While some associations hire staff to run the organization, others hire an Association Management Company (AMC) to handle operations. AMCs are for-profit businesses that provide professional management and administrative services to associations.

AMCs manage associations of varying sizes (from 10 members to 10,000 members) and annual budgets (from $50,000 to $16 million). The AMC model affords association clients the characteristics of economies of scale, experience in the association marketplace, flexibility and adaptability, buying power and centralized facilities.