Blog

April 23, 2025

Ask the Analyst: How a Simple Financial Model Can Empower Your Funeral Home

In the ever-evolving funeral and cemetery profession, making informed financial decisions is more critical than ever. Whether you’re managing day-to-day operations, planning for a significant capital investment, or considering a business expansion, a well-crafted financial model can be the key to unlocking clarity and confidence in your decision-making. What Is a Financial Model and Why Does It Matter? A financial model is essentially a comprehensive summary of your funeral home’s income, expenses, and cash flow, all neatly organized in a spreadsheet. It is designed to answer pivotal questions about your business’s future. For funeral home owners, a financial model can help you: Plan Your Budget: Ensure that your revenue streams—from services like funeral arrangements and merchandise sales—cover your expenses, including staff wages and facility upkeep. Evaluate Investments: Decide whether purchasing new equipment (such as a retort or updated vehicles) or […]
April 23, 2025

Sharpening Your PPC Game: Why Keywords are Only Half the Battle

Written by Welton Hong, Ring Ring Marketing Running a successful pay-per-click (PPC) ad campaign isn’t just about showing up; it’s about showing up for the right audience. Many funeral homes focus heavily on selecting the “perfect” keywords, but that’s only one side of the coin. If you’re not also eliminating the wrong traffic, you’re leaving the back door wide open—and your ad budget is walking out. Think of your PPC campaign like planning a formal dinner party. Your positive keywords are the invitations you send out: they determine who shows up. But if you don’t set clear expectations or limit plus-ones, you might find your living room packed with folks who thought it was a backyard barbecue. Negative keywords are your way of saying, “This isn’t that kind of party.” Let’s say your funeral home provides high-end funeral services. You […]
March 28, 2025

From Anxious Employee to Resilient Owner: John Smith’s Wild Ride at Heritage Funeral Home

(Names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy. But trust me—these challenges and triumphs are all too real in the funeral profession.) “Fire them, or pack your things.” That was the ultimatum John Smith heard on an otherwise ordinary morning. The funeral home owner—John’s longtime boss—wanted an employee gone for purely personal reasons, a vendetta completely unrelated to job performance. John knew in his gut: that’s not how you run a successful business, and it’s definitely not how you treat loyal staff. Within minutes, he grabbed his stuff, said goodbye to a place he’d poured years of effort into, and walked out. Enough was enough. In that moment, John realized: If I can’t stand by while someone’s wrongfully fired—maybe it’s time I run my own funeral home the right way. But let’s be real—big decisions aren’t always glamorous. […]
March 28, 2025

Thriving Without Walls: A Tale of Two “Asset-Light” Funeral Businesses

(Note: names, specific locations, and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy. The scenarios described, however, are real and reflective of genuine trends in the funeral and cemetery profession.) Across the country, funeral homes are experiencing a seismic shift. With skyrocketing real estate prices and evolving preferences for funeral services, providers are reconsidering their traditional reliance on physical facilities. This shift has prompted a growing number of funeral homes to adopt “asset-light” models—operating without traditional brick-and-mortar spaces, leveraging third-party partnerships and rented spaces to deliver meaningful, personalized funeral experiences. While this innovative approach offers substantial growth potential, it also presents unique challenges, as two similar but ultimately very different funeral homes discovered. Evergreen Farewell Services: Losing Sight of the Mission Evergreen Farewell Services was established with a clear, heartfelt mission: to provide families with deeply personalized, environmentally friendly funeral […]
March 28, 2025

Ask the Analyst: Tariffs and the Funeral Profession: What to Watch For

The global nature of today’s economy means that tariffs, or taxes imposed on imported goods, can have far-reaching implications—including within the funeral profession. While many funeral homes may not feel the immediate impact of tariffs, it is essential to remain vigilant and prepared for potential ripple effects on business operations and the merchandise clients depend on. Staying informed and proactive can help professionals navigate these challenges while maintaining the quality-of-service families expect. How Tariffs Impact Merchandise One of the most direct effects of tariffs lies in the cost of funeral merchandise. Many caskets sold in the U.S., for example, are manufactured in countries such as China, Mexico, and Canada. If tariffs are imposed on these imports, the increased costs could trickle down to funeral homes and their clients. For instance, a 25% tariff on a $1,000 imported casket adds $250 […]
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