How Small Clubs Can Afford (and Benefit From) Membership Management Software

A club is rarely too small to benefit from membership management software; the main question is whether the cost is justified within the budget. For clubs with under 50 members, entry-level packages like Member Jungle's Essentials tier cost as little as $2 to $4 per member monthly. By automating tedious admin tasks, small clubs can reclaim valuable volunteer time, improve the member experience, and offset software costs by attracting built-in digital sponsorships.

Running a club can be challenging, whether you have 50 members or 5,000. Between chasing membership renewals, planning events, and navigating a whole range of personalities, the admin work adds up fast. At Member Jungle, we run membership management software that can make running your club easier and less time-consuming.

However, many committees worry their organisation is too small to justify spending money on a digital system. Today, we'll tackle that concern head-on, explain how membership software works for smaller clubs, and help you decide whether it's the right move for you. 

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. I work for Member Jungle; Member Jungle makes membership management software, so I have an undeniable bias here. However, I promise to be honest with you; I am not going to try to sell you on something that you don’t need. Frankly, if I did, you'd waste your time looking into us, realise it's a bad fit, and walk away, and all I would achieve is losing your trust. 

Why Membership Software Works for Small Clubs: A Quick Summary

• It’s About Budget, Not Size: There is no minimum member count required to use software; success depends on whether the monthly cost fits your revenue model.
• Costs Scale to Your Size: Entry-level packages cost just a few dollars per member per month, easily covered by a small increase in annual dues.
• Sponsorships Offset the Price: Modern software provides built-in digital advertising space, making it much easier to attract sponsors who will cover your software costs.
• Volunteer Retention: Automating renewals and payments prevents burnout, giving small committees the energy to focus on running actual club events instead of chasing paperwork.

Is Your Club Too Small For A Membership Management System?

First, your club will never be too small for a system like Member Jungle’s to work for you; instead, it may be too small to justify the cost. 

There are no specific guidelines to determine how many members are too few for a club. It ultimately depends on what each club feels it needs and what it can afford. Some small clubs may have high revenue and can easily afford a membership management system, while others may not. Some small clubs may have a wide range of club events that require a membership management system, while others may not need it at all.

We already work with many clubs with less than 100 members and many with less than 50, so it is definitely possible for smaller clubs to make Member Jungle work for them.

How To Work Out If Your Club Is Too Small For Member Jungle 

The basic maths here is the cost of the system divided by the number of members you have. Then, work out if that number takes up a reasonable amount of your membership dues. Member Jungle’s pricing has been designed to be able to be absorbed into your club’s membership dues. 

How Much Does Member Jungle Cost? 

So, the obvious question is: how much does a membership system actually cost? 

Member Jungle offers four packages, each with different tools and capabilities. Regardless of which tier you choose, every package includes your own customisable website, digital membership cards, an automated renewal system, communication tools, and event management. 

Here is the breakdown (all prices in AUD): 

• Essentials package - $109 per month
• Standard package - $199 per month 
• Premium package - $369 per month
• Ultimate package - $799 per month 

The good news is that if you're wondering whether your club may be too small for Member Jungle, you're almost certainly not going to need the heavy-hitting tools in the Premium or Ultimate packages. You don't need to worry about trying to squeeze those numbers into your monthly budget. 

To break this down into real terms, let’s look at a club with 50 members:

• On the Essentials Package: The system costs $2.18 per member, per month (or $26.16 per member, per year). 

• On the Standard Package: The system costs $3.98 per member, per month (or $47.76 per member, per year). 

Either way, that’s pretty affordable. It would be pretty easy to absorb that cost completely by bumping up annual membership dues by $20, or adding a few dollars to an event ticket here and there. 

Of course, that cost per member drops even further if your club grows, which is exactly what tends to happen once you automate your admin. During the 2025/26 financial year, 50.57% of Member Jungle customers experienced growth, significantly outperforming the industry average of 38%.

How Can Small Clubs Offset the Cost of Membership Software?

Having a system your club can grow with is only useful if you don’t bankrupt yourself in the process. Fortunately, Member Jungle gives you the exact tools you need to help pay for it, namely, by making it easier to attract and promote club sponsors.

Because the system automates your heavy admin tasks, it frees up your time to actually focus on securing sponsorships. Plus, our built-in features give you more ways to promote those sponsors to your members than ever before, making it much easier to keep them on board long-term. 

For a complete breakdown of how to set this up, check out our guide on How You Can Use Sponsors To Fund Your Club’s Membership Management Software.

If you are looking for even more revenue-generating ideas beyond just sponsorships, we also have a dedicated guide covering How You Can Make Money With Member Jungle.

How Much Time Will Membership Software Actually Save My Committee?

One of the biggest pay-offs of making the jump to Member Jungle is the amount of time it gives back to you and your committee. We regularly hear from clubs that their administrative tasks have gone from taking days of frustrating, manual data entry to just a few hours a month.

This doesn't just lower blood pressure and prevent volunteer burnout; it allows your team to actually expand what the club can do. With all that reclaimed time, committees start planning bigger and better events, launching newsletters, organising online catch-ups, and delivering real, tangible value to their members rather than just chasing them for overdue fees.

Key Takeaways: Evaluating Software for Your Small Club

• Calculate the Per-Member Cost: Divide the package price by your member count to see exactly how much dues would need to rise (usually just a few dollars a month).
• Focus on the ROI of Reclaimed Time: Software pays for itself by preventing volunteer burnout and giving your committee time to organise revenue-generating events.
• Growth is Highly Likely: Over 50% of clubs using a streamlined management system experience membership growth, meaning your per-member cost will naturally drop over time.
• Utilise Included Tools: Leverage the provided digital directory and sponsor banners to create new income streams that cover the subscription fee.

What Are the Next Steps to Evaluate Membership Software for Your Small Club?

Chances are, your club isn’t actually too small to benefit from Member Jungle, but you still shouldn't dive in blind. Here is exactly what you should do next to make an informed decision:

• Calculate your exact costs: Jump over to our Pricing Calculator to see exactly what your package will cost. 
• Chat with our team: Once you have a rough idea of the numbers, have a chat with your committee and reach out to us. We will happily help you figure out if Member Jungle is a good choice or not for your organisation.