{"id":3817,"date":"2023-04-30T17:11:08","date_gmt":"2023-04-30T17:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildapricotlive.local\/?p=3817"},"modified":"2025-05-12T05:29:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T05:29:38","slug":"association-dues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/association-dues","title":{"rendered":"The Top 10 Best Practices for Managing Your Association Dues"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret that running an association doesn\u2019t happen for free. Between providing services and resources to members and managing operational expenses, there are costs to be covered. Luckily, collecting association dues makes this possible!<\/span><\/p>\n

But how do you make sure your members understand the value of paying their <\/span>membership dues<\/span><\/a>? And what\u2019s the best way to collect these fees in the first place?<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some best practices and top tips\u2014plus recommendations for association management software!\u2014that\u2019ll make you an expert in association dues.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are association dues?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Association dues are the payments members make in order to participate in an association. Often paid either monthly or annually, these dues are basically your members\u2019 entry tickets.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re just <\/span>starting an association<\/span><\/a>, it might feel strange to ask people for money. But having members pay their dues is a typical part of <\/span>association membership<\/span><\/a>! It costs money on your side to provide good resources, and your fees reflect the value of what you\u2019re offering.<\/span><\/p>\n

What’s the purpose of association dues?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The primary purpose of charging association dues is to give you some of the funding you need to run your association. After all, if you can\u2019t afford to provide anything to your members, your organization won’t last for very long.<\/span><\/p>\n

How the dues are used depends on the purpose of the association itself. For example, <\/span>homeowner association fees or dues<\/span><\/a> are charged to property owners in order to cover things like amenities, property maintenance and repairs. Because of those higher costs, those fees typically come in around $200-$300 per month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Something like the <\/span>Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association<\/span><\/a> looks a little different. This association supports writers with grants, legal funds and educational programming. Those resources cost a lot less to maintain, so membership fees come out at only $100 per year.<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter the type of association you\u2019re running, the purpose of dues is ultimately to help it KEEP running for the long term!<\/span><\/p>\n

10 best practices for collecting association dues<\/span><\/h2>\n

Curious about\u00a0 how to make collecting association dues a breeze? Here are 10 best practices for this aspect of association management!<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Determine your cost<\/span><\/h3>\n

Choose your cost of your association dues in advance. You can do this by first calculating what it costs for you to keep the promises you\u2019re making as an association. How much do you need to bring in in order to see real <\/span>ROI<\/span><\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep in mind that <\/span>membership pricing<\/span><\/a> should also take the members themselves into consideration. Low fees might lose you money, but overly high fees could scare off a whole segment of members.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifty members at $50\/month gets you $30k per year, but you can get the same thing from one hundred members at $25\/month. We\u2019ll get into some ways to get the best of both worlds below!<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Choose your collection schedule<\/span><\/h3>\n

You might be wondering if you should go with the yearly or monthly dues\u2014and there are pros and cons to both options.<\/span><\/p>\n

Monthly dues <\/b>keep your association at the front of your members\u2019 minds and look less intimidating to prospective members. However, because members can drop off at any time, monthly dues make it a bit harder for you to estimate your annual revenue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Annual dues <\/b>are super convenient for members and make it easier for you to measure how much you’ll be making in membership fees in a year. However, while a \u201cset and forget\u201d model can be convenient, it might also make members do just that: forget!<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re uncertain of where to start, consider offering both options so members can choose what works for them. If you’re worried about that getting confusing, investing in <\/span>association management software<\/span><\/a> is definitely the way to go. The right software can make collecting, processing and reporting simple!<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Communicate the value<\/span><\/h3>\n

When people pay their dues, they want to know where the money is actually going. Be transparent about what dues cover\u2014and what they make possible!<\/span><\/p>\n

This could look something like: <\/span>\u201cYour monthly dues give you access to our job board, professional development workshops and exclusive networking events\u2014and help us keep growing and improving to serve you better as an organization.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Instead of thinking of your association members as faceless customers, think of them as individual relationships. Like with any relationship, open conversations build trust! Show your members exactly what they\u2019re investing in will help you retain them.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Offer incentives to upgrade<\/span><\/h3>\n

One best practice for all types of membership dues is offering tiered options! Not only does this allow a lower entry point for people who don’t have the money for expensive dues, but it also offers the opportunity to upgrade in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be sure to offer strong incentives to make those upgrades! Whether that be exclusive events, resources or opportunities, you want to make people excited about where their membership dues are going.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Express gratitude<\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the top <\/span>association trends<\/span><\/a> this year is deepening personal connections with your members. And what better way to do that than expressing gratitude?<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve put the work into starting an association, chances are you care deeply about what it stands for. While you are providing something invaluable to your community, your association simply could not exist without the faith and care of your members.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank them for putting their trust in you, and get personal! This could look like sending handwritten thank you notes, offering special discounts from partners or something else entirely. Going the extra mile is how you make real connections.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Include reminders<\/span><\/h3>\n

Look\u2014life gets busy! While it’s nice to imagine that you’re always going to be at the top of your members\u2019 minds, chances are they’ve got other things going on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be sure to send out reminders for members to pay their dues. This can include friendly emails, texts or pings on your association website.<\/span><\/p>\n

Better yet, offer the option for auto renewals! This will help your more forgetful members pay their membership fees without having to think about it\u2014 just be sure you\u2019re communicating with them regularly so they don’t forget about you.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Provide flexible payment options<\/span><\/h3>\n

Being thoughtful with your payment options is a must-do <\/span>association strategy<\/span><\/a>, and another way to be considerate of members\u2019 needs and life experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can offer:<\/span><\/p>\n