What is generally considered a common dues base for an association?

A common dues base for an association typically revolves around a measurable and relevant financial metric that reflects the capacity of members to contribute to the association's funding. Sales is often considered a strong dues base for associations, especially those that represent businesses or industries. This is because dues calculated as a percentage of sales can ensure that larger organizations with higher revenues contribute more to the association, thereby allowing it to operate with the necessary resources to support its mission and initiatives.

When using sales as a dues base, it aligns the association's income with the economic performance of its members, making it a fair and equitable approach. As members' sales grow, so does their contribution to the association, creating a sustainable revenue model that can scale with the economic landscape of the industry.

The other choices, while valid measures of influence or capacity, do not directly translate into a structured and consistent dues system like sales does in a business context. Population size may not accurately reflect the economic capability of all members. Advertising revenue is more aligned with income derived from promotional efforts rather than direct contributions from association membership, and community support, while important for non-profits or community-oriented organizations, typically does not reflect an individual member's ability to contribute financially in a structured dues model.