Articles

Why exceptional service requires exceptional planning. In funeral service, the phrase “white-glove service” is often associated with hospitality. It brings to mind polished facilities, professional dress, attention to detail, personalized experiences and compassionate interactions with families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Those things matter, and they always will. But funeral professionals sometimes mistakenly view white-glove service only through the lens of the family experience. In reality, exceptional service is rarely the result of personality alone. It is also the result of operational discipline behind the scenes. Families experience the end result of your business model long before they understand the business itself. They experience it through responsiveness, consistency, professionalism, communication, organization, confidence and trust. They experience it in how seamlessly the team works together, how prepared staff are to handle difficult situations, how clearly options […]

It’s as valuable to you and your successors as it is to your customers. There is a moment, somewhere between the first phone call and the final goodbye, when grieving family members decide whether they feel truly taken care of. You don’t get a survey response from them in that moment. You don’t get a second chance to change their answer, either. The funeral service profession has long prided itself on compassion and professionalism. And in many ways, that reputation holds. The 2026 Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study (FCCBS), which surveyed more than 5,000 consumers and 1,100 industry professionals, confirmed that our people are perceived as professional, comforting and responsive. Those are real strengths. But this same study, now conducted for seven consecutive years, also revealed a more complicated picture beneath the surface. Consumers want more. And the operators […]

Featured in American Funeral Director by Kates-Boylston Publications When selling a funeral home, timing matters. Owners spend decades building reputation, market share, staffing relationships, and operational consistency. That lifetime investment often creates a sentimental perception of value that buyers may not fully support. Sellers sometimes become anchored to a target number and convince themselves that if they wait just a little longer, the “right buyer” will eventually appear. What many owners underestimate, however, is how quickly business value can deteriorate once they mentally decide they are ready to sell. The following case study illustrates a pattern that has become increasingly common throughout the funeral profession in recent years: a business owner receives a strong offer while the company is operating at peak performance, delays the sale in pursuit of a higher valuation, gradually disengages from operations, and ultimately watches both […]

How to approach a transfer of ownership realistically and effectively. Succession planning in the funeral service profession rarely entails just a business transaction. It is personal; emotional; and deeply tied to family legacy, community reputation and identity. For many funeral home owners, their business represents multiple generations of service. For the next generation, however, it represents opportunity, responsibility and, oftentimes, a very different vision for the future. Setting realistic expectations for both sides of the succession plan is the key to a successful transition. Without clarity, assumptions can cause resentment, and even good intentions can lead to fractures in a relationship. With clear communication and structured planning, however, succession can strengthen both the relationship and the business. For both the current owner and the future successor to approach succession planning with realism and foresight, they must adhere to the following […]

What new consumer data means for funeral service and cemetery professionals Each year, Foresight studies the evolution of consumer attitudes toward funeral and cemetery services. Over time, our Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study has become an annual benchmark for deathcare, and we make a point of sharing its findings with readers of The Director first. The goal of the study is straightforward: to better understand how families perceive funeral and cemetery services, what families expect from providers, and where the two professions can continue to improve. This year’s research includes feedback from more than 5,000 consumers and more than 1,000 funeral service professionals. This is the highest participation in the history of the study. With this level of engagement, the data provides a clear view into how families approach funeral service and cemetery decisions today. The results offer both […]