March 24, 2026
Published by 
Chris Cruger on March 24, 2026
Chris Cruger on March 24, 2026Interdisciplinary collaboration is a competitive advantage in the funeral service and cemetery professions. In the January 2026 issue of The Director, I, arguing that personalization would define success in 2026 and beyond, challenged you to stand out. I urged you to move past sameness and create experiences that feel authentic, intentional and human. Well, in this month’s column, I will address how to accomplish this. Personalization does not happen in isolation. It cannot be owned by one department, one leader or one role. The most meaningful, differentiated experiences are created when people with different expertise, perspectives and responsibilities work together toward a shared goal. This is where interdisciplinary collaboration comes in. In today’s funeral service and cemetery professions, the complexity of business has outpaced the siloed way in which many organizations still operate. Operations, sales, marketing, preneed, finance, leadership, etc., […]
March 24, 2026
Published by Jarod Bernat on March 24, 2026
Jarod Bernat on March 24, 2026Succession planning in the funeral profession is never just a transaction, it’s a deeply personal process tied to family legacy, community trust, and identity. For one generation, the business represents a lifetime of work; for the next, it represents opportunity, responsibility, and often a different vision for the future. The difference between a smooth transition and a strained one often comes down to expectations. When assumptions go unspoken, conflict follows. When expectations are clear, succession becomes a strength not a strain. Passion alone isn’t enough to lead a modern funeral home. Ownership today requires financial acumen, operational discipline, leadership, compliance, and adaptability. Successors need time, exposure, and often experience outside the family business to build those skills. Without true readiness, the risk isn’t just operational, it’s the legacy itself. At the same time, family dynamics should not dictate business structure. […]
March 24, 2026
Published by Axel Jean-Francois on March 24, 2026
Axel Jean-Francois on March 24, 2026“Robert Crane” never set out to build a funeral home empire. He started in the preneed business selling pre-arranged funeral contracts across a handful of Midwestern states in the late 1980s. It was honest work. It paid. And over time, it put him in rooms with the kind of people who would matter later: independent funeral home owners in small towns across the region. He was good with people. The owners liked him. He remembered their kids’ names, showed up to their community events, and never oversold. When one of those owners passed away unexpectedly in 1997, his widow called Robert before she called an attorney. He bought the funeral home that month. Then it happened again. And again. An owner retiring with no succession plan. A family that didn’t want the business. A handshake at a dinner that turned […]
March 24, 2026
Published by Matt Blackwell on March 24, 2026
Matt Blackwell on March 24, 2026When a funeral home owner starts thinking seriously about a sale, there’s a question that doesn’t get enough attention early in the process: who actually buys these businesses, and how are they different from one another? It’s not a small distinction. The type of buyer sitting across the table from you will shape the offer you receive, the terms attached to it, and what your business looks like on the other side of closing. Broadly speaking, buyers in funeral and cemetery consolidation fall into four categories. National Consolidators These are the names most sellers already know. Publicly traded companies with national footprints, institutional capital, and decades of acquisition experience. They know what they’re looking for: consistent call volume, clean financials, and markets that fit their existing regional presence. When a business checks those boxes, they compete aggressively on price and […]
March 24, 2026
Published by 
Welton Hong on March 24, 2026
Welton Hong on March 24, 2026When families search for funeral services, they almost always turn to Google. For funeral home owners, appearing near the top of local search results isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential. Yet many businesses chase quick fixes: obsessively tweaking Google Business Profiles, shuffling title tags, or chasing every new citation in hopes of a fleeting boost. The truth is, real visibility comes from consistency and patience, not frantic adjustments. Local search isn’t just about being number one for every keyword. It’s about being visible where it matters, maintaining a strong presence even when Google changes its algorithm, and creating signals that show your business is trustworthy, active, and relevant. Some days you might see your funeral home appear at the top of Maps but slightly lower organically, or vice versa. That’s normal. What separates long-lasting businesses from the rest is […]
February 26, 2026
Published by Taylor Weber on February 26, 2026
Taylor Weber on February 26, 2026Most 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 […]
February 26, 2026
Published by Nicole Vullo on February 26, 2026
Nicole Vullo on February 26, 2026We recently had an internal conversation at Foresight about social media in the funeral and cemetery profession. Not about hashtags. Not about algorithms. Not about chasing engagement. About management. Because the issue isn’t whether a funeral home is “good at social media.” The issue is whether its digital presence reflects how the business is actually run. That distinction matters. Digital Presence Is Now Operational Families research before they call. Adult children compare options online before speaking to a director. Buyers review digital presence during diligence. Lenders look at executive visibility and market positioning. Recruits assess culture and professionalism through social channels long before submitting an application. Digital presence has moved out of the marketing department. It now sits squarely in the realm of operational perception. And perception influences value. A dormant Facebook page doesn’t just suggest “we’re busy.” It suggests […]
February 26, 2026
Published by Matt Blackwell on February 26, 2026
Matt Blackwell on February 26, 2026When funeral home owners begin thinking about a sale, the focus often turns to valuation multiples and market timing. In reality, buyers start somewhere else. They start with risk. Every buyer, whether a regional operator, public consolidator, or private equity backed group, is trying to mitigate downside. Red flags are simply indicators of risk. Not every issue will kill a transaction, but almost every red flag affects price, structure, or terms. More importantly, surprises during diligence damage credibility and shift leverage to the buyer. Call volume quality is one of the first areas buyers analyze. Unexplained declines or volatility raise concerns about lost relationships, service quality, or competitive pressure. Market share trends matter. So does concentration risk. Heavy reliance on a single church, hospital, or municipality may inflate current performance but create meaningful downside if that relationship changes. Revenue quality […]
February 26, 2026
Published by Welton Hong on February 26, 2026
Welton Hong on February 26, 2026Written by Welton Hong If you serve families through a funeral home, crematory, or cemetery, you already know how important your Google Business Profile is. For many families, it is the very first place they encounter your firm — often before they call, visit your website, or step through your doors. In moments of grief, families are not comparison-shopping the way they would for retail goods. They are looking for reassurance, dignity, professionalism, and a sense of trust. This is where the old saying rings especially true: a picture is worth a thousand words. Thoughtfully chosen photos help families feel more comfortable reaching out. They improve search visibility, establish credibility, and quietly communicate what it would feel like to entrust you with a loved one’s care. For funeral professionals, photos might include your chapel, visitation rooms, arrangement offices, reception spaces, […]
February 26, 2026
Published by Luke Potter on February 26, 2026
Luke Potter on February 26, 2026In most professions, rebranding is almost expected following a change in ownership. In fact, 74% of S&P 100 companies rebrand within seven years of going public. Yet in funeral service, less than 10% of firms undergo a complete rebrand post-sale. Why the difference? Funeral service is deeply rooted in tradition, community trust, and multi-generational legacy. A funeral home’s name is often synonymous with decades of service, compassion, and personal relationships. That intangible value or goodwill, is often one of the most significant assets a buyer acquires. Brand consistency in funeral service is not just about logos or signage, it is about trust. Families associate the brand with people, history, and long-standing reputation. Funeral homes are relationship-driven businesses where perception can materially impact call volume, staff morale, and community confidence. Abrupt or dramatic branding changes can unintentionally show signs of instability […]
January 27, 2026
Published by 
Foresight on January 27, 2026
Foresight on January 27, 2026Written By Jen Graziano, Licensed Funeral Director, Attorney, Founder: RememBar Collection People often look “outside” to find whatever it is they’re searching for. Whether outside of their living situation to find a new home, outside a relationship situation to find a new partner, or outside a business situation to find a new idea; there’s a human tendency to look outward. The irony is what we’re searching for is so often right in front of our eyes. On that note, let’s talk about our funeral home(s), not as business entities but rather, the brick and mortars, themselves. In our endless quest to offer something new, are we neglecting to look within to see how we can improve what we already have? We take for granted walking through our doors each day and going directly to our respective desk, office and chapels. […]
January 27, 2026
Published by Axel Jean-Francois on January 27, 2026
Axel Jean-Francois on January 27, 2026Based on mainstream 2026 forecasts, here’s what funeral professionals need to watch. Interest Rates and Business Borrowing in 2026 Let’s start with the big, invisible hand everyone’s felt but no one invited: the Federal Reserve. The Fed controls short-term interest rates by setting the “federal funds rate,” basically what banks charge each other to borrow money overnight. It’s not thrilling—but it drives everything from mortgage rates to commercial loans to your credit card APR. In 2026, that rate is projected by major banks and federal agencies to hover around 3.5–3.75%, down from the 2023 highs, but still miles above the near-zero era of the 2010s. For funeral homes, that means: higher payments on expansion loans, pricier lines of credit, and less room for error if calls dip. On a $1 million, 10‑year note, even a couple of percentage points equals […]