For trade associations
Trade association management software for member firms
Trade associations represent firms, not just people. Etribes keeps each member firm's details and documents on record, collects fees online and helps members find buyers and partners inside the association.
How it often works today
Documents arrive by email and courier
Registration certificates and licences come in every format, and checking them is slow work for a small office.
Fees are matched by hand
Some firms pay online, some by bank transfer, and the office matches each payment to a member in a spreadsheet.
AGM attendance is hard to prove
When a decision depends on who was present, a handwritten register is weak evidence.
Members want business, not just notices
Firms join to be found by buyers and partners, but the association has nowhere to show them.
How Etribes handles it
Documents checked in one place
Choose which documents each firm must upload, then verify them from the member's record. Firms with a missing document show as pending, so you know who to follow up.
Forms that fit your trade
Add your own questions to the company form, such as trade category or registration number.
Fees and payment history together
Firms pay and renew online from their own account, bank details are shown for those who transfer, and every payment sits in the firm's payment history.
AGM attendance on record
Record attendance on the day or upload the attendance sheet afterwards, so the association knows who was present.
A marketplace for member firms
Member firms list products and services on Vocal4Local. Others search by category, send enquiries, and both sides track them in one inbox.
Features for trade associations
Member firms, documents, fees, events and enquiries for trade associations.
- Membership managementOnline registration with approval, a searchable directory, document checks and your own plans.
- Payments and renewalsOnline fee collection, renewals from the member's account, payment history and renewal reminders.
- Events and attendanceEvent calendar, recurring series, automatic reminders on your schedule, attendance and certificates.
- Networking and marketplaceVocal4Local marketplace, an enquiries inbox, a business directory and important contacts.
- CommunicationBroadcasts, circulars and newsletters by email and WhatsApp, with templates and delivery checks.
- Admin and reportsDashboard and reports, staff roles, a record of who did what, email delivery checks and settings.
Questions from trade associations
Can we ask member firms for specific documents?
Yes. You decide which document types members must upload, and your team verifies each one from the member's record.
Can we keep an attendance record for our AGM?
Yes. Record attendance for any event as it happens, or upload an attendance sheet afterwards. It stays with the event for your records.
Do we keep firm details and the representative's details separately?
Yes. You can add your own questions to the member form and to the company form, so the firm and the person who represents it are both on record.
Can member firms share their details with buyers?
Yes. Each member can share a digital visiting card by link, choosing from several card designs, and point buyers to their public company page.
Other kinds of organisation
- Chambers of commerceMember businesses, renewals, circulars and events for chambers of commerce.
- Professional bodiesCredentials, renewals, CPD events, certificates and a job board for professional bodies.
- Alumni associationsAlumni registration, directory, reunions, jobs and fees for alumni associations.
See a day of your association run on Etribes
Book a demo and we will walk through your own membership, events and payments, starting from the way your organisation works today.