What, How an Association Management Software Offers, Can Help You

This third and final installment of the blog series, “Where to Begin Your Association’s AMS Search” provides a critical checklist for evaluating the vendor’s proposal.

When narrowing down your search for association management software, the most important step is to ensure you understand what you are getting and what it will cost.

Read Part 1 of the blog series to get an
understanding of what features are available

Before finalizing your agreement with the software provider, get a solid understanding of all costs (in writing), including:

• Terms of the agreement
• What is included or, more specifically, what’s not included
• Initial setup cost
• Training and support
• Per-member surcharge
• Per-transaction charge (% or $)
• Per-event-registration charge
• Per-email-sent charge
• Upgrades
• Updates
• Bandwidth
• Storage space

A written cost proposal is a must. Clarifying exactly what you’re getting is key to avoiding confusion and frustration down the road.

Read Part 2 of the blog series to learn what
to ask about software training and support

SEE ALSO: What Is an AMS and What Does It Do?