September 27, 2024
Published by 
Taylor Weber on September 27, 2024
Taylor Weber on September 27, 2024In our latest, Ask the Analyst blog column, we were given the question on what business-related tasks are needed to be done during the final month of the year. Financial Analyst, Taylor Weber provides her insights on this important topic. Question: Do I need to focus on any specific business elements in the last quarter of the year? Taylor Weber: As we head into the final quarter of the year, it’s important to assess where your business stands and take strategic action. While it’s tempting to remain cautious, especially when faced with market changes such as increased cremation rates or a fluctuating death rate, now is the time to make moves that will set your business up for long-term success. Many funeral home owners are hesitant to raise their prices, fearing they’ll lose calls to lower-cost competitors. But is that […]
May 29, 2024
Published by Taylor Weber on May 29, 2024
Taylor Weber on May 29, 2024Many times when our clients think of succession planning, they only think of the financial aspect of it. While this is a very important component, there is more too it when you are first getting started. In fact, one of the first steps is having the internal conversation with yourself and your team. We asked financial analyst, Taylor Weber to share her insights on this important first step in the succession planning process. Question: Other than financial planning, how can we start to prepare for Succession Planning Conversations internally? Taylor Weber: We often emphasize the equation plan + execution = success. This principle is particularly crucial when determining your exit strategy. With 55% of owners preferring to sell or transfer their business to a family member or current employee rather than a third party, succession planning becomes a vital and […]
January 30, 2024
Published by Taylor Weber on January 30, 2024
Taylor Weber 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 […]
December 20, 2022
Published by Taylor Weber on December 20, 2022
Taylor Weber on December 20, 2022Have you ever wondered why your Gross Profit Margin has such importance when analyzing the strength and performance of your funeral or cemetery business? It is a question that we receive quite often when working with our clients. Our Financial Analyst, Taylor Weber provides informative insights on this important element of your business analysis. Question: Why is Gross Profit Margin important when Foresight performs their Strategic Performance Analysis for my business? Taylor Weber: The Gross Profit Margin is one of the most significant measures for determining your business’s profitability and financial performance. Gross Profit Margin is defined as “a metric that analysts utilize to measure financial health by calculating the amount of money left over from total sales (or revenue) after subtracting the cost of goods sold (COGS) that is sometimes expressed as a percentage of total sales/revenue.” The general […]