business plan funeral services

Funeral Home Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Funeral Home Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their funeral home companies. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a funeral home business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your funeral home business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start a funeral home business or grow your existing funeral home company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your funeral home business to improve your chances of success. Your funeral home business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Funeral Home Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a funeral home business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for funeral home companies.

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How to write a business plan for a funeral home business.

If you want to start a funeral home business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your funeral home business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of funeral home business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a funeral home business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of funeral home businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the funeral home industry.
• Discuss the type of funeral home business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of funeral home business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of funeral home businesses:

• Traditional or full-service funeral home : Includes the preparation of the body, selection of casket, funeral service details, and full implementation of the funeral and committal service. A full-service funeral home plans and presents every detail of the funeral and burying processes.
• Independent funeral home: This type of funeral home works as a stand-alone business, offering full funeral services or any portion of those services.
• Funeral home and cemetery: A traditional funeral home that is on-site at a cemetery and works in tandem with the cemetery to provide all needed services.
• Funeral home and crematory: A traditional funeral home that contains a crematorium on-site and works in conjunction with the funeral home.

In addition to explaining the type of funeral home business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of gravesites sold, the number of families served,, reaching X number of pre-need funeral packages sold, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the funeral home industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the funeral home industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your funeral home business plan:

• How big is the funeral home industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your funeral home business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your funeral home business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, families, and religious organizations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of funeral home business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than religious organizations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other funeral home businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes private memorial service providers, “scattering of the ashes” ceremony providers, and “celebration of life” event planners. You need to mention direct competition, as well.

For each direct competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of clients and families do they serve?
• What type of funeral home business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide options for the requests of the families?
• Will you offer funeral services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide floral arrangements as part of your service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a funeral home business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of funeral home company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide funeral services with either a cemetery burial or a crematory service and memorial service?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your funeral home company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your funeral home and cemetery business located near a forest, lake or park setting? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your funeral home marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in magazines and newsletters targeted to nurses and caregivers
• Reach out to hospice services
• Create a website utilizing large font sizes to clearly and simply describe services offered
• Engage in pre-need marketing via radio and television

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your funeral home business, including answering calls, planning and providing funeral services, invoicing and giving tours for families, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth funeral service, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your funeral home business to a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your funeral home business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing funeral home businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a funeral home business or successfully running a hospice center.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you increase your funeral services to 10 per day, and/or offer premium family gravesite memorial areas? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your funeral home business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a funeral home business:

• Cost of equipment and office supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your funeral home ownership documentation, or a list of funeral and burial insurance plans you accept.

Writing a business plan for your funeral home business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the funeral home industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful funeral home business.

Funeral Home Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my funeral home business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your funeral home business plan.

How Do You Start a Funeral Home Business?

Starting a Funeral Home business is easy with these 14 steps:

• Choose the Name for Your Funeral Home Business
• Create Your Funeral Home Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Funeral Home Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Funeral Home Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Funeral Home Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Funeral Home Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Funeral Home Business Equipment
• Develop Your Funeral Home Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Funeral Home Business
• Open for Business

Learn more about how to start your own funeral home business .

Where Can I Download a Free Business Plan Template PDF?

Click here to download the pdf version of our basic business plan template.

Our free business plan template pdf allows you to see the key sections to complete in your plan and the key questions that each must answer. The business plan pdf will definitely get you started in the right direction.

We do offer a premium version of our business plan template. Click here to learn more about it. The premium version includes numerous features allowing you to quickly and easily create a professional business plan. Its most touted feature is its financial projections template which allows you to simply enter your estimated sales and growth rates, and it automatically calculates your complete five-year financial projections including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Here’s the link to our Ultimate Business Plan Template.

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Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how Growthink’s business planning advisors can create your business plan for you.

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Funeral Home Business Plan Sample

OCT.03, 2013

Starting Funeral home business plan

Are you looking for how to open funeral home? A funeral home business mortician and burial services for the deceased. The services may include funeral planning, body preparation, transportation, burial, or cremation.

Funeral homes have been in demand from always. However, these days the demand for funeral services has increased due to the sudden rise in death rate because of coronavirus.

While it’s true that the funeral home business is profitable, it’s also correct that running such a business is not easy. You will have to procure protective kits, chemicals, and a lot of other mortuary items on daily basis. Moreover, you will need to ensure that strict protocols and safety rules are being followed throughout the process.

To ensure the successful running of your business, it is essential to first create a business plan. If you don’t know the components of a comprehensive business plan, you can take help from this business plan for a funeral home startup, James Funeral Home.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

James Funeral Home will be a licensed and registered funeral home based in San Antonio. The business will aim at performing all the funeral rituals including bathing and enshrouding, burial, cremation, etc. Moreover, the business will also provide catering services and transportation.

2.2 Management of Funeral home

Opening a funeral home is a relatively difficult venture. The funeral process needs to be carried out with great care and attention. Therefore, there must be efficient management and supervision to ensure that all of the sensitive tasks are taken care of properly.

Before exploring how to start a funeral home business you should keep in mind that it is a tough business. Running a funeral home means you have to be on call 365 days a year. Whether it’s Christmas or your wedding anniversary, you’ll have to arrange for the presence at the funeral home. In this sample plan on how to set up a funeral business we will be listing the details of how James Funeral Home will be managed and administered.

2.3 Customers of Funeral home

In your startup business plan for a funeral home, you should identify your customers. So that you can design your services accordingly. The customers of a funeral home are usually families of the deceased. However, in some cases, alive people also plan their funerals before dying.

2.4 Business Target

Our target is to become the number one choice of people of our city whenever they need funeral services. Moreover, we aim at boosting our net profit margin to £24k per month by the end of the three years.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

James Ben will be the owner of James Funeral Home. James holds a BS in Mortuary Science from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He has also worked as an embalmer for two years.

3.2 Why the funeral home is being started

After working as an embalmer for two years, James decided to start a funeral home of his own. He entered the business world as he wanted to use his potential to the fullest. And to earn large profits while serving people on a wider scale.

3.3 How the funeral home will be started

Step1: Make Your Business Plan

James had good management skills. However, he didn’t possess the skill set required to make a crematorium business plan. He studied several funeral home business plan examples but eventually decided to hire a professional for it. The marketing analysis, sales strategy, and financial planning done by his business consultant are given in this sample funeral home business plan.

Step2: Get Identified 

The next step is to establish a physical basis for your business and define your business’ services and aims. After this, your customers will start recognizing your presence and the distinct features of yours as compared to your competitors.

Step3: Recruitments

The hiring process is actually a part of the step in which you set up your physical presence. In this phase, you have to organize tests and interviews to find the most skillful and responsible employees for your business.

Step4: A Strong Web Presence

Along with other operations of your funeral home business , it is really important to focus on web development too. Through a website, you will be able to reach a wider audience and leave a positive image of yourself before even interacting with people.

Before owning a funeral home, it is essential to decide your services. Through this practice, you can make arrangements for equipment and space accordingly. In this business plan template for funeral home, we’re listing the services that James Funeral Home will provide.

• Funeral Planning

Our primary service will be providing funeral plans. These days, many people have started to purchase funeral plans. So that their families don’t have to stress over their funeral charges after their death. In this service, we’ll also be responsible for informing all the friends/ relatives of the deceased about the death.

• Body Preparation

We will prepare the dead body to be buried or cremated. This service will include all the relevant tasks such as bathing the deceased, enshrouding, etc. The paperwork required for burial will also be completed by us.

• Burial/ Cremation

We will provide space for performing eulogies and brief prayers for the dead. Moreover, we’ll also be responsible for burying the dead body. Since in some religions, there is a ritual of cremating the deceased. Thus we’ll be offering cremation services too.

• Transportation

We’ll also transport dead bodies from one place to another in specialized refrigerated vehicles.

• Catered Meal

We’ll offer plated dinner to the mourners in a location other than our funeral home. Since funeral homes are generally prohibited to offer food in the same building, we decided to offer it in another building located nearby.

Marketing Analysis of Funeral Home

Accurate marketing analysis is the key to get prominent in the market as soon as you get launched. For doing so it is essential to know the market, direct and indirect competitors, stakeholders, and market fluctuations. An accurate market analysis will enable you

• To recognize the potential customers
• To identify the needs and expectations of your target customers
• To decide a pricing strategy for the business plan that would allow you to meet financial goals while drawing more customers than your competitors

James studied several funeral home business plans to identify potential customers and market trends. However, he ended up realizing that hiring a professional market analyst would be better for him. As that will make him achieve a greater level of accuracy.

5.1 Market Trends

Funeral homes are high in demand especially after the surge in deaths due to coronavirus. According to IBISWorld, there are more than 28k funeral homes running in the United States. Moreover, Statista predicts that the cremation rate in the U.S. would rise to 79.1 percent by 2035 – resulting in a need for more funeral homes.

Thus, it is evident that opening a funeral home will not run you into a loss. You only need to do efficient planning before starting funeral home to ensure success for your business.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

The detailed marketing segmentation of our target audience is as follows:

5.2.1 Families of Deceased

Our primary customers will be the families of late. We expect them to avail of our body preparation, burial, and catering services. In San Antonio, the population is quite large and so the death rate. Therefore, we expect to get a considerable number of customers.

Our business values are based on customer care. We totally empathize with the families of the deceased. And therefore, to help the grievers in their misery we are offering body preparation and burial services at relatively lower prices.

5.2.2 Funeral Planners

Our second group of target customers will comprise alive people who purchase funeral planners before they die. These days, many adults and seniors have started to buy funeral plans so that their families and friends do not have to arrange money for their funerals.

5.2.3 Old Homes for Elder Orphans

The third category of our target customers will include the organizations that shelter elder orphans. Elder orphans are the senior people who do not have any friends or family to look after them. The funeral charges of such people are often paid by shelter homes. Thus, we expect them to contact us for our services too.

5.3 Business Target

Setting financial and customers’ related goals before starting a business is a good practice. It allows the business owners to direct the energy and resources towards the company’s goals.

And it is important because how much do funeral home owners make is entirely dependent on how well they could manage their assets.

Our business targets are:

• To earn a profit margin of £24k per month by the end of the third year
• To maintain a CSAT score of above 85%

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5.4 Product Pricing

The prices of our funeral plans and catered foods are a little higher as compared to our competitors. However, our other services could be availed at lower rates than those of our competitors.

Marketing Strategy

Sales strategy is another component that can decide the future of your business. This part enables you to reach out to your target customers and increase your sales on a monthly and yearly basis.

In this marketing plan for funeral home, we’re providing the sales strategy of James Funeral Home.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

James studied several funeral business ideas to find out the areas where his competitors were lacking. After that analysis, he decided to come up with the following competitive aspects:

• James Funeral Home will have a user-friendly app so that people can connect to it remotely and conveniently.
• Secondly, it’s the only funeral home in the whole city that is providing catering meals to the mourners in a separate location.
• Third, it has extremely responsible employees who’ll always adhere to SOPs and strict protocols.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We’ll promote our startup through Google Local ads and local magazines
• We’ll offer a 50% discount to the first 100 purchasers of our funeral plans
• We’ll offer a 30% discount on our transport and catered meal services for the first two months of our launch

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 sales yearly, 6.5 sales forecast, personnel plan.

Before starting a funeral parlor business you should make a list of employees you will need along with their job descriptions.

7.1 Company Staff

James will be the CEO himself. However, he’ll hire the following staff

• 2 Supervisors to help manage the operations
• 1 Accountant to maintain financial records
• 1 Front Desk Officer
• 8 Morticians to perform funerals
• 3 Cooks to prepare food
• 2 Waiters to serve food
• 8 Cleaners to maintain the facilities
• 3 General Assistants for routine tasks and paperwork
• 1 Sales Executive to promote the company
• 1 Web developer/ App Developer to manage the company’s website and app
• 2 Drivers to transport dead bodies

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

Financial planning for a funeral home business is a little complicated. Firstly, because you’ll need to buy and discard certain materials and protective kits off and on. And secondly due to the complexity involved in setting prices of funeral plans. When you sell a funeral plan to a person you don’t know the inflation rate that will prevail at the time of their death. The period may be shorter or longer – resulting in unpredictable losses or profits.

However, there are still many areas through which you can control the financial trajectory of your business. In this build a funeral home business plan, we’re providing the financial plan developed for James Funeral Home. So that you can have an idea of the cash flows, gross margins, and business ratios for this business.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 brake-even analysis, 8.3 projected profit and loss, 8.3.1 profit monthly, 8.3.2 profit yearly, 8.3.3 gross margin monthly, 8.3.4 gross margin yearly, 8.4 projected cash flow, 8.5 projected balance sheet, 8.6 business ratios.

Download Funeral Home Business Plan Sample in pdf

OGS capital writers specialize in business plan themes such as convenience store business plan , business plan for e-commerce , retail business plan , corner store business plan , book store business plan , retail discount store business plan and many others business plans.

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than £1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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Funeral Home

Back to All Business Ideas

How to Start a Funeral Home

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on June 7, 2022 Updated on September 27, 2023

Investment range

$151,550 - $289,100

Revenue potential

$624,000 - $1.95 million p.a.

Time to build

1 – 12 months

Profit potential

$62,000 - $195,000 p.a.

Industry trend

• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Funeral Home Name
• Create a Funeral Home Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund your Business
• Apply for Funeral Home Business Licenses and Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Run a Funeral Home - Start Making Money!

Funeral Home Business FAQs

Funerals offer people the chance to say goodbye to their loved ones, with their loved ones. Funeral homes, therefore, provide an essential and meaningful service to the community, and their largely recession-proof since demand is relatively constant. 

The US funeral services industry is worth $18 billion after years of steady growth. Starting a funeral home could be a very rewarding venture, as you’ll be providing a valuable service and making good money. 

If you’re considering such a venture, however, you’ll need to understand what you’re getting into from a business perspective. Fortunately, this step-by-step guide contains all the information you need to start a successful funeral home. 

Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.

Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services .

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

Starting a funeral home has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.

• Provide Solace – Help people mourn and find closure
• Good Money – The average funeral costs $6,000 to $7,000
• Stable Industry – Economic fluctuations have little impact on funeral homes
• Investment Required – Costs to get started are high
• Emotionally Draining – Deal with the grieving every day

Funeral home industry trends

Industry size and growth.

• Industry size and past growth – The US funeral home industry is worth $18 billion in 2022 after expanding .6% annually the last five years.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/funeral-homes-united-states/ ))
• Growth forecast – The US funeral home industry is projected to decline 1.8% in 2022. 
• Number of businesses – In 2022, 24,554 funeral home businesses are operating in the US.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/funeral-homes-united-states/ )) 
• Number of people employed – In 1022, the US funeral home industry employs 119,167 people.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/employment/funeral-homes-united-states/ )) 

Trends and challenges

Trends in the funeral home industry include:

• More and more people are pre-planning their funeral arrangements so their families don’t have to be concerned about the costs.
• Eco-friendly funeral products and services are trending, including bio-degradable caskets and space-saving burial techniques.

Challenges in the funeral home industry include:

• E-commerce is allowing people to purchase caskets online for less, reducing casket sales for funeral homes.
• The rising number of cremations is also reducing the merchandise sales for funeral homes. 

Demand hotspots

• Most popular states – The most popular states for funeral directors are Oregon, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.(( https://www.zippia.com/funeral-director-jobs/best-states/ ))
• Least popular states – The least popular states for funeral directors are Montana, South Carolina, and South Dakota.

What kind of people work in funeral homes?

• Gender – 35.3% of funeral directors are female, while 64.7% are male. (( https://www.zippia.com/funeral-director-jobs/demographics/ ))
• Average level of education – The average funeral director has an associate’s degree.
• Average age – The average funeral director in the US is 50 years old.

How much does it cost to start a funeral home business?

Startup costs for a funeral home range from $150,000 to $300,000. Costs include a down payment on a building, preparation of the space, equipment, a hearse, and an inventory of caskets and urns.

You’ll need to meet the funeral service education requirements of your state to become a licensed funeral director. According to the American Board of Funeral Services Education , most states require post-secondary education, the passage of the National Board Examination, and serving an internship for one or two years. 

Check with your state board for specific requirements. Educational resources and information are also available through the National Funeral Directors Association . 

You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your funeral home business, including: 

• Embalming tables
• Embalming machine
• Mortuary stretchers
• Body coolers
• Artery tubes
• Cavity injectors
• Drainage tubes
• Hydro aspirators
• Needle injectors
• Inventory of caskets
• Inventory of urns

How much can you earn from a funeral home business?

The average cost of a funeral is $6,500. The profit margin of a funeral home after all costs is about 10%. 

In your first year or two, you could hold eight funerals per month, bringing in $624,000 in annual revenue. This would mean $62,000 in profit, assuming that 10% margin. As your funeral brand gains recognition, you might hold 25 funerals per month. With annual revenue of $1,950,000, you’d make a healthy profit of $195,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for a funeral home. Your biggest challenges will be:

• The high startup costs of the building, equipment, and inventory
• Meeting state licensing requirements to be a licensed funeral director

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Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a funeral home, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market.

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape. 

Why? Identify an opportunity

Research funeral homes in your area to examine their products and services, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a funeral parlour that sells biodegradable caskets, or a funeral establishment that offers cremation services.

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as celebration of life services or eco-friendly funeral services.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine your products or services

In addition to funeral services, you can sell caskets and urns. You can also offer cremation services, but that would add significantly to your startup costs. 

How much should you charge for funeral services?

The average cost of a funeral is $6,500. After all costs of the merchandise, labor, and overhead, your profit margin should be about 10%. 

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Your target market could be anyone, so you should spread out your marketing to include sites like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and even LinkedIn.

Where? Choose your funeral home location

Choosing the right location for your funeral home is crucial for ensuring its success. Look for a spot in a convenient and accessible location, such as a busy street or a residential area. Consider the size of the property and the facilities, ensuring that they can accommodate the needs of clients and staff.

Additionally, assess the local regulations and zoning laws to ensure compliance and obtain any necessary permits. Depending on the type of funeral services you plan to offer, you may also want to consider the proximity to cemeteries, crematoriums, and other related services.

By strategically choosing the right location, you can establish a reputable and successful funeral home that provides compassionate and personalized services to families.

It’s possible that you could find a location to rent for your funeral home instead of purchasing a building. You can find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist , Crexi , and Instant Offices .

Step 3: Brainstorm a Funeral Home Name

Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “funeral home” or “funeral parlour”, boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “Eternal Rest Funeral Home” over “Veteran’s Funeral Home”
• Avoid location-based names that might hinder future expansion
• Use online tools like the Step by Step Business Name Generator . Just type in a few keywords and hit “generate” and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

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Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Funeral Home Business Plan

Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:

• Executive Summary : Brief overview of the entire business plan; should be written after the plan is complete.
• Business Overview : Overview of the company, vision, mission, ownership, and corporate goals.
• Product and Services : Describe your offerings in detail.
• Market Analysis : Assess market trends such as variations in demand and prospects for growth, and do a SWOT analysis .
• Competitive Analysis : Analyze main competitors, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and create a list of the advantages of your services.
• Sales and Marketing : Examine your companies’ unique selling propositions (USPs) and develop sales, marketing, and promotional strategies.
• Management Team : Overview of management team, detailing their roles and professional background, along with a corporate hierarchy.
• Operations Plan : Your company’s operational plan includes procurement, office location, key assets and equipment, and other logistical details.
• Financial Plan : Three years of financial planning, including startup costs, break-even analysis, profit and loss estimates, cash flow, and balance sheet.
• Appendix : Include any additional financial or business-related documents.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to funeral homes. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your funeral home will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

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Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans: This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a funeral home business. 

Step 8: Apply for Funeral Home Business Licenses and Permits

Starting a funeral home business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

You’ll need a funeral director’s license from your state. Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your funeral home business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as passare , Osiris , or FrontRunner , to manage your processes, project coordination, inventory, invoices, and payments.

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero . 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using services like WordPress , Wix , or Squarespace . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

Some of your business will come from the casual passerby or online visitors, but you should still invest in digital marketing! Getting the word out is especially important for new businesses, as it’ll boost customer and brand awareness. 

Once your website is up and running, link it to your social media accounts and vice versa. Social media is a great tool for promoting your business because you can create engaging posts that advertise your products: 

• Facebook: Great platform for paid advertising, allows you to target specific demographics, like men under age 50 in the Cleveland area. 
• Instagram: Same benefits as Facebook but with different target audiences.
• Website: SEO will help your website appear closer to the top in relevant search results, a crucial element for increasing sales. Make sure that you optimize calls to action on your website. Experiment with text, color, size, and position of calls to action such as “Schedule Now”. This can sharply increase purchases. 
• Google and Yelp: For businesses that rely on local clientele, getting listed on Yelp and Google My Business can be crucial to generating awareness and customers.

Kickstart Marketing

Take advantage of your website, social media presence and real-life activities to increase awareness of your offerings and build your brand. Some suggestions include: 

• Signage – Put up eye-catching signage at your funeral home and website 
• Email marketing/newsletter – Send regular emails to customers and prospects. Make them personal. 
• Start a blog – Start a blog and post regularly. Change up your content and share on multiple sites.
• Paid ads on social media – Choose sites that will reach your target market and do targeted ads.
• Pay – per-click marketing – Use Google AdWords to perform better in searches. Research your keywords first.
• Testimonials – Share customer testimonials about how your funeral services helped them

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your funeral home meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your funeral home business could be: 

• Professional, caring services to celebrate your lost loved one
• Funeral services for less to ease your burden
• Save your family time and money with funeral pre-planning

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a funeral home business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in funeral homes for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in funeral homes. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

Potential positions for a funeral home business include:

• Embalmers – embalm bodies prior to the funeral and burial
• Assistants – assist with arranging funerals
• General Manager – scheduling, ordering, accounting
• Marketing Lead – SEO strategies, social media

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Funeral Home – Start Making Money!

Funeral homes represent an $18 billion industry that fills an essential role in the mourning process. By starting your own funeral home, you’d have the opportunity to ease difficult times in people’s lives, provide a valuable service, and make a good living at the same time.

Now that you know what’s involved, it’s time to get to work and launch your successful funeral home. 

Funeral homes can be very profitable. More importantly, though, funeral homes provide an essential service and comfort for people during difficult times.

Service Corporation International (SCI) is currently the largest funeral home business in the United States, with over 1,800 locations across North America.

A successful funeral home should offer compassionate and personalized services to families during their time of need. This includes providing a range of funeral service options, such as traditional funeral services, cremation services, and memorial services. 

The type of food served at a funeral may vary depending on cultural and religious customs, personal preferences, and budget. Common options include finger foods, sandwiches, fruit trays, and desserts. 

The most common type of funeral in the United States is a traditional funeral service, which typically includes a visitation or wake, a funeral ceremony, and a graveside service. This type of funeral is often associated with religious or cultural traditions and may include elements such as prayers, hymns, and eulogies. 

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Funeral Home Business Plan

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Evergreen Life Memorial Center

Market analysis summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">.

Defining who the customer is for a funeral home is complicated. Relatively few people pre-arrange their funerals while they’re alive, leaving most of the decisions to surviving family members. This becomes a complicated decision made by the person’s surviving spouse, if there is one, and the children of the deceased over the age of 30.

We have segmented the market in terms of the four generations that are over age 30 who form the active decision-making market. The four generations are the GI Generation (age 79 or older as of 2003), the Silent Generation (age 58 to 78), the Baby Boomers (age 39-57) and the portion of Generation X (age 23-38) that is over 30.

A new funeral home that was like all the others could not compete effectively for the most active market, the Silent Generation, against the reputations of long-established funeral homes in the area. The Center will be the first to appeal specifically to the tastes of the huge Baby Boom Generation for funerals that are about celebrating life rather than feeling morbid about death.

Targeting this market with this unique offering will not only attract Baby Boomers for their own funerals and those that they choose for their parents, it will also attract a significant percentage of the Silent Generation that has shown a propensity to spend money on itself and that likes to think young. It will further poise the Center for tremendous growth as the mortality rate of Boomers increases over the next 35 years.

4.1 Market Segmentation

The market is divided according to those who make the purchasing decisions regarding funerals. The market segments for the Center are divided by the generations of decision-makers over age 30.

• The GI Generation (born 1901-1924)  This generation is age 79 or older as of 2003. This is the most active market. Its mortality rate is about 12 percent per year but it makes up only 3.9 percent of Lane County. Because the rate of dementia is high among this group, if funeral arrangements haven’t been pre-arranged, it’s likely their Baby Boomer children are making the arrangements.
• The Silent Generation (born 1925-1945). This is the age segment probably most marketed by existing funeral homes. It’s mortality rate is 2 percent per year, and it’s the generation that generally has the most money. It has been called the Silent Generation because it was sandwiched between the heroic GI Generation that fought World War II (now sometimes called “The Greatest Generation,” and the explosive Baby Boom Generation (also called the “Me Generation”). Many of the Silent Generation have been strongly influenced by the cultural revolution of the Baby Boom Generation. Widows are 67 percent of surviving spouses in this age group because their husbands generally die first. This relatively wealthy generation has always been financially conservative, but at this point, is more willing to splurge. It is currently driving the high-end motorhome market. This generation is 58 to 78 as of 2003 and composes 15.9 percent of the local population.
• Boomers   (The post World War II “baby boom generation” born 1946 through 1964.)   Members of this generation are increasingly involved in funeral decisions as their parents, spouses or children die. This age cohort is currently age 39-57, as of 2003, and comprises 27.2 percent of the Eugene-Springfield MSA, and over half of the demographic that makes funeral decisions. This is nearly twice the number of the Silent Generation cohort. Its mortality rate is currently only 0.3 percent, but is poised to grow rapidly over the next 35 years. It also makes many of the decisions for older and younger cohorts.
• Generation X (1965-1980) This is the youngest cohort to make funeral decisions, with only members of this generation age 30 or older included as a market segment. Generation X members over the age of 30 comprise only 7.9 percent of Lane County, its mortality rate is low and it probably has the least input into the decisions about funerals. This generation challenges authority, is environmentally and socially concerned and watches its health. It’s more interested in quality time and peace of mind than in materialism. The members of this cohort age 30 to 38 makes up 7.5 percent of the MSA.

The Eugene-Springfield MSA conforms closely with the geographical boundaries of Lane County. Over two-thirds of the population of Lane County lives in Anytown metropolitan area.

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

The target market for the Center is the Baby Boom generation. It comprises over 50 percent of those of age to make funeral decisions in Lane County. The Silent Generation, for which more traditional funeral homes are competing, comprises 29 percent of the funeral decision makers. The GI Generation is over age 79 and its decisions are likely to be made by younger generations, including Boomers.

Baby Boomers, children of the post-war Baby Boom born 1946 through 1964, have changed business and culture from the time they were born. First the diaper business enjoyed the boom, then schools were rapidly built for them. In the years 1976 to 1980, the price of homes began to dramatically increase as this age cohort began to turn 30 and settled down. Now in middle age, Boomers are increasingly involved in making funeral choices for their elderly parents. As this generation approaches age 60, it is expected to dramatically increase the number of deaths over the next 35 years.

While the Baby Boom generation has been a boon for many businesses because of its numbers, it has also changed popular culture. It has been called the “Me generation” because it honors the individual. The trend toward more individualized funerals has already been widely noted in the industry.

The Baby Boom Generation is demonstrating a demand for more individualized funerals with more of a sense of celebration. Our strategy is to target this generation by appealing to its tastes. Just as Pepsi-Cola experienced in the 1960s when it targeted this generation, we believe we’ll draw more people from the Silent Generation who “think young” than we would by being just another traditional funeral home. The Silent Generation is showing a propensity to splurge, and we’ll offer greater opportunity to splurge on their funerals than more traditional providers.

Some 71 percent of people choose a funeral home by reputation. The Center would not be able to compete on the basis of reputation compared to funeral homes that have operated in the area for generations, or those that used to be run by families but have been bought by chains. In order to create a reputation rapidly, the Center will stimulate community involvement that brings people to the reception facility and generates publicity. It will draw the attention of those who want to celebrate life rather than host a morbid proceeding, and will create a new category of funeral provider which it will dominate.

Capturing this market will also put the Center in position for long-term growth as the Baby Boom Generation experiences mortality. The number of U.S. deaths is expected to increase at a rate of 11.3 percent over the first decade of the 21st century, reaching 2,634,000 deaths for the year 2010. The rate of deaths is projected to increase each subsequent decade until it peaks at 18.1 percent growth for the decade ending 2040. In that year, 4.1 million deaths are projected.

4.3 Service Business Analysis

When someone dies, there are relatively few alternatives available to people to take care of the remains and to bring closure.

• Funeral homes usually provide the following services:
• Funeral service, often with viewing because some people need to see the body to psychologically accept that the individual has died.
• Embalming is necessary if the funeral will take place more than 72 hours after death, especially if there is a viewing, unless it is refrigerated. 
• Preparation of the remains for viewing.
• Transportation of the body to the funeral home and to the gravesite.
• Funeral products, including caskets, urns and remembrance products.
• Immediate burial, performed without a service.
• Cremation, with or without a service.
• Cremation specialists, offering immediate cremation without a service that’s performed by a funeral director. If a service is desired, it may be performed in a church or other spiritual setting, or even outdoors, with or without clergy.

Some 75 percent of people nationwide choose burials that usually involve the services of a funeral home.

4.3.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

According to a 2002 survey by the National Funeral Directors Association, the most common reason for choosing a funeral home are location (78 percent of respondents), reputation (71 percent) and that it previously served the family (70 percent). Only 36 percent cited price, suggesting that for those who choose funeral services, price sensitivity is relatively moderate. Some 23 percent said they selected the funeral home because it was suggested by a friend, and seven percent by clergy, but only 11 percent said it was from advertising.

The survey underscores why the funeral industry is a very staid and conservative one. Location and reputation are everything for people choosing a funeral home. Some of the most successful funeral homes have been operated by the same family for generations. Some chain operations have bought up such funeral homes and have used the family reputation after it is no longer owned by the family. The power of reputation is such that many people appear unaware of the change of ownership, or their perception is unaffected by it.

In metropolitan Anytown, there are ten funeral homes, serving over two-thirds of the population of Lane County. There are four additional funeral homes serving small communities in the county.

There has been a steady growth in the market for cremation. In 1990, 17 percent of deaths resulted in cremations nationwide, according to the Cremation Association of North America. By 2000, the percentage had grown to 26.6 percent. This reflected a 71 percent increase in the number of cremations. In Anytown there are three providers specializing in immediate cremations

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Slide title

Chris Cruger -The Foresight Companies 

Camelia L. Clarke - Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services

Craig Meehan - ASD

Greg Rollings - Rollings Funeral Service INC.

Kyle Fogarty - MemoryShare

August Esposito - Implant Recycling 

Tyler Anderson - Precoa 

Jon Lefrandt - Domanicare 

Will Bischoff - Homesteaders Life Company

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

October 24 & 25, 2023 at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Virgina Beach Bayfront Suites.

The sessions were buzzing with new ideas, insightful discussions, and fruitful networking opportunities. It was indeed heartening to witness the animated conversations and exchange of innovative ideas among professionals. We hope the information and insights garnered will serve as invaluable tools as you continue to refine and evolve your business strategies. 

August Esposito

Director of Business Development Implant Recycling

Jon Lefrandt

CEO & Co-Founder

Domanicare 

Tyler Anderson

  Vice President, Business Development   

Kyle Fogarty

 MemoryShare

Craig Meehan

National Sales Manager

Chris Cruger

  Chief Executive Officer 

The Foresight Companies

Greg Rollings

President & CEO

Rollings Funeral Service INC.

Dr. Camelia L. Clarke

Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services

Will Bischoff

Sr. Vice President, Strategic Markets

Homesteaders Life Company

8:30 am Registration Opens & Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by implant recycling, 9:00-9:15 am conference opens, welcome, opening remarks, and introductions.

9:15-10:15 am

Tyler anderson, precoa, unlocking preneed: how to leverage preneed to increase case volume and average funeral value., 10:15-10:30 am break, sponsored by answering service for directors (asd), 10:30-11:15 am, craig meehan, answering service for directors (asd), 10 reasons your funeral home is losing shopper calls, 11:15-11:30 am break, sponsored by the foresight companies, 11:30-12:30pm, chris cruger, the foresight companies, if not now, when —the truth about your business succession, 12:30-1:45 pm lunch, sponsored by domanicare and precoa, 1:45-2:45 pm, kyle fogarty, memoryshare, unlocking insights: livestreaming strategies for funeral professionals, 2:45-3:00 pm break, sponsored by memoryshare, 3:00-4:00 pm, august esposito, implant recycling.

Immersive Technologies and the Funeral Industry

5:00-6:00 pm Cocktail Party

  sponsored by implant recycling, day 2                         , 8:30 am day 2 opens & continental breakfast sponsored by implant recycling   , 9:00-10:00 am, will bischoff, homesteaders life company  , community engagement keys to success, 10:00-10:15 am break sponsored by homesteaders life company  , 10:15-11:15 am, greg rollings , rollings funeral service inc., what to consider when buying and selling , 11:15-11:30 am break   , 11:30-12:30, dr. camelia l. clarke, paradise memorial funeral and cremation services, unveiling synergies: uniting personal and business brands for success, 12:30-1:30 pm lunch and q&a wrap-up, sponsored by precoa and domanicare, 1:30-2:30 pm, jon lefrandt, domanicare, pre-emptive marketing and the consumer experience: your new (and one of your most important) line items on your budget, 2:30 pm q&a wrap-up & closing, thank you sponsors.

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Home / Funeral Home Business Plan

Sample Business Plan on Funeral Home Business Plan

Read 5 pages from this business plan below:, executive summary                                                  , the business concept.

ABC Funeral Home, Inc. the Company or the Funeral Home is a full service funeral home offering an array of services and specializations. The Company was founded by two business people, John Doe and Jane Doe who are highly trained licensed embalmers and restorative arts technicians. Both founders are respected professionals in the field, graduates of the American Academy of McAllister Institute of Funeral Directing and members of the National Board of Funeral Directors Association.

Jane Doe holds the positions of Secretary and Treasurer of the ABC Funeral Directors Association and is the Vice-President of ABC Monuments.  John Doe is the President and Funeral Director of John Doe Funeral Services Inc.  Using their combined knowledge, skills and abilities, Mr. Doe and Ms. Doe are committed to their customers’ needs and are dedicated to providing the community with an association of trustworthy, compassionate, forward-thinking, highly ethical funeral directors.

The funeral home offers a full menu of services from the sale of caskets and memorial accessories to providing traditional and non-traditional funeral, memorial and committal services to direct burials and cremations.   It specializes in national as well as international shipping of human remains to all parts of the world including: Antigua, Barbados, Venezuela, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti and the Philippines to name a few. The Company is located in Brooklyn, New York.

ABC Funeral Home, Inc. is driven by the passion of its responsive, young and innovative funeral directors who are dedicated to serve the community. The Funeral Home is willing to change in order to meet the needs of customer’s requests. The Company will offer a quality, dignified service with love at a competitive cost.

ABC Funeral Home, Inc. is seeking to buy an existing funeral home building. This will allow the Company to grow its business because not only will the owners bring their own clientele, but they will also receive the residual services from the previous building’s owners. The Company will continue growth by using the latest marketing technologies of the 21st century in mortuary science as well as displaying the individual artistic talents of its staff.

The Company’s anticipated location is in a growing and bustling area of CITY (123 STREET off of ABC Parkway – zip code 11111). Surrounding neighborhoods include ABC, XYZ, DEF, GHI and PPP. Out of the five boroughs of New York City, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough and if it were a separate city, it would be the fourth-largest city in the United States. Many Brooklyn neighborhoods are ethnic enclaves where particular ethnic groups and cultures predominate.

ABC Funeral Home, Inc. will take advantage of several factors to drive its growth especially catering to the ABC need of shipping human remain to countries in the XYZ. Demand for funeral services will increase as the population ages and with it the number of deaths. Government economists expect job growth and demand for funeral directors to be as fast as the average for all careers through 2016.

ABC Funeral Home, Inc. expects to gain a profitable market share within a very short period of time. Determinations have been made for the size of the market, amounts of budgeted advertising and promotional dollars, the number and kinds of distribution channels and the competitive landscape.

Projections call for the Company to generate revenues of $1.014 million in its first twelve months. ABC Funeral Home, Inc. will achieve strong growth over the next several years, reaching $2.275 million in revenues and more than $1 million of net income by the fifth year.

The Opportunity

Funeral Industry

As the old saying goes, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” The United States funeral homes industry is comprised of approximately 22,000 businesses, employing more than 100,000 people.  According to research, 89% of all funeral homes are privately run by families, individuals, or small independent corporations. According to Toon van Beeck, senior industry analyst at IBISWorld, an industry research firm, American funeral industry revenue is predicted to increase 1.2% in 2009, to $20.7 billion. 3

Research reflects average funeral costs of $6,000-$8,000, but can total as much as $10,000 or more, says Genevieve Keeney, director of the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston. 

In 2008, the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) reported more than 2.4 million people died in the U.S.; nearly 57 million worldwide. The industry has an advantage other industries don’t, a guaranteed, expanding customer pool. 1, 2

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) says the funeral industry is “ Characterized by family-owned businesses, which typically have been owned for a few generations, the industry is primarily comprised of small businesses, which operate in localized markets. The industry is fragmented and as such may be subdivided according to religion, cultural or ethnic background .”

As far as job opportunities in this sector, prospects are good, especially for those who also embalm. Expected funeral director employment growth is predicted to increase by 12% through the 2006-2016 decade. However, the death care services industry, in general, is expected to reflect steady growth. 

The U. S. Census Bureau expects deaths to grow at a 1% rate per year to year-end 2010. According to the agency, “ Funeral homes in the United States average 47 years in business; however, it is not uncommon to find firms that have been in operation for 100 years or more. ” 4    

Although the industry has shown endurance over the years, especially during times of economic crisis, the funeral business is in desperate need of new and innovative ideas to stay highly competitive in today’s 21 st century marketplace.  New and innovative ideas that reflect the present and future global technological expansion and extremely advanced environment of our target markets are noticeable absent.  ABC Funeral Home, Inc. believes that the key to success is having the ability to understand the needs of their sophisticated customers and readily adapt and creatively evolve to meet those needs.

Green Funerals

A 2007 survey conducted by AARP, advocacy group for individuals 50 years of age and older, revealed 21% of participants were interested in ‘green burials’; interest jumped to 43% in 2008.  Jessica Koth, spokesman for the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) states although green burials represent a small portion of the market, the segment is growing.  2

Customized Burials

Peter Moloney, funeral director of six Long Island funeral homes, says " You have to give people something special. If you don't, someone else will .” Moloney believes tough times or not, “ people should have what they want .”  (ABC Funeral Home, Inc. will work tirelessly to provide what their customers want.

Consequently, customized products will always be available including theme urns, caskets, and services that are as varied as the customers.  The New York Times writes, “ Bike lovers pay an extra $200 or so to take their last ride in a special hearse towed by a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Gardeners select wildflower seed packets to include with their funeral programs. One gentleman wanted to be remembered for comforting his grandchildren with ice cream, so, after the funeral, mourners were greeted by a man in a Good Humor truck, handing out frozen treats .”

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HOPE LIFE FUNERAL SERVICES BUSINESS PLAN

by Ndamulelo Phillip Mushaya

Hope Life Funeral Services is located in Burgersfort in the valley of the Spekboom River at the edge of the Bushveld complex in the Greater Tubutse municipality, near the border from Mpumalanga to Limpopo, based corporation that will provide casket/cremation receptacle sales, funeral services, cremation services, community support(CSI) and pre-funeral care services customers in its targeted market. The Hope Life has formed as a funeral cover to solve funeral problem in all homes in Burgersfort and other South African areas. It solely owned by Ramaite Seroka, Mothapo Mary, Muofhe Mulalo, Lewele Mapule, Mushaya Ndamulelo Phillip, Kwapa Joas and Kopa Clearance.

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syaqira osman

nurul nadia

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We are the 'the City of unresolved complexes. We do the right thing and then we undermine it. We are the Cape of Storms and the Cape of Good Hope at the same time. We are hostile to outsiders but we also the most welcoming and assimilating of places. We are generous and mean-spirited. We are innovatively global and insufferably parochial " 1 Abstract This paper looks at the need for creating space for change and subsequent innovative role of leadership in government, corporate and not-for-profit. Especially in not-for-profit and government leadership has a dual responsibility both for social return and for economic performance. This type of leadership is complex and often referred to as ambidextrous. When effective, ambidextrous leadership can create space for innovative change and stakeholder engagement. This article will elaborate on the burial case in Cape Town: The project 'Death Matters' 2. Information will be provided on the space, the environmental and the cost issues involved. Alternative options will be mentioned that are available to the communities. But moreover, what is the space for change in the City? The project Death Matters endeavors to stretch that space for change by imagining a different future. What are the current narratives of the relevant stakeholders, what would be a leadership intervention for innovation and how would a changed enactment look like? The article makes an argument that partners (stakeholders) are to define their common ground and re interpret their renewed responsibility in this. Ambidextrous city leadership should take into account both stakeholders responsibility, as well as city's responsibilities. A leadership balancing between societal support and management performance is conditional for a game-changing situation to occur.

Dr. Anuj Gupta

McGraw-Hill

Welcome to the seventh installment in our series of reference guides designed to help you in your career. Our previous guides have been focused on the structure and development of resumes and cover letters.

How To Start a Funeral Program Business

Opening a funeral program business can be a very lucrative endeavor. Not only is the industry growing, but the services that you can provide as a funeral program business owner are in high demand. However, starting a funeral program business is not without its challenges.

Here are the eight steps you can take to get started on building your very own funeral program business.

Eight Steps to Launching a New Funeral Program Business

1. name your funeral program business.

Give your funeral program business an identity so people will think of it as a well-known and respected brand. You can take the name of your funeral program business from your industry, focus on a geographical location, or use your own name among other options.

The main goal for naming your funeral program business is to make it sound appealing and trustworthy so that individuals will want to work with you.

2. Choose a Legal Form for Your Business

By incorporating your funeral program business, you will limit your liability. You can incorporate as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), a C Corporation (C-Corp), or an S Corporation (S-Corp). Or you can operate as a sole proprietorship.

The business structure you choose for your funeral program business will determine the amount of taxes you pay and which state or federal tax forms you need to file.

Read our article comparing the most common funeral program business structures .

3. Write a Funeral Program Business Plan

All funeral program business owners should develop a business plan. 

A business plan is a document that outlines the goals, strategies, and operations of a business. It can be used to secure funding from investors or lenders, as well as to guide the day-to-day operations of the business. The business plan should include information on the company’s products or services, market analysis, financial projections, and management team among other things.

Read our article about how to write a funeral program business plan .

4. Apply for the Necessary Permits and Licenses

There may be required licenses and permits you need to obtain before launching your funeral program business.

For example, if you plan to sell products, you will likely need to obtain a sales tax permit. 

You must also register your funeral program business as a legal entity with the state where you plan to do business. You can simply file an online form through your Secretary of State website.

Registering with the federal government is also essential so you can properly pay taxes for your business. You will also need an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which you can apply for at the IRS website, if you plan to hire employees.

Read our article about obtaining the proper funeral program business licenses .

5. Determine Your Budget & Apply for Funding as Needed

In developing your funeral program business plan, you will figure out how much funding you need to start and grow your business.

If you have your own funds to invest in your funeral program business, you may consider taking advantage of that. In addition to your personal funds, other forms of potential funding for your funeral program business include traditional bank loans, SBA loans, credit cards, angel investors and family and friends.

Read our article about the costs associated with starting a funeral program business to help you determine if funding is needed. 

6. Get the Technology & Software Needed to Run Your Business Efficiently

When you start your funeral program business, it’s essential to have the right technology in place to maximize efficiency. You definitely need a computer with Internet access, and accounting software for tracking expenses and revenues. 

You may also want to invest in project management software to help you keep track of deadlines and tasks, as well as customer relationship management (CRM) software to manage your client relationships. Social media can also be a valuable tool for marketing your funeral program business.

7. Market Your Funeral Program Business to Potential Customers

Before you start selling your plots and services , you must let the world know you exist. The first step is to create a website so people can learn more about your products and services and how they benefit them.

After you launch your website, start promoting it through online channels like : 

• Sponsoring or exhibiting at local events 
• Mailing brochures to local 
• Sending out press releases to local media outlets
• Advertising in local print, radio, or TV outlets

Read our article about how to market your funeral program business for more tips.

8. Get New Customers & Grow Your Business

When you promote your products and services , you’ll start to get interest from potential customers . 

Make sure you’re ready to serve these customers . Also, be sure to establish systems to ensure consistency and reduce costs. And be sure to find and train the right people to help you grow your funeral program business.

Read our article about how to effectively grow your funeral program business to learn more.

Starting a Funeral Program Business FAQs

Why start a funeral program business.

The funeral program industry is expected to grow in the coming years, so it’s a good time to get started. Funeral program businesses offer an important service to grieving families, and there is always a need for this type of business. 

What are Some Tips for Starting a Funeral Program Business?

Some tips for starting a funeral program business include:

• Research the funeral program industry and understand the various available products and services.
• Develop a clear marketing strategy and promotional plan.
• Network with other people in the funeral program industry.
• Get prepared with the materials you need to execute your promotional strategy.

Where Can I Find a Simple Checklist for Starting a Funeral Program Business?

A simple checklist to use when starting a funeral program business is as follows:

• Name Your Funeral Program Business : This should be done with care, as your brand is important for attracting the right customers. A simple, memorable name will go a long way.
• Choose a Legal Form for Your Business : Whether you choose to become a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation or another option will depend on your business. Ensure that you are aware of all the implications of each type.
• Write a Funeral Program Business Plan : Your business plan will also help you determine your start-up costs and will provide a roadmap with which you can launch and grow .
• Apply for the Necessary Permits and Licenses : In most locations you will be required to apply for a business license and/or permits before you can begin operations.
• Determine Your Budget & Apply for Funding as Needed : You will need to know how much money you have to spend on all of your business-related expenses before opening any doors. If needed, apply for a small business loan or other funding options.
• Get the Technology & Software Needed to Run Your Business Efficiently : You need to have the right tools in place to succeed. Implement software that will help you manage your time, contacts, and business operations in general.
• Market Your Funeral Program Business to Potential Customers : A solid marketing plan will be crucial to your success. It should focus on attracting the right customers so that you can provide them with the products and services they truly need. 
• Get Customers & Grow Your Business : Once you have a solid marketing plan, it's time to actively pursue and secure those who could benefit the most from your products and services . 

Starting a funeral program business can be a lucrative endeavor, but it takes hard work and planning to succeed. By researching the market, developing a marketing strategy, and networking with other professionals in the industry, you’ll be well on your way to starting a successful funeral program business.

Dailymotion

Gateway Funeral Services: Why it’s good to talk about end of life plans

Posted: 3 November 2023 | Last updated: 3 November 2023

It’s good to talk about funerals. That might seem a rather blunt thing to say – after all, death is something we tend to shy away from – but in the fullness of time it could prove to be one of the best things you ever did. That’s the message from independent family-run Yorkshire business Gateway Funeral Services, which has branches in Birkenshaw, Wibsey, Batley and Denby Dale. Lucy Hitchcock, of Gateway Funeral Services, spends a lot of her time selling pre-paid funeral plans and, more often than not, the reason she is asked to arrange one is so the person taking out the plan can arrange the funeral they want, rather than leaving difficult decisions regarding their wishes with their family. Gateway Funeral Services is always there for you and your family – its team operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. TALK TO GATEWAY FUNERAL SERVICES: For more information visit https://gatewayfunerals.co.uk or call 0800 007 6842.

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Funeral Services Business Plan

Funeral services business plan presentation, free google slides theme and powerpoint template.

Funeral services are essential, and that is why we are sure that your excellent business plan will be very well received and will be a success. You can present it with this template in gray tones and with floral illustrations. In it you will find the structure you need to give an overview of the business, explain the market analysis you carried out and present the sales, marketing, management, operational and financial plans. Discover the different resources that you can customize with your content.

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How to Plan a Funeral or Memorial Service

Planning a service, elements of a service, having the body present.

• Flowers or Donations?
• Service Provider(s)
• Payment Options

Make Your Wishes Known

Funerals and memorial services provide an opportunity for family members, friends, and others who cared about the deceased to honor and remember the person who died while offering comfort and support to those closest to them, and to each other.

Whether it's planned after death occurs (an "at-need" situation) or beforehand (a "preneed" situation), arranging a funeral or memorial service is often an emotional, and sometimes exhausting, process.

This article offers an overview of the steps you should follow to plan a funeral or memorial service, whether for yourself or for a loved one.

Planning a funeral or memorial service is a highly personal process. Your decisions will be shaped by your life experiences, relationship to the deceased, what the deceased wanted, what you desire for yourself after you die, what you can afford, and myriad other factors.

Many people mistakenly assume that a funeral and cemetery burial are the same thing, or that choosing cremation means you can't also hold a funeral service with the deceased's embalmed body present beforehand.

Therefore, it's important to understand that a "funeral" as we generally think of it actually involves two important functions:

• What to do with the deceased's physical remains (the form of final disposition)
• How to honor, remember, even celebrate the life and memory of the person who died (the form of the funeral or memorial service)

Choose the Form of Disposition

When planning a funeral or memorial service, it might prove easier to first select the form of final body disposition you desire.

Traditional Burial

Whether below ground in a cemetery plot/gravesite, or above ground in a mausoleum or sepulcher (sometimes referred to as "entombment"), traditional burial generally involves purchasing:

• A cemetery plot or mausoleum space
• A grave liner or burial vault
• A headstone, grave marker, monument or plaque

Natural or "Green" Burial

A growing number of traditional-burial cemeteries and sites specifically created for this form of final disposition now offer natural or "green burial" opportunities.

In general, people who select natural burial seek to minimize their impact on the environment after death.

The cremation process uses heat/flame to reduce a body to bone fragments or "ashes."

These cremated remains offer survivors various options afterward, such as keeping or scattering the remains, burial below ground in an urn, placing the inurned cremated remains in a columbarium, etc.

Alkaline Hydrolysis

This form of final disposition is relatively new and might not yet be available in your area.

The alkaline hydrolysis process , sometimes called "flameless cremation," uses pressure and relatively low heat (versus cremation) to reduce a body to an inert liquid and skeletal bone fragments.

In the past few decades, funeral services have grown increasingly personalized, although many people still think of the "traditional funeral" as the norm.

A personalized funeral or memorial service reflects the unique life and personality of the deceased individual, as viewed by the deceased and/or his or her surviving loved ones, and regardless of the form such services take.

Many families these days prefer to plan a funeral or memorial service focused on remembering the deceased as he or she was in life, a service focused on the deceased's body/remains, or a combination of both.

Therefore, you should imagine and plan the funeral or memorial service that you and/or the person who died consider the most meaningful way to say goodbye—something that:

• Captures the unique qualities of the deceased
• Reflects their and/or your religious or spiritual beliefs
• Provides a memorable, meaningful opportunity for mourners to express their grief while comforting and supporting each other

Some families prefer funeral services in a place of worship or a funeral home chapel, incorporating religious readings and music. Others prefer secular (non-religious) services in a public or private location. Still others opt for a private funeral and interment for immediate family, then a memorial service later for others.

To personalize the service, you should also consider the following, as applicable:

• Officiant(s) who will lead the service, such as a clergy member, celebrant, funeral director, etc.
• Readings , such as poems, prayers, religious or secular passages, etc., and who will deliver them
• Eulogist(s) , who will write and deliver a eulogy about the deceased
• Music , whether contemporary, religious hymns, or both, and whether they're live or recorded
• Food/beverages , whether professionally catered, provided "potluck" by attendees, or arranged by the funeral home or provider
• Pallbearers , if the final disposition involves a graveside service
• Webcasting the funeral, or making a recording of the service available later
• Personal touches , such as a memory board , memorial video, personal memorabilia, etc.

Another important decision you will need to make concerns the physical presence of the deceased. As noted above, burial and cremation are merely forms of final body disposition, and neither requires nor precludes funeral services with the body present.

For example, you can arrange a "traditional" funeral service that includes a wake/visitation beforehand with the embalmed body in an open casket even if you desire cremation of the deceased as the form of final disposition.

Likewise, some families choose to cremate the unembalmed deceased without a service beforehand but hold a memorial service afterward with or without the inurned remains present.

Flowers, Donations, or Both?

Traditionally, people send funeral flowers or sympathy flowers as a sign of support and to express their condolences.

For the past several decades, however, families have also used the phrase "In lieu of flowers..." in death notices and obituaries to suggest their preference for funeral memorial donations instead of, or in addition to, flowers.

Thus, you should decide if attendees may send flowers, if you'd rather they donate to a chosen charitable organization or cause in memory of the deceased, or if either form of expression is appropriate.

Whether requested in the death notice or obituary, social media or by word of mouth, you should clearly communicate how/where to send donations. Examples of worthy causes or organizations you might select include:

• The hospice that cared for your loved one
• A cause seeking to find a cure for the illness or disease that caused your loved one's death, such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, etc.
• A charity, organization or business representing a cause or purpose reflecting a personal passion or belief of the deceased, or one which he or she supported

Contact and Research Service Provider(s)

The next step is to research your service and provider options.

If death has already occurred, you can contact a local funeral home, cremation provider, or cemetery. Your chosen provider can help you:

• Arrange the funeral, memorial, and/or interment service you desire
• Provide information about various products and services
• Explain the costs involved for merchandise, services, and other professional fees
• Help you create an obituary or death notice
• Obtain official death certificates

You should also discuss with your provider any religious or cultural preferences that you would like honored.

For example, if you desire a secular funeral or memorial service, you might want to have a funeral celebrant, which some funeral homes now have on staff. Many funeral homes also have experience serving families from diverse cultural backgrounds with their own funeral rites and customs.

If you're planning a funeral or memorial service in advance, you should research your product and service options of various funeral homes, cremation providers, and/or cemeteries in your area.

Most businesses provide convenient product and service information, prices, and even post their general price list online. This makes it easier to compare prices and service/merchandise options available locally.

The Federal Trade Commission requires providers to give customers accurate and itemized price information and disclosures about other services, whether the customer asks in person or over the phone.

Finally, whether you are planning a funeral before or after a death has occurred, you have several basic rights under the FTC "Funeral Rule" that you should also review and understand.

Consider Your Payment Options

The costs will vary depending upon the form of final disposition and the type of funeral or memorial service you desire but you should consider how you will pay for these services. There are many payment options available today, such as:

• Personal savings
• Financing, often through your funeral provider
• Credit cards
• Totten trust/Payable-on-Death (POD) account at a financial institution, which specifically sets aside funds for final expenses that pass to a designated beneficiary and avoid probate

In addition, it is possible to formally arrange your services in advance with a provider and then pay in advance, whether all at once or through installments.

People enter into these "preneed" arrangements for many reasons, including removing the burden of making difficult decisions once death occurs, to prevent financial hardship on survivors, or to spend down their assets in order to qualify for certain federal benefits.

Finally, if you're planning your own funeral or memorial service in advance, you should inform your family about your end-of-life wishes to make sure they know what you want.

Ideally, you should provide a written record rather than relying upon a family member's memory or keeping your plans on your computer, but even a single verbal conversation with your spouse or partner, child, sibling, or parent can prove better than nothing.

If you've formally prearranged your funeral or memorial service with a provider, then you should keep those documents with your other important papers at home— and let your loved ones know of their existence and their location— so they have timely access to them when necessary.

If you keep your legal documents in a safe, or offsite in a safety-deposit box, then you should ensure that your loved one(s) also know the safe's combination or can access the key.

Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information. The FTC Funeral Rule .

By Chris Raymond Chris Raymond is an expert on funerals, grief, and end-of-life issues, as well as the former editor of the world’s most widely read magazine for funeral directors.

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Eloise Braun

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Business | Ticker: Sullivan Tire selling business to…

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Business | Ticker: Sullivan Tire selling business to employees; loan forgiveness clinic; Ellis Early Learning honors state rep

Sullivan Tire and Auto Service announced a new Employee Stock Ownership Plan that will turn over ownership of the 68-year-old, family-owned company to its employees.

This means the company will be 100% owned by its nearly 1,500 employees if the deal goes through.

“We are honored and proud that the future of Sullivan Tire will be shepherded by the people who have all played a role in helping us accomplish the brand recognition that is prevalent throughout New England,” said Paul Sullivan. “When Bob and Mary Sullivan started the company, they decided that respecting our employees and their families was going to be a key foundation of Sullivan Tire; this ESOP will carry on that belief.”

Sullivan Tire and Auto Service in headquartered in Norwell.

Loan forgiveness clinic

Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Mayor Michelle Wu will host a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) clinic at Boston City Hall on Monday.

The clinic starts at 10 a.m. in City Hall in Boston. Borrowers will be helped by the AG’s Student Loan Assistance Unit.

Ellis Early Learning honors state rep

Ellis Early Learning raised over $630,000 to support its nonprofit mission and honored two champions of early childhood education, state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Eastern Bank Foundation President & CEO Nancy Huntington Stager, during its annual benefit event held Nov. 2 in Boston’s South End.

The Ellis community honored Michlewitz, a Boston native who has represented the 3rd Suffolk District since 2009, for leveraging his leadership role as a force for good in early childhood education.

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T-Mobile Scraps Plan to Push Some Wireless Customers to Pricier Services

The move wasn’t ‘something that our customers are going to love, ’ ceo says.

Updated Oct. 25, 2023 1:36 pm ET

Details of the planned upgrades surfaced on Reddit earlier this month after T-Mobile started training its support staff to respond to customer questions. The carrier said it planned to shift a small number of people to newer service tiers unless they opted out by contacting the company. The newer plans would have offered more features but generally cost customers an additional $5 to $10 per line.

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Moscow-City: 7 surprising facts about the Russian capital’s business center

1. Guinness World Record in highlining

The record was set in 2019 by a team of seven athletes from Russia, Germany, France and Canada. They did it on September 8, on which the ‘Moscow-City Day’ is celebrated. The cord was stretched at the height of 350 m between the ‘OKO’ (“Eye”) and ‘Neva Towers’ skyscrapers. The distance between them is 245 m. The first of the athletes to cross was Friede Kuhne from Germany. The athletes didn't just walk, but also performed some daredevil tricks. Their record is 103 meters higher than the previous one set in Mexico City in December 2016.

2. Domination of Europe's top-10 highest skyscrapers

7 out of 10 Europe’s highest skyscrapers are located in Moscow-City. Earlier, the  ‘Federation Tower’ complex’s ‘Vostok’ (“East”) skyscraper was the considered the tallest in Europe.

Left to right: the lower of the ‘Neva Towers’ (296 m), Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt (300 m), Gorod Stolits (“City of Capitals”) Moscow tower (302 m), Eurasia tower (309 m), The Shard’ skyscraper in London (310 m), Mercury City Tower (339 m), Neva Towers (345 m).

However, in 2018, the construction of the 462 meter tall ‘Lakhta Center’ in Saint-Petersburg was completed, pushing ‘Vostok’ (374 m) into 2nd place. The 3rd place is taken by OKO’s southern tower (354 m).

3. The unrealized ‘Rossiya’ tower

If all the building plans of Moscow-City were realized, the ‘Lakhta Center’ in St. Petersburg wouldn't have a chance to be Europe's highest skyscraper. Boris Tkhor, the architect who designed the concept of Moscow-City, had planned for the ‘Rossiya’ tower to be the tallest. In his project, it was a 600 meter tall golden cylindrical skyscraper ending with a spire that was inspired by traditional Russian bell towers. Then, the project was reinvented by famous British architect Sir Norman Foster. He had designed ‘Rossiya’ as a pyramid ending with a spire. The skyscraper itself would have been 612 meters tall, and the height including the spire would have reached 744,5 meters (for comparison, the ‘Burj Khalifa’ in Dubai, UAE, would have been just 83,5 meters taller). Unfortunately, the investors faced a lot of economic problems, due to the 2008 financial crisis, so the ‘Rossiya’ skyscraper was never built. A shopping mall and the ‘Neva Towers’ complex was constructed at its place in 2019.

4. Changed appearance of ‘Federation Tower’

In its first project, the ‘Federation Tower’ was designed to resemble a ship with a mast and two sails. The mast was to be represented by a tall glass spire with passages between the towers. It was planned to make a high-speed lift in it. The top of the spire was going to be turned into an observation deck. But the ship lost its mast in the middle of its construction. Experts at the Moscow-city Museum based in the ‘Imperia’ (“Empire”) tower say, that the construction of the spire was stopped, firstly, due to fire safety reasons and secondly, because it posed a threat to helicopter flights – the flickering glass of the spire could potentially blind the pilots. So, the half-built construction was disassembled. However, an observation deck was opened in the ‘Vostok’ tower.

5. Open windows of ‘Federation Tower’

We all know that the windows of the upper floors in different buildings don’t usually open. Experts say that it’s not actually for people’s safety. Falling from a big height is likely to be fatal in any building. The actual reason is the ventilation system. In a skyscraper, it’s managed with a mechanical system, and the building has its own climate. But in the ‘Zapad’ (“West”) tower of the ‘Federation Tower’ complex, the windows can open. The 62nd and last floor of the tower are taken up by a restaurant called ‘Sixty’. There, the windows are equipped with a special hydraulic system. They open for a short period of time accompanied by classical music, so the guests can take breathtaking photos of Moscow.

6. Broken glass units of ‘Federation Tower’

The guests of the ‘Sixty’ restaurant at the top of the ‘Zapad’ tower can be surprised to see cracked glass window panes. It is particularly strange, if we take into consideration the special type of this glass. It is extremely solid and can’t be broken once installed. For example, during experiments people threw all sorts of heavy items at the windows, but the glass wouldn’t break. The broken glass units of ‘Zapad’ were already damaged during shipment . As each of them is curved in its own way to make the tower’s curvature smooth, making a new set of window panes and bringing them to Russia was deemed too expensive . Moreover, the investors had financial problems (again, due to the 2008 financial crisis), so the ‘Vostok’ tower even stood unfinished for several years. Eventually, the cracked window panes were installed in their place.

7. The highest restaurant in Europe

‘Birds’, another restaurant in Moscow-City, is remarkable for its location. It was opened at the end of 2019 on the 84th floor of the ‘OKO’ complex’s southern tower. Guests at the restaurant can enjoy an amazing panoramic view at a height of 336 meters. On January 28, the experts of ‘Kniga Recordov Rossii’ (“Russian Records Book”) declared ‘Birds’ the highest restaurant in Europe, a step toward an application for a Guinness World Record.

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Moscow City Hall Offers Handyman Services

City officials are offering poorer residents a "husband for an hour" to fix a leaky faucet or to put up shelves, for example. The service is already a hit in the private sector.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne. Putin, showing off his bare chest, hints at how little feminism has taken hold in Russia, though there are perks to old-fashioned gender roles. Moscow City Hall plans to offer a service to poorer residents, already a hit in the private sector. That's a husband for an hour to fix a leaky faucet or put up shelves. One company advertises you're a beautiful woman with a killer manicure. Rent a husband to come to your rescue. It's MORNING EDITION.

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