Compared with
Board Butler or the spreadsheet, the shared drive and the treasurer's inbox.
Most self-managed boards run on a spreadsheet, a folder and email. It works until the treasurer moves, a records request arrives, or an owner asks why the landscaper was chosen.
Board practice
Side by side
Board Butler first in every row, and the way most boards work today beside it.
| What we are comparing | Board Butler | A spreadsheet, a drive and email |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Per unit per month. | Free, plus the treasurer's evenings. |
| Who knows where things are | Everyone, in one record. | One person. |
| Decisions linked to payments | Enforced by the database. | By memory. |
| Statutory deadlines | Computed from your dates and assigned to a role. | Whoever remembers. |
| A records request | Form, clock, classification and assembled response. | A search party. |
| The bid record | Permanent, attached to every payment under the contract. | Three PDFs in a thread. |
| Owner transparency | Portal, scorecard and quarterly Trust Report. | An email when asked. |
| Director turnover | A continuity file in under an hour. | Knowledge leaves with the person. |
| Audit trail | Append-only and hash-chained. | File modified dates. |
A fair comparison
When the spreadsheet could be enough
A six-unit building with one bank account, no reserve study requirement and a treasurer who intends to stay might not need more.
Below 20 units Board Butler still works, and the case is weaker.
The moment the building has statutory obligations, vendor contracts and owners who ask questions, the spreadsheet is the expensive option.
Questions
Questions boards ask
How long does setup take?
Most boards set up in an afternoon with their declaration and unit list, and the 60-day free period covers the first full month-end.
Try it with your building's numbers
Put your unit count into the calculator, or set up your corporation and look around.