Thought Leadership

In speaking to a colleague recently, the topic of entrepreneurship came up. He remarked that successful entrepreneurs make a decision and do not second-guess themselves. They choose a path and move forward with guts and gusto. Shortly thereafter, I received a call from my sister, who is a regional sales director. A few minutes into our conversation, I made a comment that ended with the phrase, “There is hope.” Her response was, “In the world of sales, hope is not a strategy.” It was barely 8 a.m. and already my mind had been challenged by two poignant thoughts. As I drank my coffee, I reflected on these conversations and how they relate to funeral service. Most of us do not see ourselves as an entrepreneur or salesperson. However, the truth is that we are both. As business owners, we are responsible […]

In this final series on IRS Rules Regarding Gifts, Diane DeClercq discusses tax deductible issues pertaining to Employee Rewards and Meals and Entertainment. Tax issues with employee awards are complex. For Meals and Entertainment it is important to keep good records and your receipts.

If your job includes hiring or managing employees, you have to keep track of the ever-changing federal, state and municipal laws covering HR practices. Do you know what ‘ban the box’ refers to? Do you know what constitutes discrimination against a pregnant employee? Are you on top of efforts to make sick leave a mandatory benefit?  For the answers to these questions and much more, read Stephanie Ramsey’s article in the August/September issue of  ICCFA Magazine.

Building a business for the future takes diligent research and smart decision-making.  In this month’s Finance 101 column, Dan responds to Hammer and Nails in Nashville about the methods and steps of how to build a business for the future.

Finding a qualified employee who will fit well within the funeral service environment is the goal of all funeral home business owners and managers. Unfortunately, this can be a challenging task, especially for owners of small funeral home businesses with limited HR resources. But there is a path you can follow that can increase your chances of finding that “one” key employee out of the masses who apply.  Read more as Stephanie Ramsey outlines these steps in the August issue of The Director.