Taylor Weber

June 25, 2026

Ask the Analyst: How Does Consumer Behavior Impact Valuations and Transactions

What happens when a consumer tells you they don’t want a traditional funeral chapel, don’t want cremation, and don’t want a conventional burial, but still want something meaningful? It’s a question the profession can’t afford to ignore. Green burial, alkaline hydrolysis, natural organic reduction, direct cremation providers, and online-only platforms aren’t fringe concepts anymore. And while some of these aren’t moving the needle on volume just yet, they matter less for what they’re doing today and more for what they’re revealing about where consumer preferences are heading. It’s Not About the Method — It’s About the Feeling When families ask about green burial or online arrangements, they’re rarely leading with the method. They’re leading with a feeling — they want something honest, personal, affordable, and guided. The 2025 NFDA data backs this up: 56% of recent customers cited transparent pricing […]
February 26, 2026

Ask the Analyst: Why Funeral Home Sales Stall and How to Prevent It

Most funeral home owners assume that once they decide to sell, the hardest part is over. In reality, deciding to sell is just the beginning. What surprises many owners is not the valuation conversation. It is how quickly a transaction can lose momentum during due diligence. That slow loss of energy is what we call deal fatigue. It rarely shows up as one dramatic event. It shows up in small ways that add up. A buyer asks for “one more” report. A question turns into three follow-ups. Emails sit longer than usual because the owner is still running the business day to day. The timeline stretches, and what started as an exciting next chapter begins to feel like a second full-time job. Deal fatigue is one of the most underestimated risks in a sale. These issues are common, and the […]
September 25, 2025

Ask the Analyst: Inside the Buyer’s Diligence Process

What Sellers Need to Know Before the Deal When it comes to selling a funeral home or cemetery business, the letter of intent (LOI) may feel like the finish line but in reality, it’s just the starting point for one of the most critical phases of the transaction: buyer due diligence. At Foresight, we recently gathered our team for an internal training session focused on navigating the diligence process from both the buyer’s and seller’s perspectives. Here are some key insights from that discussion and why early, thorough preparation is the best way to protect value and close with confidence. Why Buyer Due Diligence Matters Due diligence is how a buyer verifies that what they think they’re buying is what they’re actually getting. Diligence reduces risk and uncertainty, impacting everything from valuation and deal structure to timing and close. It’s […]
July 25, 2025

Understanding the Buyer Landscape: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All

In a recent internal training, we explored a concept that’s becoming increasingly important for anyone advising clients through a sale: not all buyers are created equal. Just like sellers have unique goals—some want to maximize their financial return, others care deeply about legacy or employee retention—buyers, too, come to the table with distinct motivations, strategies, and investment theses. The more we understand these buyer personas, the better equipped we are to match the right buyer to the right seller and guide our clients with clarity and confidence. Big vs. Small: Scale Matters Large national consolidators often operate with deep financial resources, strict investment criteria, and long-term development strategies. These buyers typically look for strong pre-need programs, growth potential in larger metro markets, or synergies within their existing footprint. Their financial strength allows them to be selective, highly analytical, and competitive […]
May 22, 2025

Ask the Analyst: A Front-Row Seat to the Future of Funeral Service

This month, I had the privilege of attending the 2025 NFDA Professional Women’s Conference, an experience that left me inspired and better equipped to support my clients with a deeper sense of empathy, strategy, and clarity. One attendee posed a question that stood out to me: “How can we consistently add value to our services without reinforcing the stereotype that we’re upselling families at their most vulnerable, especially when budgets are tight?” Reflecting on these candid discussions and collaborative exchanges made one thing clear: delivering high-value service doesn’t always mean families need to spend more—it means providing thoughtful, personalized gestures that resonate deeply. One director shared how she crafts small, meaningful mementos that reflect the deceased’s favorite hobby or brainstorms different ideas to tie in their personality to the service. Small acts with significant emotional impact. You can’t always raise […]
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