Disaster can strike when you are least expecting it. Prepare in advance to keep your funeral home safe. What is an Emergency Action Plan? An emergency action plan (EAP) is just what it sounds like: a prepared response to any emergency, such as a natural disaster or violent attack....
Funeral homes are directly affected by the opioid crisis, which continues to impact families all over the country. Death care industry professionals must prepare to deal with practical and emotional matters caused by deaths from opioid use. What is the Opioid Crisis? The opioid crisis is the ongoing epidemic...
Since 2017, the US death care industry has experienced a compound annual growth rate of over 4%. Experts expect this growth to continue and for the industry to generate up to $68 billion in revenue by 2023. Do you own a funeral home, cemetery, or other death care business?...
In the death care industry, profit margins can be slim due to the rising costs of running a funeral home. Fortunately, you can protect and even improve your profits by converting your fixed costs to variable costs. Fixed costs are your unchanging funeral home expenses. Examples include your employee salaries, taxes, office supplies, and so...
If you own a cemetery or mausoleum and offer perpetual care, it is wise to set aside perpetual care funds with a trustee. It ensures the cemetery’s long-term care and maintenance, giving you peace of mind in a competitive industry. Proper perpetual care fund management is critical for cemetery...
In Maryland, the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (DLLR) is responsible for regulating cemeteries and funeral homes. The Office of Cemetery Oversight within this department enforces all the relevant regulations, ensuring that consumers have sufficient protection when dealing with cemeteries and funeral homes. The Office of Cemetery Oversight’s...
In recent times, funeral homes are experiencing increased pressure from different angles. One of these is an increase in cremation rates, which drives down revenue. Another is an increase in e-commerce shopping, which also reduces profits. Lastly, funeral homes must comply with all government mandates and regulations, like the...
It’s no secret how important sustainability is for the welfare of our planet. But when considering potentially sensitive locations like funeral homes, concepts such as ethical recycling aren’t often prioritized. However, ethical recycling programs can benefit funeral homes in a variety of ways. These programs also benefit families unable...
Non-profit cemeteries are those that are operative solely for the benefit of members and do not collect a profit. There are more benefits available to non-profit cemetery companies than just exemption from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(13) of the Internal Revenue Code. All potential benefits should be carefully...
Large death care providers, such as Service Corporation International, have used mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to become major players in the highly fragmented funeral industry. Using M&A is an opportunity to combine your business with another business in the death care industry, such as cemeteries and funeral homes, or...