Compare · All-in-one vs water-only
Fourplex vs submetering companies: what small HOAs actually need
Traditional submetering companies sell one thing: reading meters and billing water. Fourplex does that too — then collects the money and runs the rest of your HOA, at a price built for self-managed communities of all sizes.
The short answer
For HOAs of all sizes, one platform that meters, bills, collects, and manages the HOA costs less than water-only service.
Submetering companies are built for large apartment and condo portfolios, where per-unit service fees spread across hundreds of doors. A small HOA pays the same kind of per-unit fee — $25 per unit in one 4-unit quote — for water alone, then still needs separate HOA software for dues, accounting, and records. Fourplex bundles both for $12.25 per unit ($11.23 billed yearly), month to month.
- What you get
- Fourplex: read, bill, collect + HOA management · Water-only companies: read and bill
- Example, 4-unit HOA
- Fourplex $12.25/unit/mo vs a $25/unit/mo water-only quote (Guardian, June 2026)
- Logins to manage
- Fourplex: one · Water-only company + HOA software: two or more
Built for HOAs and the builders who create them
Builders get submetering hardware for less. HOAs get a better service, many more tools, and a lower monthly cost.
For self-managed HOAs
- Lower cost: $12.25 per unit ($11.23 billed yearly) vs a $25 per-unit water-only quote (4 units)
- Better service: water is read, billed, and collected on autopay — not just billed
- Many more tools: dues, trash billing, accounting, financial reports, website, HOA email, and state compliance tracking
- Granular water usage reporting and trends for the board and every resident
For builders and developers
- Hardware for less: 20% less on gateway hardware than Guardian (sample project, June 2026); other equipment varies
- NextCentury meters and gateways, sized with an install spec for your plumber; we commission the gateway
- No unit minimum — townhome and condo projects of any size
- Hand owners a working HOA at turnover, at $12.25 per unit instead of $25 on a 4-unit sample
All-in-one vs water-only submetering
What a self-managed HOA gets from each approach. Offerings vary by provider and property size.
| Feature | Fourplex | submetering companies |
|---|---|---|
| Meter reads & usage billing | Per-unit reads, usage-based charges | Core service |
| Autopay collection | Included for every community | Often depends on property size |
| Water usage reporting | Granular reporting and water trends | Typically month-by-month usage |
| HOA dues billing | Dues, assessments, and fees — one autopay setup | Requires separate HOA software |
| Trash billing | Shared bills split by unit | Varies by provider |
| HOA accounting & financial reports | Ledger, bank balances, P&L, balance sheet | Utility billing reports only |
| Custom website & HOA email | Included | Not offered |
| State compliance tracking | All 50 US states | Not offered |
| Built for | Self-managed HOAs of all sizes | Apartments, large condos, commercial portfolios |
Price per unit on a small HOA
The same 4-unit community, monthly service only. Hardware and installation are quoted separately everywhere.
Fourplex
Our pricing- Read, bill, and collect water
- HOA dues, trash billing, and accounting
- Website, HOA email, documents, meetings
- NextCentury hardware at a low price; month to month
submetering companies
- Read and bill water
- Autopay depends on property size
- HOA software is a separate purchase
- Multi-year contracts are common (5 years on the Guardian quote)
Why small HOAs overpay for submetering
Per-unit service pricing is designed around large buildings.
With Fourplex
Priced for HOAs of all sizes
- $5 per home for water on top of a platform that starts at $29/mo
- No minimum building size
- Month to month, or billed yearly for one month free
With submetering companies
Priced for portfolios
- Per-unit service fees sized for hundreds of doors
- Small properties may not qualify for autopay
- Long-term contracts are common
Billing is not collecting
Reading the meter is half the job. Getting paid is the other half.
With Fourplex
One autopay setup for everything
- Water charges appear next to dues in the resident portal
- Owners set up autopay once for dues, trash, and water
- Funds go to your HOA's connected account
With submetering companies
Billed, then collected separately
- Residents get a separate utility statement
- The board may still chase unpaid water charges
- Two systems to reconcile
Everything beyond water
What a self-managed board needs that a water vendor does not provide.
With Fourplex
A complete HOA suite
- Trash billing and shared-bill splits
- HOA accounting: payment ledger, linked bank balances, P&L and balance-sheet reports
- Granular water usage reporting and trends for every unit
- Custom HOA website and a permanent HOA email address
With submetering companies
Water and utility billing
- Utility billing and meter service
- Some providers handle gas and electric
- HOA governance tools not included
Which one is right for you?
Choose Fourplex if…
- You self-manage an HOA, condo, or townhome community of any size
- You want one autopay setup covering dues, trash, and water
- You want an all-in-one solution covering all of your HOA's needs at a lower price
- You want to stop paying two vendors
Choose submetering companies if…
- You run a large apartment complex, condo tower, or commercial property
- You need gas or electric submetering, or ratio billing
- A property manager already handles dues and accounting
- You only need a utility billing vendor
Moving from your current billing company
Fourplex can easily transfer your properties and meters from other billing companies. Reach out to our team to get started.
Tell us about your properties, meters, billing cycle, and contract terms.
We move your properties and meters over, or quote low-priced hardware, then set your rates.
Your next water period bills and collects through the same autopay setup as dues and trash.
Small HOAs were paying big-building prices to have their water read. We built Fourplex so the board gets metering, billing, collection, and the rest of the HOA in one place.— Fourplex product team
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what boards ask before they switch.
How much does water submetering cost for a small HOA?
What is the difference between billing and collecting?
Do we need separate HOA software if we use Fourplex for water?
When is a traditional submetering company the better choice?
Meter, bill, and collect, in one place.
Start managing your HOA on Fourplex — plans from $29/month for small, self-managed communities.
Get started