How much should association management software cost for mid-to-large sized associations? Before you buy new association management software (AMS), you’ll want to know the true cost of owning the system to ensure the technology will truly meet your organization’s needs.
Read our blog to understand what your association needs to know before you buy your next AMS!
5 factors that impact the cost of association management software (AMS)
Here are the top five factors to keep in mind before you buy your next AMS:
1. What features will your AMS include?
To ensure your association is getting the most bang for its technological buck, do your research about an AMS to see which features are included. With most AMS systems you will get these features to meet your association needs:
- Membership management (CRM)
- Accounting
- Reporting and analytics
- Events
- Fundraising
- Advertising
- Member portal
- Subscriptions
Before you purchase your next AMS, you’ll want to make sure it has the features you need to enhance your staff and member experience. You’ll also want to look for an AMS that can scale with your organization, offering support to your entire team.
TIP: With NetForum you can get 30+ out of the box AMS modules, from member engagement scoring to committee management, ensuring your association has everything you need to grow into the future.
2. How big is your association? 
The size of your organization is crucial in impacting what kind of AMS you purchase. Some AMS vendors might calculate the total cost of your software based on the number of contacts in your database, while others might look at the full number of members you have to determine price.
If you are a mid-to-large sized association, you should look for a robust AMS to secure your data, prioritize member initiatives, drive revenue, and move your organization forward. Consider an AMS backed by Microsoft, like NetForum, to offer best-in-class security, multi-regional disaster recovery, and reliability that exceeds industry standards.
TIP: Learn all about how NetForum’s partnership with Microsoft offers mid-to-large sized associations best-in-class security, increased system speed, enhanced reliability, and even more benefits!
3. How much customer support will you receive?
Many associations will choose one AMS over another because of the quality of the customer service. Before you decide on your next system, you’ll want to consider this question: how much technical support will my organization need?
Having a dedicated service support team might be a must have for some organizations. But for other associations, it might prove to be unnecessary. Take time to consider your organization’s technological support needs. And remember that some AMS vendors charge extra for customer support.
TIP: NetForum invests heavily in our Customer Support Team! To further prioritize meeting your needs and helping your association succeed, our Customer Support Team offers world-class service with a customer satisfaction rating of 98.6%.
4. How long will your AMS implementation take? 
Do you need new software fast? Maybe your association is facing a renewal deadline, and you need a new, robust AMS platform quickly. The AMS implementation process can take a long time.
With NetForum’s Optimized Adoption, your association can get online with a new AMS in about 5 months.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- All the crucial AMS features you need to run your association
- Workshops and templates to own your system
- Three integrations of your choosing
- Scalability to add new functionality over time
- A transparent, consistent fee structure
NetForum’s Optimized Implementation offers out-of-the-box features to help your organization maximize revenue, save staff time, enhance the member experience, and exceed your goals.
TIP: Learn if NetForum’s Optimized Adoption is right for your association. Take the quiz to find out. Start here.
5. What is the total cost of your AMS?
When it comes to pricing out your next AMS, it may initially be difficult to get a clear answer out of your AMS vendor. That is a major red flag.
Associations need to be careful when planning their budgets to control future costs. Look for an AMS vendor like NetForum that supports your bottom line with a fixed-cost structure. NetForum never charges for quarterly product updates or for our built-in CRM.
TIP: Learn more about all the money you will save when your association chooses NetForum AMS. Learn more.
Learn more about the true cost of association management software (AMS)
Are you ready to learn even more tips on pricing association management software before you buy your next system? Download our free guide today!
