How to Finish Your MembershipWorks Setup (When You’re Stuck)

If your small business, nonprofit or association manages memberships, renewals, event registrations, or dues, you may be asking yourself is MembershipWorks right for your organization. Is it the platform for you?

I’ve been implementing MembershipWorks for organizations since 2018. I have a lot of happy clients who are using it now. I can share with you who MembershipWorks is a great fit for, who it may not be right for, and the kinds of problems it solves so you can make an informed decision. I am always available to answer your questions during this discovery process.

What Is MembershipWorks?

MembershipWorks is an online membership management platform that integrates directly with your website. It allows organizations to manage:

• Membership signups and renewals
• Online payments
• Member directories
• Events and registrations
• Announcement boards and classified ads
• Donations and sponsorships
• Revenue Reporting

It works with WordPress, Squarespace, and Weebly, and is designed specifically for organizations that want a centralized, easy-to-manage membership system without building something custom from scratch. Many of my clients have outgrown the spreadsheet method of tracking membership, who has paid, who hasn’t, etc. They are ready to automate and allow multiple members of their leadership team to have access to their membership data when they need it vs relying on one person with “the spreadsheet”. But they don’t want an overly complicated system with too many bells and whistles they will never use and don’t want to pay for.

MembershipWorks Is a Great Fit If…

MembershipWorks works especially well for:

✔ Small nonprofits and associations

Local associations, chambers of commerce, professional groups, and community organizations that rely on memberships to operate.

✔ Organizations tired of spreadsheets and manual tracking

If membership data lives in Excel files, email inboxes, or paper forms — MembershipWorks can replace all of that with one system.

✔ Groups collecting dues, renewals, or recurring payments

Automated renewal reminders and recurring payments reduce late or missed payments and save enormous administrative time.

✔ Organizations with volunteers or leadership turnover

MembershipWorks is easy to train new staff or volunteers on, which is critical when roles change frequently. I provide written documentation and how-to videos specific for each client.

✔ Groups that want members to manage their own information

Members can update their own profiles, pay dues, register for events, and renew memberships from their own member account, reducing administrative work.

✔ Organizations that want everything in one place

Memberships, events, donations, directories, and reporting all live in the same system instead of across multiple tools.

You can see some websites I have created displayed on my Completed Websites page. There are testimonials there, and more on my MembershipWorks developer page on the MembershipWorks website. To learn more about how to implement MembershipWorks, see my Services page.

Common Problems MembershipWorks Solves

Most of the organizations I work with come to me because they’re struggling with:

• Tracking memberships in spreadsheets
• Chasing checks or unpaid renewals
• Manually sending invoices and reminders
• Keeping member directories accurate
• Managing events and registrations separately
• Using systems that don’t talk to each other
• Finding an affordable option to manage their organization and membership

These challenges often lead to wasted volunteer time, frustrated staff, lost revenue and increased costs.

A common problem I hear from nonprofits is that a talented volunteer builds a robust website with their technical skills and it works great, until they leave the organization. Remaining volunteers don’t know how to manage the website or the membership platform because it’s too complicated, too customized, or it was built with an outdated platform. That’s not good.

MembershipWorks solves these issues by centralizing everything into one integrated system that becomes a seamless part of your website. It’s a system that doesn’t rely on knowing code or deep website knowledge. Plans start at just $35/month too, which makes it very reasonable considering everything that’s included.

If you are a start-up business or organization, it’s hard to know where to begin. It can feel overwhelming. I have a detailed checklist and know just how to manage the project to make sure it’s customized the way you want it to be.

When MembershipWorks Might Not Be the Best Fit

MembershipWorks is a powerful tool, but it’s not for everyone. I tell my clients it’s customizable software, but not custom software.

It may not be the best choice if:

• You only have a handful of members and no plans to grow (it’s free for up to 50 members)
• You don’t need online payments, renewals, or event tickets/registration
• You want a fully custom-coded CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software
• You’re looking for a marketing automation platform

That said, many organizations start simple and grow into MembershipWorks over time — especially when it’s set up correctly from the beginning. I can implement it in phases or all at once, depending on what you need, your budget, and your timeframe.

Why Implementation Matters

MembershipWorks offers a lot of flexibility. That’s a strength — but it also means setup matters. I work in this platform every day and I can easily guide you through the process.

When implemented thoughtfully:

• Membership levels and labels make sense
• Data migration is complete and accurate
• Renewals run smoothly
• Reports are easy to understand
• Volunteers and staff can step in without confusion

When implemented poorly or not completely, it can feel overwhelming.

That’s where I come in.

I help organizations take MembershipWorks from idea → setup → usable system, customized to how your organization works. I want my clients to be happy and I love taking care of all the details to create a system that works for you today and in the future. Read my post Squarespace vs WordPress for Membership Websites to learn more about those two platforms for MembershipWorks.

“I cannot recommend Michelle highly enough! While MembershipWorks has proven to be a wonderful platform, it came with its challenges having no background in website-building. Michelle perfectly listened to and understood our needs/goals and implemented them seamlessly. She is patient, kind, and a pleasure to work with.” Bailey Smith, Club Wheelhouse

Get Started

MembershipWorks is not a complicated CRM overhaul or a bundle of tools that require constant troubleshooting. When set up correctly, it’s a simple, affordable, reliable membership management system that saves time, reduces stress, and supports long-term growth. Its easy to learn, not overly technical.

If you’re considering MembershipWorks and want help deciding whether it’s right for your organization, please give me a call or send me an email.

I’m here to help make managing your membership easier for you!

Michelle Aspelin
MembershipWorks Implementation Specialist
(952) 484-6015
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC
Price quoted above is subject to change. See MembershipWorks.com for current pricing.