One-page printable document, arguments addressing common objections, comparative monthly cost analysis, and a draft resolution. To prepare for the next board meeting.
Quick Answer: this free English-language kit helps directors of self-managed condo syndicates in Quebec pitch CondoAide to their board of directors. It contains a one-page printable document, arguments addressing common board objections, a comparative monthly cost analysis, and a draft resolution. Download it to prepare for the next board meeting.
Download the PDF (1 page)
Printable version to bring to the next board meeting
In Quebec, the board of directors of a condo syndicate is the body that makes day-to-day management decisions, within the limits set by the declaration of co-ownership and the Civil Code. Adopting a software platform that involves recurring fees — even modest ones — is normally a board decision, not the unilateral decision of any one acting director.
This is a good thing: the decision is made collectively, documented in a meeting minute, and doesn't depend on a single director. The challenge for the director pitching CondoAide is therefore less about convincing themselves than about equipping the board so the decision is informed and quick.
This kit exists for that. It provides what a three-director volunteer board needs to vote in fifteen minutes instead of deferring to the next meeting.
The kit includes five complementary elements:
Four arguments hold up before a cautious board:
Bill 16 compliance, firm deadline. The regulation adopted by decree 991-2025 has been in force since August 14, 2025. Full compliance is required by August 14, 2028: maintenance logbook (carnet d'entretien) established by an authorized professional, contingency fund study (étude du fonds de prévoyance) projected over 25 years, syndicate certificate (attestation du syndicat) compliant with article 1070.3 of the Civil Code. CondoAide handles all three obligations in one tool with automatic validations per the regulation.
Article 1070 compliance for document conservation. The syndicate is legally required to maintain a registry whose integrity must be demonstrable. Excel and Google Drive don't allow this — deletions can be permanent, modifications leave no trace. CondoAide ensures reversible deletions with timestamped history and cryptographic hashing of every document. See the detailed comparison with Excel.
Reduced personal risk for directors. Directors of a condo syndicate are personally liable to co-owners for breaches of their obligations. A missing or incomplete certificate can block a unit sale and expose the board to damages claims. CondoAide reduces this risk by generating compliant certificates and maintaining a verifiable registry.
Certain and limited monthly cost. The Démarrage plan at $39/month CAD is lower than the hidden cost of the Excel status quo (director time, amplified accountant fees, risks). The Free plan up to 5 units allows evaluation without commitment.
Here are the most common objections raised in board meetings, with documented responses:
"It's a recurring cost we haven't budgeted for."
The Free plan up to 5 units commits to nothing. For larger syndicates, the Démarrage plan at $39/month (or $390/year CAD with two months free) typically represents a net saving from the first month, by reducing the hours billed by the annual accountant and the time spent by the volunteer director.
"We've used Excel for ten years and it works."
Excel has worked for daily management. What no longer works is compliance with Bill 16 (in force since August 14, 2025) and article 1070 of the Civil Code. The detection usually comes during the next unit sale, when the notary requests the certificate and finds it incomplete or that the maintenance logbook isn't compliant.
"What if we don't like it and want to stop?"
Your data is exportable at any time in an open format (CSV, PDF). In the event of service termination, sufficient notice and a full export would be guaranteed to migrate to another tool without data loss. No long-term commitment: the Démarrage plan is billed monthly.
"What about the security of our data?"
CondoAide data is hosted in Canada, in compliance with Quebec's Law 25 on the protection of personal information. You can export your data and delete it at any time.
"We already have an accountant — why software too?"
CondoAide does not replace the accountant. It reduces the work billed by the accountant by automating expense categorization, bank statement imports, and the production of accountant-ready reports. The annual mission report and tax questions remain in the accountant's domain.
"Who will have access to the account?"
Depending on the plan: Démarrage allows up to 5 directors with role-based access control. Gestion adds co-owner access (read-only on public documents). The acting director can revoke access at any time.
"How long does migration from Excel take?"
For a self-managed syndicate of fewer than 20 units, count 1 to 3 hours for initial setup, with the historical record building as you use the platform. For larger syndicates, expect 5 to 10 hours spread over a few weeks.
The honest analysis must compare the direct cost of CondoAide to the total cost of the Excel status quo. The latter includes:
None of these line items appear in the "software" column of the current annual budget. All exist anyway.
| CondoAide plan | Monthly cost | Annual cost | For which syndicate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 5 units, or to evaluate before deciding |
| Démarrage | $39 | $390 | Up to 50 units, standard self-managed syndicate |
| Gestion | $79 | $790 | Up to 50 units, co-owner access, priority support |
| Pro | $129 | $1,290 | Up to 200 units, multi-building |
Annual rate billed once per year — equivalent to 10 months at the monthly rate (two months saved).
To give the board an order of magnitude: a 30-unit syndicate on the Démarrage plan pays $39/month CAD. That's typically less than one hour of an accountant's billable rate. If the software saves one hour of accountant time per month, it pays for itself. See the detailed comparison with Excel for assumptions.
Six steps, spread over a few weeks:
Template — adapt to your declaration of co-ownership and bylaws — to record in the meeting minutes:
Template to adapt to your declaration of co-ownership and bylaws. CondoAide does not provide legal advice.
Three steps, over the first weeks following the vote:
Migration. The acting director converts the Free account to the appropriate paid plan, imports the remaining history from Excel and existing files, and configures access for other directors. See the comparison with Excel for migration details.
Validation. At its next meeting, the board reviews the migration: verification that imported data matches, that generated certificates are compliant, and that the maintenance logbook and contingency fund study are in place or being established.
Routine. Once migration is validated, daily use becomes routine and Bill 16 / article 1070 compliance is maintained automatically. The board reviews usage at the annual general meeting and reconfirms the plan in the next year's budget.
For a recurring financial commitment, yes — this is standard practice in Quebec and is generally required by the declaration of co-ownership. The Free plan up to 5 units can be tested without prior approval, but conversion to a paid plan typically requires a board decision.
Free (≤5 units): $0. Démarrage: $39/month CAD. Gestion: $79/month CAD. Pro: $129/month CAD. Multi-Syndicats for property managers: $100/month + $29/syndicate.
Yes. The Free plan up to 5 units has no time limit and no credit card required. For larger syndicates, you can test with a subset of units to evaluate.
Your data is exportable at any time in an open format (CSV, PDF). In the event of service termination, sufficient notice and a full export would be guaranteed to allow migration without data loss.
Yes. CondoAide data is hosted in Canada, in compliance with Quebec's Law 25 on the protection of personal information.
For most self-managed syndicates of fewer than 50 units, the software is sufficient for daily tracking. An accountant remains useful for the annual mission report and specific tax questions — but their bill should decrease.
By plan: Démarrage allows up to 5 directors with roles. Gestion adds co-owner access (read-only on public documents). The acting director can revoke access at any time.
1 to 3 hours for a syndicate of fewer than 20 units, 5 to 10 hours for larger ones, spread over a few weeks. See the detailed comparison with Excel.
Download the kit and prepare for the next board meeting
The one-page PDF is designed to be printed and laid on the table. The free account lets you test with your own syndicate before the meeting.
References: article 1070 C.C.Q. · article 1070.3 C.C.Q. · decree 991-2025
CondoAide is a management and information tool. It does not provide professional advice within the meaning of the Engineers Act, the Professional Code, or any other applicable legislation. Consult a qualified professional for any decision regarding your condominium.