Association Reserves
Association Reserves is a privately held, founder-led professional services firm founded in 1986 that prepares reserve studies and capital plans for community associations, HOAs, vacation ownership resorts, municipalities, worship facilities, schools, and private clubs across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersWestlake Village, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Association Reserves does
Association Reserves, Inc. is a privately held professional services firm founded in 1986 and headquartered in Westlake Village, California, that prepares reserve studies and capital plans for community associations, HOAs, condominium and townhome developments, vacation ownership resorts, municipalities, worship facilities, schools, private clubs, camps, and other property types. Its core deliverable is a component-level capital reserve study grounded in the National Reserve Study Standards (NRSS) of the Community Associations Institute, incorporating 30-year cash flow forecasting, lifecycle analysis, and reserve fund strength calculations. Supporting the human-delivered report are the proprietary uPlanIt interactive scenario tool, a Do-it-Yourself Reserve Study Kit, the multi-year Loyalty Update Plan, and hourly consulting and expert witness services.
The firm operates through a network of 20+ regional offices staffed by licensed reserve specialists (PE, RS credentials), giving it local presence across all 50 US states plus select international markets. Revenue is generated across five streams: full professional reserve studies and updates (quote-based project fees), uPlanIt subscriptions ($399 per budget season), the DIY Kit ($499 one-time), hourly consulting ($200/hour), and expert witness engagements by founder Robert Nordlund. The company is founder-owned and bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, no subsidiaries, and no M&A history, supported by a management team of regional presidents, a CMO, and a national marketing function. Distribution is sales-led via regional specialists, supported by content marketing (podcast, webinars, YouTube, the 'Understanding Reserves' book, and an annual Industry Insights Report derived from over 100,000 completed studies).
Association Reserves firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Association Reserves
- Legal name
- Association Reserves, Inc.
- Website
- https://reservestudy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Association Reserves is a privately held, founder-led professional services firm founded in 1986 that prepares reserve studies and capital plans for community associations, HOAs, vacation ownership resorts, municipalities, worship facilities, schools, and private clubs across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Association Reserves industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Reserve Study and Capital Planning Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Association Accounting, Budgeting & Financial Reporting Services (BPAJAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Association Compliance, Governance & Board Support Services (BPAJAHAN)
Keywords
Where Association Reserves is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westlake Village
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices34 records
Markets served
Association Reserves business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Reserve Study Professional Services: Full-service reserve studies and updates including site visits, component assessments, and custom funding plans. Revenue generated through project-based engagements at different service levels.
- Consulting Services: Hourly consulting services for reserve-related matters including component list reviews, site inspections, financial analysis, and what-if scenarios. Billed at $200/hour.
- uPlanIt Subscription: Interactive online tool for what-if scenario testing available for $399/budget season. Free to professional reserve study clients.
- Do-it-Yourself Reserve Study Kit: Self-service kit sold for $499, allowing clients to create their own reserve study with provided templates and instructions.
- Expert Witness Services: Legal consulting and testimony services by Founder Robert Nordlund for disputes involving Reserves.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | DIY Reserve Study Kit - Most economical self-service option |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | uPlanIt Online Tool - Subscription access |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Consulting Services - Hourly professional services |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Reserve Study - Full (Most comprehensive) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Reserve Study Update - With Site Visit |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Reserve Study Update - No Site Visit |
| Subscription | Annual | Loyalty Update Plan - 3-year engagement series |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Association Reserves product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Association Reserves is a professional consulting firm that prepares reserve studies for community associations, HOAs, vacation ownership resorts, municipalities, schools, worship facilities, and other property-owning organizations. Services include site inspection, component inventory, condition assessment, 30-year cash flow forecasting, and custom reserve funding plans designed to avoid special assessments. The firm also offers the proprietary uPlanIt interactive tool for what-if scenario testing, a DIY kit, and expert witness services.
Product overview
Association Reserves offers a comprehensive suite of reserve study services for property financial planning. The core offering consists of three tiers of reserve study services: Full Reserve Study (comprehensive initial assessment with site inspection), Reserve Study Update with Site Visit (periodic reassessment every 3-5 years), and Reserve Study Update without Site Visit (annual office-based updates). Supporting these core services are add-on tools including uPlanIt (interactive what-if scenario planning tool), the Do-it-Yourself Reserve Study Kit ($499 DIY option), the Loyalty Update Plan (3-year engagement program), Consulting Services (hourly expert assistance), and Expert Witness Services (legal support). The company serves diverse property types including association-governed communities, vacation ownership resorts, municipalities, worship facilities, schools, camps, private clubs, and other property types across the United States and internationally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- uPlanIt: Interactive online tool that enhances Reserve Studies by giving clients absolute control of their Reserve funding information. Available FREE to clients with every professional Reserve Study engagement.
Products and services
- Reserve Study - Full Comprehensive initial reserve study engagement including site inspection, full component list creation from scratch, measurements, condition assessment, photographs, and a custom 30-year cash flow funding plan. Designed for properties engaging Association Reserves for the first time.
- Reserve Study Update - With Site Visit Periodic reserve study update typically performed every 3-5 years to visually document changes to the Component List. Includes management consultations, on-site observations, re-assessment of components, and updated deliverables.
- Reserve Study Update - No Site Visit Annual office-based update of a prior reserve study report, performed in the years between site-visit studies. Component information is updated via calls and emails without onsite inspection. Least expensive option.
- Loyalty Update Plan 3-year series of renewing one-year engagements designed to save time, stabilize budgets, and provide outside expertise. Includes automatic annual updates and flat fee pricing.
- uPlanIt Interactive online tool that enhances Reserve Studies by giving clients control of their funding information. Allows real-time what-if scenario testing and provides charts and tables for budget decisions. Free with professional services or available by subscription at $399/budget season.
- Do-it-Yourself Reserve Study Kit Self-service reserve study kit at $499 one-time purchase. Clients create their own Component List and submit information through an online portal to receive a customized Reserve Study Report within 1 week. Does not include revisions or uPlanIt access.
- Consulting Services Hourly consulting services at $200/hour covering review of component lists, site inspections, financial analysis, computational methods, reserve funding plans, and what-if scenarios.
- Expert Witness Services Legal consulting and testimony services provided by Founder Robert Nordlund, PE, RS, including research, investigation, what-if scenarios, depositions, and testimony in disputes involving Reserves.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 reserve studies completed and counting
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Association Reserves
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Association Reserves technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Association Reserves partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Association Reserves competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Vantaca: HOA software platform providing accounting, reserve tracking, and capital planning tools to community associations and management companies. Represents the software-enabled, lower-friction competitive threat that could compress demand for traditional professional reserve studies over time.
- CINC Systems: Cloud-based community association management platform that incorporates reserve and financial planning features. Targets the same HOA and management company buyer as Association Reserves with a software-first delivery model.
Direct peers
- Reserve Advisors: Direct competitor offering the same reserve study services (Full, Update with Site Visit, Update with No Site Visit) to community associations and other property types. Closest analogue to Association Reserves in scope, methodology, and target market.
- Reserve Studies Inc. Independent reserve study provider serving community associations with component-based reserve studies. Direct niche competitor for the same HOA, condo, and cooperative customer base.
- Building Envelope Engineering & Reserve Studies (BEI): Engineering-oriented reserve study firm combining building envelope expertise with reserve study deliverables. Competes for engagements requiring stronger technical assessment of building components, particularly in mid-rise and large condominium properties.
- Capital Reserve Consultants: National reserve study firm providing component-based reserve studies and capital planning for HOAs, condos, and other association-governed properties. Directly competes for the same community association and management company clients.
Broad incumbents
- Community Association Institute (CAI): The national trade association that establishes the National Reserve Study Standards (NRSS) referenced throughout Association Reserves' methodology. Functions as the governing industry body and standard-setter for the reserve study profession rather than a direct service provider.
- Associa: Large-scale community association management company serving thousands of HOAs and condos. Functions as both a buyer of reserve studies and an indirect competitor as management firms expand their consulting offerings.
- FirstService Residential: Largest HOA management company in North America and a major referrer of reserve study engagements. Adjacent rather than direct competitor, but a key channel partner and competitive context because management firms increasingly influence which reserve study firm their communities use.
- AppFolio (HOA/Property Manager Suite): Broader property management software provider with growing community association and HOA offerings including financial and reserve tracking. Adjacent competitive context representing the software-led future of reserve planning workflows.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Association Reserves social profiles
Digital presenceAssociation Reserves financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Association Reserves leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Association Reserves funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Association Reserves M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Association Reserves
What does Association Reserves do?
Association Reserves is a professional consulting firm that prepares reserve studies for community associations, HOAs, vacation ownership resorts, municipalities, schools, worship facilities, and other property-owning organizations. Services include site inspection, component inventory, condition assessment, 30-year cash flow forecasting, and custom reserve funding plans designed to avoid special assessments. The firm also offers the proprietary uPlanIt interactive tool for what-if scenario testing, a DIY kit, and expert witness services.
Is Association Reserves a public or private company?
Association Reserves is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Association Reserves founded?
Association Reserves was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Association Reserves based?
Association Reserves is headquartered in Westlake Village, United States, in the North America region.
How does Association Reserves make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Reserve Study Professional Services are the primary driver. The others are consulting Services, uPlanIt Subscription, do-it-Yourself Reserve Study Kit and expert Witness Services.
Who are Association Reserves's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Vantaca and CINC Systems. Direct peers are Reserve Advisors, Reserve Studies Inc., Building Envelope Engineering & Reserve Studies (BEI) and Capital Reserve Consultants. Broad incumbents are Community Association Institute (CAI), Associa, FirstService Residential and AppFolio (HOA/Property Manager Suite).
Does Association Reserves have an API?
No public API is recorded for Association Reserves.
What industry is Association Reserves in?
Association Reserves's product category is Reserve Study and Capital Planning Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAHAL, Association Accounting, Budgeting & Financial Reporting Services, with a secondary code of BPAJAHAN, Association Compliance, Governance & Board Support Services.