I'd be interested in something that could handle joining and renewing membership of a club online and online payment.

I'm a member of a UK national club and the membership is renewed annually in january each year. Currently it is done manually by a volunteer (1,000+ members)
I'd like to offer online renewal, online administration of the resultant database so members can update their details etc.automatic renewal notice and automatic email capabilities of newsletters etc.

Is there an existing way to achieve this using CC software ?

I would like to see this too. I manage several websites that offer memberships (Chambers of Commerce, Yacht Clubs, etc.) and could really use this!

This would be exactly what I needed.

There is currently nothing like this, nor do I think that any current CC software could be extended in this way. Nevertheless, great suggestion. Keep posting it, you never know we could see a great App like that soon.

Maybe use form builder to create the online membership form and add details to a database or flat file.

I thought of this, the only problem is he wants it to be an automatic renewal so that they don't have to track 1,000 people and their renewal dates.

I would like to see this as well. My needs would be a software that allows a user to register by choosing a username and password, then direct them to a payment site. I would like to see the options for paying for a trial, monthly or annually.

Would it be possible to set this up through PayPal and allow them to sign up for a recurring subscription with PayPal doing all of the work with the recurring billing?

Yes! This is especially easy if they all pay the same dues in the same way. Paypal can bill membership renewals automatically either monthly or annually. Get a subscription button for your members.

And yes, I just did this and Paypal even can handle the passwords or so they claimed although how they would manage this seems a bit mysterious to me.

So Formbuilder would be the way to go.

I've not gotten to form builder yet although I purchased it for the current project, but I think that a "Thank you" page could handle all kinds of additional concerns, with links to where you want your new or renewed members to go next.

Can't you sell "subscriptions" through paypal that automatically renew and charge out?

I've never done it myself David, but I do know for a fact it can be done as it's been done "to" me many times lol. Makes it a viable option for sure.