Guide
Self-managed HOA software checklist
Buy the dues OS first. Ignore the “AI HOA operating system” pitch until money works.
Search “self-managed HOA software” and you’ll drown in comparison posts. Use a checklist instead of a feature-count war.
Must-haves for under ~50 units
- Units + owners + CSV import
- Assessments (monthly / quarterly / annual + specials)
- ACH-first payments; cards optional
- Autopay on due date
- Per-unit ledger with aging
- Late fees per board policy
- Resident pay portal (balance, pay, receipts)
- Money to the HOA bank (Connect-style)
- Offline payment recording
- CSV export anytime
- Disclosed SaaS + any platform %
Nice-to-haves after dues work
Announcements, documents, calendar, violations that post fines to the ledger, work orders, ACC. Voting, amenities, AI Q&A, and website builders can wait.
Fee questions that separate honest vendors
Ask for the worked example: 50 units × your assessment × your cadence. Compare SaaS + platform take + processor fees. Our public scenario and comps live on /compare/. DuesBoard Board is $19/mo + 1% (~$728/yr on $50k ACH volume).
What to skip early
- Property-manager multi-community dashboards
- Per-unit SaaS that punishes a 40-unit board for existing
- Homepage promises of “AI-powered OS”
- Tools that bookkeep from a success URL instead of webhooks
Also read: collect dues online · PayHOA alternative · KindHOA alternative.
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Import units, connect the HOA bank, and invite owners to ACH autopay.
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