand should not know your good deeds done for others. We do engage in philanthropic activities and make donations, but we prefer to keep these efforts private. I don’t believe in publicizing or highlighting charitable work. My philosophy is very much aligned with the idea of ‘doing good deeds without seeking recognition.’ We contribute to society in various ways, but we prefer to let our actions speak for themselves, rather than seeking publicity for our CSR efforts. Its more so like neki kar dariya mai daal philosophy for me,

Prime Insights: Lastly, is there a message you would like to give to Prime Insights readers?

My message to Prime Insights readers is to strive for excellence in your respective fields. I hope Prime Insights itself becomes a leading voice in media, a major player like NDTV or Aaj Tak. I genuinely wish you rapid success and hope to see Prime Insights become a strong competitor to established publications.

Prime Insights: Feedback from your end about us would be appreciated. Your words matter to us!!

My feedback on this interview is overwhelmingly positive. I’ve received numerous calls during this time, but I chose not to answer them because I was fully engaged in our conversation. You asked insightful and interesting questions, making it a very informative experience. I’m truly thankful for the opportunity to share my story. You’ve been incredibly kind and helpful throughout the process. Thank you so much for your time and for having me.