Starting a Funeral Home Business

Summary: Learn what you need to know in order to start your very own funeral home business. Why put up a funeral home? What are the rewards people get from running a funeral home business? Find out the basics you need to know to before setting up a funeral home business. Discover the trends in the funeral service industry.

Helping people out during the worst time of their life is a very rewarding experience.

This is where those engaged in the funeral home business derive their satisfaction from. They seek to give comfort to the family and loved ones of the deceased during their time of sorrow. In return, the funeral home people are rewarded with an immeasurable sense of fulfillment.

Getting Started with Funeral Business

Intangible reward aside, the fact that a funeral home is a business must not be discounted. In starting a business one must first familiarize oneself with the industry. Try to get an overview of how the funeral business operates. There are tons of resources at your disposal. Be sure to make use of it. Reading up on the subject will give you a clearer picture of what works and what doesn’t.

Come up with a management plan. Find out the necessary legal papers you must procure to operate a funeral home. Try and asses your finances. Find out how much you need to shell out as start up capital. Make a study and figure out how long it will take you to get a return on your investment. It would help if you have a detailed finance allocation plan from the start.

Remember, every business endeavor requires a huge dose of time, and energy but if you do your best, success is foreseeable. This is a sure shot way to get your funeral home business up and running.

Client Preference for Funeral Business

Study your market. Find out who your primary clients are. Your services must be geared towards their needs. Figure out what your competitive advantage is over the other players. This will help you in creating your marketing strategy, which is another must in every business plan.

Studies show that the primary reasons why people choose a particular funeral home is because the said home has previously served their family. However, this reason should not be a cause for discouragement. There are other factors that affect a prospective client’s decision. More often than not, people are inclined to select a funeral home that is close by and easily accessible. People are also keen on funeral homes which they been to before and which they know has a good reputation and a fair service price.

Pricing for Funeral Business

On average, the amount needed to get a funeral going is $6,000 to $6,500. This includes: embalming, viewings, cosmetics, professional charges, transportation expenses.

Other charges may be required for cremation, graveside funerals, obituary announcements, online memorial programs, assistance in the procurement of mandatory paperwork such as death certificates and burial permits and so on.

A general price list is compulsory. Every funeral home must have one. Although package pricing is allowed, it is recommended to have an itemized price list for all the services and products offered. Try to develop a price list that is both workable and competitive.

On a side note

Consider including cremation as part of your service. The current cremation rate in the U.S. is a hefty thirty percent (30%) and it is projected to reach up to 50% in ten years time. This increase may be attributed to (1) the fact that cremation is now more acceptable. (2) There are the environmental factors to consider. (3) The rising level of education vis-à-vis the weakening ties to tradition.

201 Responses to "Starting a Funeral Home Business".

42. Rasheeda Wooten on 3/19/2009 12:53:45 AM

Hi, my name is Rasheeda and I am currently taking a management course. I was told to pick a business to own and write a business plan. I have always been interested in operating a funeral home so this was my business of choice. Before starting the class, I had done research on schools that offer the funeral service curriculum. The closest is 2 hours from where I reside. anyway, I am like most others on this site inquiring information on a business plan for Funeral Service. I do plan on visiting a funeral home in my area but would also like other insights for my plan. Samples of funeral service business plans are very limited on the web. I also need to know who I would contact in my area to get specific permits etc.. If anyone can lead me in the right direction please email me at rwooten4@ccp.edu. Thank You

44. Roy on 3/22/2009 12:32:22 PM

The best I can tell you about cost. 1) are you going to have a chapel, preparation room, viewing room, family room, a flower van, a hearse, a van to transport the deceased. A family car/limo. A crematorium???? A casket/urn display room. You can go to www.danerimortuary.com and see what you might need So you need a building at least 5k sq ft. @ .75 - 125. per sq. ft. Decorations, furniture, cars, employees, taxes, insurance. Enough capitol to last at least 5 years. You are going to take a long time getting the trust of the community. For everyone's ballpark number.350K to 500K will work if you are very tight with your money and you want to provide excellent service. Our payroll and insurance was almost 35K per month...and god forbid you don't pay your Workman's comp. Ins. Good Luck

66. kovey on 5/27/2009 11:01:48 PM

also u can go to 125aday.com and get the starter book and from what i hear its very helpful for beginners looking into opening a funeral home. i plan to order it myself real soon. i know a mortician and she knows people and she knows a family in conneticut that does it right out there home but of course they have basements so i dont feel its that hard to get started if you got the right people on your team. i'm not trying to get rich i'm just trying to pay my bills n help others in the process u need a director/ mortician and some greeters a bookkeeper and a building. clients all that's doable and my eyes if you are motivated so good luck to use all trying to marketing happen.

131. Marcus C on 12/1/2009 11:48:31 AM

Marcus from Trinidad and Tobago, English speaking Caribbean island located just off the south east coast of Venezuela.

We have several family owned and operated businesses within the island at present, and we have have been discussing the idea of opening a funeral home for the last couple of years since we have recognized a need. After discussing we are now ready to push the ball forward and are in the early stages of planning. Currently we are in negotiations for property. We have sourced some possible suppliers of funeral products etc. But our choices locally are limited when it comes to finding a qualified mortician. Are there any links out there where I can find possible candidates looking for works?

Also in terms of Mortuary I would like to find a listing of the possible equipment that we would need to procure. A detailed list embalming equipment. freezers, surgical etc.

If any one can assist I would be greatly appreciative.
My email: cgc.tnt@gmail.com

144. ASHU DONALD EGBE on 1/5/2010 11:33:32 AM

i am ashu donald a Cameroonain of origin living in South Africa, i wish to operate a funeral home in my country in small town known as Muyuka, i will need a partner let it be as an NGO, there is only one mortuary but far from the town, and the town is surrounded with six different village, and there are so many dead because there are no good hospital, so i wish that we can make the business, and in every week you can get about ten corps in that not to talk of the other villages near, any body who is ready for us to operate, we can go to Cameroon and witness the number of dead before with setup the mortuary, my contact no is 0027727117820. thanks

147. Charlene Daniel on 1/26/2010 4:23:20 AM

I am a licensed and ordained minster, i attend the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atl. i currently lived in Atlanta, Ga. My fiance' graduated from Gupton Jones School of Mortuary Science in 2006. We are currently looking at starting our own Funeral Home, we have done all of the leg work so far we have completed a very thorough business plan, Incorporated the business in the state of Georgia, she has also completed her internship with Levett Funeral Home Inc. in Decatur, Ga. We are in need of financing at this point to move forward with a lucrative opportunity that has presented itself to us... please feel free to contact me @404-512-0109 or charlesdan04@yahoo.com or cdaniel@theschoolofprpserity.org. Thank You in Advance Charles Daniel

168. Sibusiso on 5/18/2010 8:11:41 AM

Hi all, I'm currently operation a funeral business. I started this business with no capital just passion. What Roy suggested earlier on (Image) it's true. You need to be a professional at all times as long as you're a funeral director. my community is large but this does not mean I get business every day. I still strive for good image.

I registered in 2005, even now I have not completely got any return on investment because I re-invest in my project/business. My Question to Roy is : "How best do I market my services?". I'm based in South Africa (Kempton Park) - Ekurhuleni. We currently have 23 parlors (competitors) in your region. How do I stand out? Where to go for referrals/clients?

170. Robert J. Murphy on 5/25/2010 5:18:47 PM

Roy, I am a long time Illinois Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer. I am seriously interested in owning my own funeral home business; or a partnership to share responsibilities. I am a very good embalmer and reconstructive man as well as directing a funeral. I will consider any US State, with a reasonable economy. Loving the business is not enough as you know, you have to get enough first-calls to keep the doors open and pay the bills. I would love to stay here in the Chicago Area (I am in a good strong teamsters union funeral home) I am giving you my brief history because detail in this industry is paramount. I am also a Worsham College graduate. I am on two state committees. I belong to NFDA and IFDA. I know a lot of people in the business here in the Chicago area and know who I would employ right off the bat. Now, my question is how do you get financing, is venture capital something you would consider, I know where to get a business plan, marketing plan, I know where to get vendors and am friends with vendors, I do the ordering where I work for supplies etc. these are reasons that I hate to leave the Chicago area. I can buy supplies and furniture etc. from the corporation. I know where to go for that also because of all the funeral homes that they have closed down. Can you help me? my email is: robert.murphy59@yahoo.com I hope to hear from you.

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201 Responses to "Starting a Funeral Home Business".

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