April 28, 2024
Published by 
Jared Tanke on April 28, 2024
Jared Tanke on April 28, 2024If you are like me, you are probably thinking how in the world are we already four months into the year? While relatively early still, it is always a good idea to take a minute to review what has gone well, what has not gone well, and figure out how to adjust with the remainder of the year. Just like SCI, Park Lawn, and Carriage do every quarter for their investors, every business owner no matter the size should have a quarterly report. Let’s dive into some of the key things to look at: Number of services – When looking at number of services in the quarter, we should not just fixate on the total, but really break it down into the number of traditional burials, traditional cremations, direct cremations, trade cases, donor calls, etc., so that we can better […]
April 28, 2024
Published by 
Stephanie Ramsey on April 28, 2024
Stephanie Ramsey on April 28, 2024Scenario: Kirkpatrick Funeral & Cremation Services consists of multiple locations in the southern United States. Duncan Kirkpatrick started the business with a single location 20 years ago. Duncan is very proud of how he has been able to grow the business over the years and the positive feedback he has received from the communities the business serves. This is a direct reflection of his highly trained and qualified staff. It has been challenging for Duncan to find and retain qualified staff, but he has diligently overcome this obstacle by providing great benefits and a wonderful work environment. Duncan worked with a professional to create an employee handbook and procedure manuals as well as a variety of other applicable HR processes for his entire operation. Employees are introduced to these processes from the day they are hired. Currently, his staff is […]
April 28, 2024
Published by 
Curtis Rostad on April 28, 2024
Curtis Rostad on April 28, 2024Did the DOL Make It Any Easier to Decide? Most employers are at least aware of the issue of independent contractor versus employee. But making the determination has never been clear. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule clarifying the standard for independent contractor versus employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). That may sound encouraging, but it is doubtful that the actual rule and background information consisting of more than 1,200 pages makes the designation any easier. The rule only clarified the factors to consider that are still open to interpretation. Why does this designation matter? There is a financial incentive to declare a worker an independent contractor. But declaring that designation does not make it so under the law. If a worker is deemed to be an independent contractor, the employer is not […]
March 28, 2024
Published by 
Luke Potter on March 28, 2024
Luke Potter on March 28, 2024As we guide our clients through the second quarter of the year, the question of seasonality arises as we get closer to Spring and Summer. We asked Financial Analyst, Luke Potter to share his insights on how to set your business up for the slower days of the summer months. Question: “How can we strategically position ourselves for when we approach the slower days in the upcoming months?” Luke Potter: The funeral business is one that operates in a realm where seasons may not always follow the typical patterns observed in other industries. Although the funeral and cemetery profession is not entirely predictable, there are strategies funeral home owners and cemetery operators can employ to navigate the slower days of summer effectively. Your Business is Your Baby Treating the business as if it were family is an essential principle to […]
March 28, 2024
Published by 
Nicole Vullo on March 28, 2024
Nicole Vullo on March 28, 2024Are You Part of the Death Care Industry or Are You Part of the Funeral Profession or Are You Playing in the Middle of the Road? In our next installment of Ask the Owners, Diann Anderson, formerly of Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services asks you to consider what category your business model falls into. She encourages you to pick one lane and get out of the middle: What sets a business apart? What drives a consumer to choose one business over another business that operates in the same sector? When it comes to purchasing real estate most everyone agrees that the biggest determination of a property’s value is “Location… Location …Location …” Of course, there’s many more factors that must go into the decision, but most realtors agree that location is one of the most important aspects of a property. […]