Are Funeral Homes Profitable? Funeral Home Profit Margins (2024)

Entrepreneurs looking to start a funeral home business should understand how much profit these businesses generate as well as what the average profit margins are to set goals for their own business.

This article will explore how much profit a funeral home makes and how a funeral home business generates income.

How Much Profit Does a Funeral Home Make?

The answer to how much profit a funeral home makes depends on several factors. The funeral home’s location, its services, how well-established the business is, and the death rate in the area can all affect how much profit a funeral home makes.

According to an industry analysis report by IBISWorld, the average funeral home generates $1 million in annual revenue. The report also found that the funeral home industry has an average profit margin of 10.3%. This means that for every $100 in revenue generated, the average funeral home business has a profit of $10.30.

Remember that these are averages, and your specific business may have higher or lower profits and margins depending on the factors mentioned above.

Historically, the funeral home industry has been quite profitable. In fact, between 2014 and 2019, the average profit margin for a funeral home business was 14.4%. However, profit margins have shifted. Online businesses have gained a market share. Also, people are choosing to memorialize their loved ones in different ways. Therefore, a successful funeral home will keep up with the times, such as becoming greener.

Funeral Home Industry Analysis

The funeral home industry has seen steady growth over the past five years. This can be attributed to several factors, such as an increase in the death rate and the aging Baby Boomer population.

As mentioned, the industry is becoming more competitive as online businesses gain market share. To stay afloat, funeral homes must offer unique services that cater to the needs of their customers.

Trends include green funeral homes, which use sustainable products and practices; creative memorials, such as tree planting ceremonies or the release of butterflies; and pet funerals.

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How a Funeral Home Business Generates Income

A funeral home business generates income in several ways. The most common way is through the sale of funeral services. This includes the cost of the funeral director, embalming, transportation, and other related services.

Another way a funeral home business can generate income is by selling products. This includes caskets, urns, and grave markers. Funeral homes typically earn a 40% commission on selling these products.

Lastly, a funeral home may generate income through pre-need contracts. These are agreements between the funeral home and the customer in which the customer pays for their funeral services in advance.

Starting a Funeral Home Costs

The cost of starting a funeral home business varies depending on several factors, such as the location of the business and the type of services offered. However, you can expect to spend anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 to get your business up and running.

You can manage these costs by leasing rather than purchasing a funeral home, partnering with another funeral home, or by starting a small-scale operation that only offers limited services.

Avoid cutting corners so you can provide high-quality services. Balance costs and profit margins to ensure your business is sustainable in the long run.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, funeral homes are profitable businesses that generate income by selling services, products, and pre-need contracts. If you’re thinking of starting a funeral home business, be sure to do your research to understand the costs and the average profit margins.

Are Funeral Homes Profitable? Funeral Home Profit Margins (2024)

FAQs

Are Funeral Homes Profitable? Funeral Home Profit Margins? ›

Funeral homes typically maintain an average gross margin between 25% and 40%.

Is owning a funeral home profitable? ›

As with any business, owning a funeral home can be profitable, provided you practice good business habits. Death care is also considered a recession-proof profession, as funeral home spending remains relatively constant even during times of economic downturn.

Are funeral homes good investments? ›

Funeral homes are often considered recession-resistant. Even during economic downturns, people still require funeral services, making the industry relatively stable in times of economic uncertainty. Families prioritize honoring their loved ones' final wishes, and funeral services are an essential part of this process.

What are the margins for a funeral business? ›

The report also found that the funeral home industry has an average profit margin of 10.3%. This means that for every $100 in revenue generated, the average funeral home business has a profit of $10.30.

Who makes the most money in funeral business? ›

High Paying Funeral Professional Jobs
  • Funeral Director. Salary range: $52,500-$76,000 per year. ...
  • Embalmer. Salary range: $41,000-$58,000 per year. ...
  • Cemetery Caretaker. Salary range: $42,500-$50,500 per year. ...
  • Funeral Arranger. Salary range: $44,000-$50,000 per year. ...
  • Crematory Operator. ...
  • Funeral Attendant.

What are the problems with the funeral industry? ›

Rising costs, declining demand, massive consolidation and government scrutiny: the death industry is changing, maybe for good. More and more Americans are choosing to move away from the traditional burial process after they die.

What is the most important asset of a funeral home? ›

Professional and Compassionate Employees

People are the most important asset of any funeral business.

What is the biggest expense of a funeral? ›

The most expensive part of a funeral is typically the basic services fee of a funeral home. The median cost of basic services fees is about $2,300.

Why do funeral directors make so much money? ›

The sale of caskets happens to be one of the most profitable ventures that funeral homes engage in. Usually, they make the caskets necessary for each family. And to say the least, the coffins are priced to make a profit.

Are funeral directors wealthy? ›

Due to the intricacies of their work, morticians and funeral directors can expect a lucrative salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for funeral home managers is $72,110 per year (as of May 2022).

Can morticians make 6 figures? ›

Consider the Salary

It is lower than the median wage for all funeral service workers, which is ​$58,310​, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Morticians in the top 10 percent of earners can make in excess of ​$89,050​ per year.

What is the future of the funeral industry? ›

Impressively it is projected that by 2025 cremation rates will be 63.3% while traditional funerals fall to 30.9%. With these numbers in mind, there are plenty of factors why people are moving away from traditional funerals, the main reason being the cost.

What company owns most funeral homes? ›

SCI operates more than 1500 funeral homes and 400 cemeteries.

Who is the largest owner of funeral homes? ›

Service Corporation International (SCI) was initially founded in 1962 and has its company headquarters in Houston, Texas. They own 1,471 funeral homes and 488 cemeteries in the U.S. and are the largest funeral and cemetery services company in the world.

Is the funeral industry growing? ›

Funeral Business Industry in the US ‒ Market Research & Statistics 2021. According to IBISWorld, the total market value of U.S. funeral homes in 2021 is $16 billion. This market value represents a growth rate of 0.4% in 2021.

Is the funeral industry competitive? ›

According to Statista, there are nearly 19,000 funeral homes in the U.S., yet there remains a surprising lack of competition in the industry.

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