February 13, 2018
Published by 
Dan Isard on February 13, 2018
Dan Isard on February 13, 2018Dear Dan, My cemetery is 60 years old. We have 40 acres of land to develop and about three acres developed for sale. We average 300 sales a year. The issue is, how do we determine what to develop these 40 acres into? Developmentally Delayed in Des Moines Dear Triple D, Your quandary is very easy to resolve. I strongly recommend doing two things: Survey your existing consumers. Hold public meetings. Never in the history of communication has conducting a survey been easier than it is today. Today we can send a survey to families and ask them questions about how they see their relationship with us. You should be surveying your families throughout the year. Ask them how satisfied they were with the process of working with your cemetery. This can include questions such as: Why did you elect […]
February 9, 2018
Published by 
Stephanie Ramsey on February 9, 2018
Stephanie Ramsey on February 9, 2018Is your funeral business at risk of an EEOC investigation for sexual harassment/sex-based harassment? When I ask funeral business owners and managers this question, most immediately indicate that they do not have a problem with sexual harassment in their businesses. When I inquire about their confidence on this issue they proclaim, “our business has a professional atmosphere and we have great employees”. Unfortunately, a professional work environment does not mean that everything is perfect. Even “great” employees are accused of harassment. More importantly they are found guilty of such harassment. If your employees have not been given training to specifically understand what constitutes sexual harassment your business might be at risk of facing a complaint. This is especially true given the current public climate that is supporting those who come forward with stories of harassment. Funeral business owners need to […]
January 29, 2018
Published by Dan Isard on January 29, 2018
Dan Isard on January 29, 2018As I began to write this article, my mind conjured up the image of our country’s State of the Union address. The president is announced, and upon entering the House chamber, he shakes the hands of well-wishers. Of course, no matter which party is in power, the opposition is generally less exuberant as the exalted speaker continues toward the podium. Imagine with me the magnitude of the words spoken, and with that scene in your head, I now present you with the State of the Profession address. Fellow funeral professionals, providers, suppliers and supporters, we are living in a unique time of opportunity and challenge to our livelihood. Our noble profession serves families during a most difficult life event, the death of a loved one. Like a hospital, your funeral home does not have the luxury of set hours […]
January 25, 2018
Published by Dan Isard on January 25, 2018
Dan Isard on January 25, 2018Dear Cemetery Impossible, I live in a small town and own the local funeral home. There is one cemetery in town. It is a 40-acre cemetery and down to its last salable acre. The current owners have come to me and asked me to buy it. They are asking for $100,000. That doesn’t seem like much. My banker thinks he can do a loan for me through the SBA. My concern is, what happens when it is fully subscribed, which could be within 10 years? I have been told by the owners they are fully compliant with their perpetual care funding requirements. Right Time To Buy Dear Right Time, I have done articles in the past on the issues involved in value, so I won’t waste the column inches to repeat myself again. But a purchase price of […]
January 11, 2018
Published by Dan Isard on January 11, 2018
Dan Isard on January 11, 2018Dear Dan, I just switched to a new casualty insurance broker. Unfortunately, my carrier doesn’t know the funeral business and I now find myself educating the whole company about it. The good news is the agent is Greek, and they have big funerals that will come my way. The big issue is who do I cover? There are two stockholders and me; do I cover each of us? Also, my broker told me we can cover our 1099 employees. Sometimes, I employ these people as pallbearers. Should we do that also? Compfused in Compton Dear Compfused, Allow me to answer your questions one at a time, but let’s also make sure we start at the beginning with the matter of understanding workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ comp is form of insurance issued by private insurance companies required for […]