Self-Management. Small associations frequently use self-management, i.e., the board directly manages the association without the assistance of professional management.

Management Company. Small and Medium-sized associations often employ a management company to handle day to day operations. This includes assessment collection, property inspections, soliciting bids for board review, correspondence, meeting attendance, etc. 

Onsite Management. Large (and smaller high-end) associations will often employ a full-time onsite manager to handle operations. Assessment collection is frequently done by an outside company, but very large associations sometimes set up an in-house department for their accounting. More often than not, the general manager is a direct employee of the association. However, some associations operate with the manager as an employee of a management company.