Modern Funeral Home Management

Course overview

Successful modern funeral homes are in the death care business for dual purposes. The primary purpose is service to the families that have lost a loved one. The secondary purpose is to operate as a successful business with a sufficient amount of money to cover the cost of doing business and to make a profit. Both purposes are completely intertwined and rely upon each other. The world changes in an ever-evolving manner. Although the death care industry has been very traditional, change is also evident here. There have been advances in technology and changes in client expectations that are important for funeral service professionals to incorporate in their business planning. The Internet, for example, has made online shopping and funeral arrangements a very real part of attracting your customer base and improving your funeral home profitability. This course will educate funeral service professionals on the changing management practices of the funeral industry. Being aware of management software and technology geared to the death care industry, trends in using social media, and relatively new practices such as online viewings and planning conferences will place death care professionals in the best position to serve the needs of both client families and their firms. The increase in cremations, the desire to personalize funerals, and burial trends such as green burials and celebration memorials all are taking death care in a new direction. The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused a seismic shift in how funerals are held and has demonstrated the need for funeral directors to embrace live streaming and other new technology.