HOW TO OPEN A FUNERAL HOME: Detailed Guide

Being a funeral homeowner may be stressful, but the consolation is that you’ll be a helping hand to the families of the deceased during their trying times. If you want to open a business that is both emotionally and financially satisfying, opening a funeral home won’t be a bad idea. This article will show you the simple steps you can take to open a funeral home.

How To Open A Funeral Home

#1. Understand The Business

Funeral homes provide a number of services, such as memorial services and the preparation of the deceased for funerals or cremation. Funeral homeowners typically assist in the management of funeral arrangements and plans, thereby assisting families during this difficult time. They also assist families in selecting caskets, urns, and other merchandise. They work with all parties involved in a funeral, including clergy, cemeteries, and crematoriums. Funeral houses also offer many of the funeral goods, such as flowers, music, and memorial cards, and they usually transport the deceased and their families to the cemetery.

Because the funeral industry can be emotionally draining, you should open a funeral home for the correct reasons. If you’re only concerned with the earnings, you’ll undoubtedly find it tough to stick with the firm in the long run. Successful funeral home operators find the process of assisting families enjoyable, allowing them to focus on the industry’s virtues rather than the tragedy that might shroud the business.

#2. Develop a Business Plan

After you’ve come up with an idea, the following stage in beginning your business is to prepare a business plan. Not only would a bank need you to have a business plan, but numerous studies have proven that having one increases your chances of beginning a successful firm.

#3. Establish a Business Entity

A business entity (also known as a business structure) is how a company is legally constituted to operate. There are four basic business structures to consider: sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and Limited Liability Company (LLC). Each organization type has advantages and disadvantages, such as liability risk, costs, and administrative requirements.

When selecting which business entity is ideal for a funeral home, the sole proprietorship and Limited Liability Company are usually the two options.

A partnership exposes the owners to unwarranted personal exposure because if one partner causes the business to be sued or steals money from the business, the other partners are personally obliged to repay.

Because it separates the business assets from the owner’s assets, the corporation might be a suitable alternative for minimizing liability risk. If the corporation is sued if certain commercial obligations are unable to be repaid, the owners are not personally liable to reimburse them. The disadvantage of the corporation is that it is more complex than the other entities and necessitates more administration than the LLC. However, if you intend to raise a large amount of capital, a corporation is usually a preferable option.

That leaves sole proprietorship and limited liability companies.

The sole proprietorship is the cheapest and simplest entity to establish, which is appealing. The owner is personally liable if anything happens to the business, which is an essential concern. The LLC allows you to operate as a sole proprietorship while providing the liability protection of a corporation. Depending on the state, the cost of forming an LLC ranges from $40 to $500, which is a reasonable price to pay to safeguard the owners from business-related litigation and liens.

#4. Get A Business Name

Finding the ideal business name for a funeral home might be difficult. The name must not only be memorable to your customers, but it must also be available for use.

#5. Determine Your Location

To determine the services that will be most in-demand, extensively research your geography and target market. Be prepared for cultural differences in funerals; each culture has its own practices and traditions that influence the atmosphere and design. The greater your understanding and sensitivity to this, the larger your target audience and the better your business reputation.

Because of the size of the structure required, the rent for a funeral home can be quite high. In addition to rent, most buildings will need extensive modifications to be suitable. Because of these upgrades and the specific architecture that a funeral home necessitates, many funeral home owners prefer to buy rather than rent their properties. Finding an existing funeral home for sale or rent may be the ideal option, as it will save time and money on renovations and allow the business to begin sooner.

#6. Obtain Business Licenses and Permits.

While there is no formal licensure for funeral homes, states have varied licensing regulations for embalmers and funeral directors. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates funeral homes under the Funeral Rule, which protects clients from non-transparent bundling of products and services supplied. Many states also have pre-need planning rules, which result in funeral establishments being audited.

Local health departments and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will need to certify that the funeral home is in compliance with the law and is safe to operate.

Aside from professional licensing, standard business registrations such as a business license, sales tax permit, Employer Identification Number, and Occupancy Permit, among others, may be required.

#7. Obtain Financing

Having a strong business idea and the expertise to operate it is one thing, but finding the finance to open a funeral home is another. In general, banks prefer to lend money to funeral businesses since demand is consistent. However, obtaining money to open a funeral parlor might be tough. To qualify for a loan, the borrower(s) must have acceptable credit and be able to contribute 15-25 percent of the entire start-up expenditures.

#8. Establish a Business Bank Account

It is critical to keep your small business and personal money separate in order to manage your business’s income and expenses and discover patterns.

Many banks provide free business checking accounts, so look for a low-cost solution for your company.

#9. Create a marketing strategy.

Funeral homes rely on continual marketing to attract new customers. Social media marketing, print advertising, and even TV and radio commercials are examples of frequent marketing practices.

#10. Obtain Commercial Insurance

When beginning a funeral home, there are numerous forms of insurance to consider. Here are a few examples:

General liability insurance covers the company if a customer is injured on the premises. This type of policy might cover expenses such as legal bills.
Commercial automobile insurance protects the company from expenses that may arise if a company vehicle is involved in an accident. Worker’s compensation insurance covers expenditures such as medical bills and lost earnings if an employee is injured on the job.

The cost of insuring a funeral home will vary depending on several factors, including the value of the business’s equipment, the location of the business, and the number of personnel on staff. Request quotes from various insurance providers to get the most accurate estimate of how much insurance will cost. When comparing quotations, look for facts such as policy coverage limits and exclusions, premiums, and deductibles.

#11. Recruit Workers

Funeral homes require a limited team to function properly, and many staff positions are specialized, requiring specific education and expertise. The following are the typical annual earnings for common funeral home staff positions, according to ZipRecruiter:

Funeral home manager: $66,666
Funeral director: $50,228
Embalmer: $42,909
Funeral home driver: $38,710
Mortuary assistant: $35,997
Funeral assistant; $27,701

A funeral home’s budget must account for expenses such as worker’s compensation insurance, paid time off, and health insurance contributions in addition to salary.

#12. Establish an Accounting System

Establishing an accounting system for your funeral company is important to its long-term profitability.

Staying on top of taxes not only keeps the company out of problems with the government but the figures can also be used to analyze and monitor patterns and cash flow in the company, allowing it to maximize earnings.

Many young entrepreneurs are intimidated by the prospect of accounting. There are several approaches to bookkeeping, ranging from do-it-yourself to employing a bookkeeper. These are some examples:

Pen and paper – Low cost, yet tough to keep track of.
Spreadsheet – Low cost, yet prone to inaccuracy.
Accounting software – Moderate cost, but the owner typically enters expenses. Freshbooks and Wave Accounting are two excellent accounting software packages.
Hire a bookkeeper – A higher cost, but still manageable at $100-$200 per month in most circumstances.

A dedicated bookkeeper will almost certainly save you money since, in addition to managing all of the bookkeeping (allowing you to focus on the business), they will also provide specific tax advice and guarantee the business is in compliance.

How Much Does It Cost To Open A Funeral Home?

Funeral homes have high start-up costs. Smaller homes can start for $150,000 to $250,000, while larger businesses can cost up to $450,000.

The following are some typical funeral facilities that make up the startup costs:

Embalming apparatus
A preparation room; refrigeration, elevators, and sanitation equipment; and inventory such as caskets and urns.
Furnishings and decorations
Funeral procession hearse and funeral lead automobile
Building renovations and changes
Working capital for the first three to six months of compensation, including utilities, internet, and rent, among other things.
Funeral Home Director Licensing

How Much Can A Funeral Homeowner Earn?

Funeral home income will vary depending on the location of the business, expenses, and even the presence of local funeral home competitors. According to the Mortician Guide, funeral homes perform roughly 110 funerals per year. With funerals costing on average roughly $10,000, many funeral houses generate revenue ranging from $1 to $1.5 million.

Funeral homes have substantial running costs due to facilities and staff; nonetheless, sales and profits have been declining. Funeral homes must discover innovative methods to remain profitable as more individuals choose cremation over conventional burial and internet sales of caskets and urns expand.

What Skills Are Required To Open A Funeral Home?

A funeral home owner does not need a business degree to open a home. However, certain skills, experiences, and education programs can help the firm succeed. Some of these skills are:

#1. Experience In The Funeral Sector

A company owner who has worked or completed an internship in the funeral industry will be more prepared to face the obstacles of opening a funeral home.

#2. Education.

All states need funeral directors to be licensed, according to the American Board of Funeral Service Education, and the standards differ by state. Many states require post-secondary education (often a two- or four-year certificate or degree in funeral service education), an internship, and passing the National Board Examination.

#3. Interpersonal Abilities

Funeral directors must have strong interpersonal skills because they work with families on some of their darkest days. A warm, friendly, and caring funeral home owner can leave a lasting impact on families.

#4. Attention to Details.

Funeral homeowners deal with significant details every day, from ensuring that all of a family’s desires are met with each funeral to managing inventories.

#5. Experience in management.

Because funeral homes require a number of personnel, competence in hiring, training, and managing staff is essential.

#6. Organizational abilities.

A funeral proprietor must be well-organized in order to coordinate all aspects of a funeral and manage employee schedules.

Are There Any Grants Available To Open A Funeral Home?

A grant to open a funeral home is highly rare. When looking for business grants, you may come across many scams and falsehoods. Sometimes, a group will offer you money to help you start a business. Be careful, though, and don’t give out sensitive personal information or pay money to find out more.

Who Owned Most Of The Funeral Homes?

Small businesses and/or families owned the vast majority of funeral homes in the United States, accounting for nearly 90% of total ownership.

What Is The Profit Margin For A Funeral Home?

Any funeral home should expect a mid-range gross profit margin of 30 to 60 percent for each service, and an overall business profit margin of 6 to 9 percent.

What Do You Call Someone Who Owns A Funeral Home?

The mortician is usually the owner of the funeral home. This name can be used interchangeably with funeral director. Undertaker is a euphemism for the person in charge of the body and burial service.

In Conclusion,

Because most families rely on funeral homes when a loved one dies, demand for funeral home services is typically consistent. But this isn’t enough reason for you to want to open a funeral home. Running a funeral home will place a demand on your mental and emotional health, and so, you should factor in these things before you open a funeral home.