March 28, 2024
Published by 
Nicole Vullo on March 28, 2024
Nicole Vullo on March 28, 2024As we guide our clients through the second quarter of the year, the question of seasonality arises as we get closer to Spring and Summer. We asked Financial Analyst, Luke Potter to share his insights on how to set your business up for the slower days of the summer months. Question: “How can we strategically position ourselves for when we approach the slower days in the upcoming months?” Luke Potter: The funeral business is one that operates in a realm where seasons may not always follow the typical patterns observed in other industries. Although the funeral and cemetery profession is not entirely predictable, there are strategies funeral home owners and cemetery operators can employ to navigate the slower days of summer effectively. Your Business is Your Baby Treating the business as if it were family is an essential principle to […]
March 28, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on March 28, 2024
Nicole Vullo on March 28, 2024Are You Part of the Death Care Industry or Are You Part of the Funeral Profession or Are You Playing in the Middle of the Road? In our next installment of Ask the Owners, Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services asks you to consider what category your business model falls into. She encourages you to pick one lane and get out of the middle: What sets a business apart? What drives a consumer to choose one business over another business that operates in the same sector? When it comes to purchasing real estate most everyone agrees that the biggest determination of a property’s value is “Location… Location …Location …” Of course, there’s many more factors that must go into the decision, but most realtors agree that location is one of the most important aspects of a property. […]
February 29, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on February 29, 2024
Nicole Vullo on February 29, 2024As we collaborate with our clients on their business operations, one of the components that we always factor in is creating a proper your succession plan early so that you are prepared well in advance of your transition out of the profession. Planning for your future now is vital. We asked Senior Associate, Jarod Bernat to share his insights on how the importance of a succession plan for a funeral home or cemetery business. Question: I do not have a succession plan for my business created yet. Do I really need one? Jarod Bernat: It often seems that within our profession, “planning for the future” takes on a different meaning than it does to the rest of the world. The funeral and cemetery profession is dominated by devoted servants to their communities who plan their lives and their businesses one […]
February 29, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on February 29, 2024
Nicole Vullo on February 29, 2024In our next installment of Ask the Owners, Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services discusses the importance having the right team outside of your internal team to help you be a success: Trust is something that you do every day. To trust is to have a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. While the concept of trust seems simple on the surface — it’s about believing in someone’s reliability, integrity, and competence — it involves various layers and nuances that make it intricate. One of the greatest challenges Steve and I faced when we started digging into changing the paradigm at our funeral home was “Who can we trust?” I’m not speaking about which employees are trustworthy. I’m speaking about the importance of having the right team outside of your […]
January 30, 2024
Published by Nicole Vullo on January 30, 2024
Nicole Vullo on January 30, 2024As we guide our clients through the uncertainties of 2024, the question of strategic positioning is paramount. We asked Financial Analyst, Taylor Weber to share her insights on how to set your business up for success this year. Question: “How can we strategically position ourselves for success in 2024, and what key factors should we prioritize?” Taylor Weber: This is a very important question and one that we are asked a lot by our clients, especially during the first month of the year. Establishing a solid budget and goals for our clients heading into the new year involves a collaborative effort and an evaluation of qualitative and quantitative factors, particularly considering the unique circumstances of what post-COVID looks like. It is crucial to recognize that comparing historical operations to the anomalous years of 2020-2021 might not be practical. The industry […]