MOST CREDENTIALED STAFF SHOWN
Reserve Advisors
33 people named with an RS, PRA or PE on its own site.
2026 RANKINGS ยท FACTS READ NOVEMBER 1, 2026
Reserve study companies, ranked by public evidence
We scored 13 firms, including our own, on what each one shows publicly. These scores measure evidence, not study quality, so use them to decide whom to ask for a proposal.
Who leads on what
Each leader comes from a single fact you can check. These are separate from the overall score.
MOST STUDIES CLAIMED
Association Reserves
More than 100,000 studies, by its own count.
LONGEST IN BUSINESS
Barrera & Company
Established in 1980, with its first reserve study in 1984.
PUBLISHED PRICING
Runway Reserves
Our company
The only firm we reviewed with a published price list by community size, site visit included, from $2,995 for up to 49 units. This ranks how openly firms publish prices, not who costs least. See the pricing ranking.
Overall ranking
Reserve Advisors and Association Reserves lead, mostly because they show the most credentialed staff and the longest records. Our own company, Runway Reserves, ranks 3rd, and most of its points come from publishing its prices and promising one-week delivery. That promise isn't backed by a delivery record yet. A local firm with a low score may still be the right choice for you. Tied firms share a rank. Speed scores each firm's stated standard turnaround, and firms that state none get 0. Each firm's stated turnaround is under its facts. See how the scores work.
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- Nationwide, by its own description
- Since
- 1991
- Studies
- 37,000+ studies, by its own count
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- A timeframe you specify, otherwise within 4 weeks of its visit and receipt of what it needs. Source
- Credentials shown
- 33 people named with an RS, PRA or PE (team page); PRA listed with APRA
- Sample report
- Public
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- Studies in all 50 states, by its own description
- Since
- 1986
- Studies
- 100,000+ studies, by its own count
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- Rush 2 weeks, standard 5 weeks or economy 8 weeks, varying by office, from the signed agreement, deposit and documents. Source
- Credentials shown
- 13 people named with an RS, PRA or PE (team page); PRA listed with APRA
- Sample report
- Public
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- 38 states open and 2 open for some association types, by its own description
- Since
- 2026
- Studies
- No study count found
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- Within 1 week of the site visit. This is a promise from a firm founded in 2026, with no delivery record to show yet. Source
- Credentials shown
- No one named with an RS, PRA or PE on the pages we read
- Sample report
- Public, for a fictional community
- This is our company. We're a new firm and hold no RS, PRA or PE credential, so we aren't the right choice if your state, lender or governing documents require one. Source
- Our sample report is for a fictional community. Without it, we'd score 50 and rank 4th. Source
- A field technician we contract makes the site visit, and we review the work. Source
- Our sample report is signed by Jared Smith, who has prepared more than 250 reserve studies by his own records. He holds no RS, PRA or PE, so he earns no credential points. Source
- Publishes prices by community size with the site visit included, from $2,995 for up to 49 units. Source
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- Clients throughout the US, the Caribbean and Mexico, by its own description
- Since
- 2002 as the present firm; traces its roots to 1985
- Studies
- 1,000 studies a year, by its own count (no lifetime total found)
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- None found on the pages we read
- Credentials shown
- 16 people named with an RS, PRA or PE (team page)
- Sample report
- Public
- Its site footer reads 2022, so ask whether its team page is current. Source
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Facts, turnaround and sources
-
Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- Primarily California and Nevada
- Since
- 1999
- Studies
- No study count found
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- None found on the pages we read
- Credentials shown
- 5 people named with an RS, PRA or PE (team page); PRA listed with APRA
- Sample report
- Public
- A division of Reserve Advisors, so the two aren't independent of each other. Source
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- Florida
- Since
- 2006
- Studies
- 5,000+ studies, by its own count
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- None found on the pages we read
- Credentials shown
- No one named with an RS, PRA or PE on the pages we read; PRA listed with APRA
- Sample report
- No public copy found
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- Throughout the US, by its own description
- Since
- 1980; first reserve study in 1984
- Studies
- More than 20,000 studies, by its own count
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- None found on the pages we read
- Credentials shown
- No one named with an RS, PRA or PE on the pages we read (team page)
- Sample report
- No public copy found
- SmartProperty says its CEO is Barrera's principal shareholder, so treat the two as related. Source
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- 14 states, by its own description
- Since
- No founding year found
- Studies
- No study count found
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- Final draft typically within 4 weeks of a signed contract. Source
- Credentials shown
- No one named with an RS, PRA or PE on the pages we read; PRA listed with APRA
- Sample report
- Public
- Includes PropFusion's Reserve Planner with its services. We found no ownership link between them. Source
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- Nationwide, by its own description
- Since
- 2016
- Studies
- 4,000+ "Living Reserve Studies," by its own count; this may not equal studies with a site visit
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- None found on the pages we read
- Credentials shown
- No one named with an RS, PRA or PE on the pages we read
- Sample report
- No public copy found
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- Pages for California, Nevada and Utah; other locations through its corporate office
- Since
- No founding year found
- Studies
- 1,000+ studies a year, by its own count (no lifetime total found)
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- None found on the pages we read
- Credentials shown
- 1 person named with an RS, PRA or PE; PRA listed with APRA
- Sample report
- Public
-
Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- Washington
- Since
- 1999
- Studies
- No study count found
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- None found on the pages we read
- Credentials shown
- 2 people named with an RS, PRA or PE (team page)
- Sample report
- No public copy found
- Also sells owner representation, construction management and related services. Source
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Facts, turnaround and sources
- Works in
- 11 western states, with updates without a site visit nationwide
- Since
- No founding year found
- Studies
- No study count found
- Stated turnaround (scored as speed)
- None found on the pages we read
- Credentials shown
- 1 person named with an RS, PRA or PE
- Sample report
- Public
Listed but not scored
Apex Reserve Study
Too little public information to score. We found no named people, founding year, credentials, study count or sample report on the pages we read. That doesn't mean the firm lacks them, so ask it directly. It works in California.
PropFusion
A marketplace and software company, not a preparer. Its terms say it "does not provide the reserve study service itself" and that it keeps a fee on payments to providers. Source
How to use this list
- Check whether your state, lender or governing documents require a particular credential. If they do, confirm it with an attorney and rule out firms that don't meet it.
- Ask at least three firms that work in your area for a written proposal and a sample report. Only one firm here publishes prices that include the site visit, and it's ours, so proposals are how you compare cost.
- Ask who will visit your property and who will sign the report, then check that person's credential. A firm's headcount doesn't tell you who gets assigned to your job.
- Ask each firm for its turnaround in writing, when the clock starts, and how often it has met that time. Also ask about ties to other vendors and any recent change in ownership.