Establishing a Funeral Home

Question 1

• Cultural opportunities for your family
• Religious, radical-ethnic, cultural makeup of the area.
• Economic and occupational and social class of the community.
• Death rate, numbers in population, median age density, potential for growth/decline
• General business cycle- credit rating/prosperity vs. debt
• Predominant attitude of the population toward funeral service. (Traditional or cremation)
• Competition (how many in the area)
• Environmental factors

Answer 1

Factors Taken into Consideration when Establishing a Funeral Home

Question 2

• How much have they invested in terms of time and dollars in the community?
• What is the quality of service they are providing?
• Can this area support another funeral home- will local zoning allow it?
• How many adult formula services do existing firms do in a year? Is there growth potential?
• How stable and secure is the competition? Can they be had? Are they limited in the community or are they too solidly entrenched in the community?

Answer 2

Competition

Question 3

• Climate conditions- flooding, streams, mudslides, etc.
• Access to public transportation
• Distance from hospitals, churches, cemetery
• Will there by zoning issues?
• Type and size of town
• On main road or at least heavily traveled road?
• Lot should have enough space for building, parking and expansion.

Answer 3

Environmental Factors

Question 4

• Has your competitor over built or under built?
• Will your building be too large or too small 10 years down the road?
• Will the location be temporary or permanent? will or will it not survive 35 working years?
• What potential will it have to be sold later as a structure other than a funeral home?
• Overhead expense now, 10 years from now, 2 years from now to reach break even point.
• Furniture and fixtures- commercial if possible.

Answer 4

Guidelines for Building

Question 5

• Design and construction
• Modular funeral home
• Floor plan obstacle free
• Number and size of rooms- equal size
• Interior and exterior decorating
• Color and lighting
• Sound system
• Furniture and fixtures
• Potential utility cost

Answer 5

What is Contained in the Building Guideline Check-off Sheet?

Question 6

• Real estate
• Building
• Equipment
• Furniture and fixtures
• Merchandise and supplies
• Source of finance
• Working capital

Answer 6

Areas of Investment Required for Establishing a Funeral Home

Question 7

• Barometers
  
  • median scale
  • overhead
  • profit
• Break even point- overhead cannot exceed gross income
• Financial controls- strict budgeting
• Profit

Answer 7

Indicators for Efficient Future Operation (ASAP or After 1st Year)

Question 8

• Lobby
• Chapel or service area
• Family room
• Music room
• Reposing room
• Preparation room
• Business or working room
• Arrangement office
• Casket selection room
• Rest rooms
• Garage
• Storage room
• Large hallways and door frames
• Flower delivery room
• Clergy/lodge assembly room
• Dressing and casketing area
• public lounge
• employee lounge
• private office space for owner and directors

Answer 8

Rooms and Areas to be Included

Question 9

• Casket coach
• family car
• lead car
• utility vehicle

Answer 9

Garage Equipment

Question 10

• Grave digger equipment
• Tent
• Greens
• Lowering device
• Chairs
• Block and tackle- tripod
• Flat boards and 4X4’s
• Transportation vehicle

Answer 10

Some Rural Funeral Homes are Required to Have Cemetery Equipment