Blog

April 23, 2026

Ask the Owner: Answering Deathcare’s Most Important Call

Written By Jen Graziano, Licensed Funeral Director, Attorney, Founder: RememBar Collection As the saying goes, “you only have one chance to make a first impression”.  How true these words are and the death care realm offers no exception.  As professionals in this sacred space, we are tasked with selling our services, our funeral homes, our memorial products, ultimately even ourselves, in those critical moments of the “first call”.  The “first call”, or the initial encounter is more than securing a client or sale.  Often we are speaking to an emotional caller, one who was reticent to even make the call, or one who likely wishes they were calling any other place but a funeral home or a cemetery.  Some may call with preconceived notions that we, collectively, are scammers looking to take advantage of the most vulnerable or that we […]
April 23, 2026

The LinkedIn Metrics That Actually Matter for Funeral Professionals

By Welton Hong, founder and CEO, Ring Ring Marketing On a quiet Thursday morning, the owner of a multi-location funeral home sat down with her office manager to review their LinkedIn company page analytics. “Good news,” the manager said. “We had 1,800 post impressions this week.” The owner nodded, then hesitated. “Is that … meaningful?” The question lingered longer than the numbers. Like many funeral professionals, she wasn’t lacking data. LinkedIn offered a steady stream of it, including impressions, page visitors, search appearances and follower growth. But it was unclear to her if the firm’s activity on LinkedIn was establishing trust or real connections with potential customers. The Metric Trap in Funeral Service Funeral service, like so many areas of deathcare, is fundamentally about trust built over time. Families rarely make immediate decisions. They observe. They remember. They take note […]
April 23, 2026

Ask the Analyst: What is Deal Fatigue?

Deal fatigue is a phenomenon that occurs during lengthy or complex business transactions, most commonly in mergers and acquisitions where one or both parties experience a gradual erosion of enthusiasm, focus, and motivation to see the deal through to closing. It typically sets in after prolonged periods of negotiation, due diligence, and back-and-forth communication that stretch well beyond the originally anticipated timeline. As weeks turn into months, the cumulative weight of information requests and unresolved sticking points can wear down even the most seasoned dealmakers, causing minor issues and setbacks to become an expensive and drawn-out thorn in the side. The causes of deal fatigue often come down to a lack of organization and a failure to maintain urgency throughout the process. Sellers who are slow to upload requested documents, delayed in responding to questions, or simply unprepared for the […]
April 23, 2026

Due Diligence Isn’t a Checklist. It’s Where Deals Are Won or Lost

When a business goes to market, many owners think of due diligence as a checklist. It’s not. Due diligence is where buyers validate everything they’ve been told and uncover what they haven’t. More importantly, it’s where they assign value to risk. That process ultimately answers three questions: What am I buying? What could go wrong? And what is that worth? For sellers, this is the moment where preparation either protects value—or erodes it. Not All Buyers Approach Diligence the Same Way One of the most overlooked realities in a transaction is that the buyer determines the process. A first-time or individual buyer may take a more informal approach, with fewer requests and slower pacing. A private equity-backed group, on the other hand, will run a structured, high-intensity process with dedicated teams, third-party financial reviews, and constant information flow. The implication […]
April 23, 2026

Business Reality Check: When ‘Not Now’ Turns Into ‘Too Late’

Featured in American Funeral Director by Kates-Boylston Publications Tom wasn’t just an employee. He was deeply involved in day-to-day operations, trusted by staff and known to families, and already functioning as the operational backbone of the business. He was the clearest choice for an internal business sale. However, Eli wanted clarity. What was the business worth? What would each path cost? What would the transition realistically look like? We completed a valuation, walked through deal structures, and laid out what each scenario meant. At the time, the business was consistently serving more than 300 families per year. Revenue was strong, and cash flow was reliable. The valuation supported a number north of $4 million. For Eli, buying out his uncle would cost him at least $2 million. And that’s when Eli hit pause. The price felt high. The commitment felt […]
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