Private clubs face stable demand but rising expectations and tighter financial scrutiny.
This environment pressures capital planning, cost control, technology and governance.
Leaders must align data, discipline and transparency to protect long‑term member trust.
As 2026 unfolds, private club leadership teams are operating in a landscape defined less by volatility and more by disciplined execution. Economic conditions are stable enough to support member demand, yet tight enough to require sharper financial oversight, stronger governance and more intentional capital planning.
At the same time, member expectations continue to rise, operational complexity is increasing, and technology-related risk has become a board-level concern.
For private club general managers, chief financial officers and boards of directors, the main challenge is no longer simply managing day-to-day operations but rather ensuring that every decision aligns with long-term financial stability and member trust. Below we highlight key issues and how leadership teams can align priorities to navigate 2026 with confidence and clarity.
Leadership priorities:
- Tie capital spending directly to member utilization and satisfaction metrics.
- Prioritize projects that deliver visible, high-impact improvements.
- Communicate the financial rationale behind decisions to reinforce trust.
- Use member behavior data to guide staffing, programming and service levels.
2. Capital planning is a core financial strategy
Disciplined capital planning decisions are now a core component of financial risk management for private clubs.
Leadership priorities:
- Revisit and validate capital plans using updated construction costs and interest rate assumptions.
- Consider phased or modular project approaches to protect liquidity.
- Strengthen project governance before approving major initiatives.
- Align capital timing with long-term financial sustainability rather than short-term pressure.
3. Cost management is a defining operational challenge
With gross domestic product growth near 2.2% and inflation around 3%, clubs face a stable but cost-pressured environment. Success in 2026 will go to those who focus on operational precision, not expansion for its own sake.
Leadership priorities:
- Build budgets that reflect persistent labor and service cost increases.
- Reassess staffing models for efficiency without compromising member experience.
- Ensure dues strategies support long-term operating and capital needs.
- Maintain liquidity discipline as operational complexity grows.
4. Technology and operational risk are now board-level issues
Clubs rely on integrated systems for payments, reservations and access control, making disruptions costly. A system failure or data breach can immediately affect revenue, insurance exposure and member trust.
Leadership priorities:
- Strengthen vendor oversight and IT system resilience.
- Improve cybersecurity readiness and incident response protocols, including developing employee training programs that are consistently maintained and updated.
- Tighten internal controls around data, payment processing and system access.
- Treat technology risk as part of the financial and reputational risk portfolio.
5. Economic conditions should play a key role in club strategy
Boards expect leadership teams to translate macroeconomic trends into actionable planning assumptions. Effective governance requires economic fluency and evidence-based decision making to inform strategy.
Leadership priorities:
- Tie economic indicators to dues strategy, liquidity planning and capital timing.
- Maintain transparent, consistent communication with boards and members.
- Use data to support long-term sustainability decisions.
- Strengthen alignment between finance, operations and governance.
The takeaway for GMs, CFOs and boards
The year 2026 will be defined by disciplined execution. Clubs that excel will:
- Make capital decisions with rigor.
- Manage costs with precision.
- Strengthen operational and technology resilience.
- Use data to drive member value.
- Communicate transparently and proactively.
These are the leadership behaviors that build financial stability, operational confidence and long-term member trust.
RSM contributors
-
-
Bo BraultPartner
2025 Financial and Operating Trends in Private Clubs Report
Highlights trends of more than 100 clubs throughout Florida
Related insights
