How to Start a Cemetery Business

Death and taxes are inevitable, and nobody likes to think of either one. But just as taxes are a major opportunity for accountants and bookkeepers, death offers opportunity as well. Cemeteries play a key role in the grieving and closure process, as many people choose burial. You can start a cemetery and provide a peaceful final resting place for the departed while making good money. You’ll need to make an investment, but you’ll be doing something valuable for your community.

First, though, you need to understand the process of starting a business. Fortunately, this step-by-step guide details all the entrepreneurial insights you need to start a successful cemetery business.

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons

Starting a cemetery has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.

Cemetery industry trends

Industry size and growth

• Industry size and past growth – The US cemetery industry is worth $4.4 billion in 2022 after declining an average of 1% annually for the last five years.((https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/cemetery-services-united-states/)) 
• Growth forecast – The US cemetery industry is projected to grow nearly 1% in 2022.
• Number of businesses – In 2021, 7128 cemetery businesses were operating in the US.((https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/cemetery-services-industry/)) 
• Number of people employed – In 2021, the US cemetery industry employed 32,019 people. 

Trends and challenges

Trends in the cemetery industry include:

• Many cemeteries are becoming eco-friendly, with people choosing not to be embalmed and being buried in biodegradable caskets.
• The trend in the US for people to choose cremation over burial is creating the opportunity for cemeteries to sell smaller plots for the burial of cremated remains.

Challenges in the cemetery industry include:

• The increasing number of people who choose cremation and either scatter the ashes or keep the ashes in an urn is decreasing demand for burial plots.
• Labor shortages are making it more difficult for cemeteries to hire workers for excavations and property maintenance. 

How much does it cost to start a cemetery business?

Startup costs for a cemetery range from $80,000 to $250,000 or more. Costs include a down payment on the land, preparation of the land, and excavating equipment. You need at least one acre of land, which could hold about 1250 burial plots.

How much can you earn from a cemetery business?

The average price of a burial plot is $1,000. Your profit margin after mortgage payments, trust deposits, and property maintenance should be about 40%.

Trust deposits are a percentage of revenue that cemeteries must put in a trust so that money will be available to care for the cemetery after it’s full and no longer bringing in revenue. Many states require this trust, sometimes called a perpetual care trust fund. 

In your first year or two, you might sell 100 plots, bringing in $100,000 in annual revenue. This would mean $40,000 in profit, assuming that 40% margin. As your cemetery becomes more well-known, sales could climb to 300 units a year. With annual revenue of $300,000, you’d make an impressive profit of $120,000.

You could earn additional revenue by selling headstones and flowers for gravesites, but you’d need to build a cemetery office or store in order to do so, which would add to your startup costs. 

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for a cemetery. Your biggest challenges will be:

• The high startup costs
• Finding adequate land to be zoned and permitted as a cemetery
• Getting proper licensing for your cemetery

Related Business Ideas

If you’re still not sure whether this business idea is the right choice for you, here are some related business opportunities to help you on your path to entrepreneurial success.

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Step 2: Hone Your Idea

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a cemetery, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

Research cemeteries in your area to examine their products and services, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing an eco-friendly green cemetery or a cemetery with a memorial park. 

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as burial plots for cremated remains, or larger plots with space for grave monuments.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine your services and what you will sell on-premises

You can offer plots for burials, cremated remains burials, or a combination of both, as well as monuments. You can also sell gravestones and flowers to bring in additional revenue. 

How much should you charge for burial plots?

Prices for burial plots vary by location, with an average of $1,000. Check prices in your area to make sure that you’re competitive. You should aim for a profit margin after all costs of about 40%. 

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Your target market could be anyone pre-planning their final resting place, or family members with a recently deceased relative. For the most part, your target market will be an older demographic, to which you could reach out on Facebook. You also may want to try to connect with funeral directors on LinkedIn. They may give you referrals. 

Where? Choose your cemetery location

Selecting the right location for your cemetery business is crucial for its success. Look for a spot with a serene and peaceful environment that is easily accessible for mourners and visitors. Consider proximity to residential areas and public transportation to ensure convenience for customers.

Additionally, assess the local regulations and zoning laws to ensure compliance and obtain any necessary permits. By strategically choosing the right location, you can establish a respected and profitable cemetery business that provides a dignified final resting place for the deceased and comfort for their loved ones.

Step 3: Brainstorm a Cemetery Business Name

Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “cemetery” or “burial grounds”, boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “Eternal Acres” over “Catholic Memorial Gardens”
• Avoid location-based names that might hinder future expansion

Discover over 290 unique cemetery business name ideas here. If you want your business name to include specific keywords, you can also use our cemetery business name generator. Just type in a few keywords and hit “generate” and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Cemetery Business Plan

Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:

• Executive Summary: A concise summary outlining the key points of the cemetery business plan, including its mission, objectives, and potential for success.
• Business Overview: An introduction to the cemetery business, providing details on its founding, location, and the specific niche it serves in the funeral industry.
• Product and Services: Clearly defined offerings, such as burial plots, mausoleums, cremation services, and any additional memorial products or services.
• Market Analysis: In-depth research on the funeral industry, local demographics, and trends, outlining the demand for cemetery services and potential growth opportunities.
• Competitive Analysis: Examination of other local cemeteries and funeral service providers, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for differentiating the new business.
• Sales and Marketing: A plan detailing how the cemetery will attract customers, including pricing strategies, promotional activities, and any partnerships or collaborations to enhance visibility.
• Management Team: An overview of key personnel involved in running the cemetery, highlighting their qualifications, roles, and contributions to the business.
• Operations Plan: A comprehensive outline of day-to-day operations, covering staffing, facility maintenance, burial procedures, and any technology or systems employed to streamline processes.
• Financial Plan: Detailed projections of the cemetery’s financial performance, including startup costs, revenue forecasts, and a break-even analysis.
• Appendix: Supplementary materials such as resumes of key personnel, legal documents, permits, and any additional information that supports and enhances the business plan.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to cemeteries. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your cemetery will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC, which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization, and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

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Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist, and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans: This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan.
• Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a cemetery business. You’ll need a mortgage loan for the land. 

Step 8: Apply for Cemetery Business Licenses and Permits

Starting a cemetery business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Most states have their own Cemetery Care Act which governs the location, licensing, and requirements of cemeteries. You’ll need to familiarize yourself with the requirements of your state. 

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package. They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account.

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your cemetery business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as cims, EverArk, or Chronicle, to manage your plots, records, invoicing, and payments. 

Accounting

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks, Freshbooks, and Xero. 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial. 

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using website builders. This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

Marketing

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Local SEO — Optimize your website to highlight the serenity and historical significance of your grounds, enhancing visibility in local search results related to funeral planning. Regularly update your Google My Business and Yelp profiles to strengthen your local search presence.
• Professional Branding — Ensure your branding conveys respect, tranquility, and dignity, aligning with the sensitive nature of your services.
• Direct Outreach — Build referral partnerships with funeral homes, elder care facilities, churches, and estate planning attorneys to establish a reliable referral network.
• Memorial and Grieving Support Blog — Provide valuable content on grief support and memorialization, offering comfort and guidance to visitors.
• Guided Cemetery Tours — Offer tours that highlight the history, landscaping, and services of your cemetery, enhancing visitor engagement.
• Memorial Events and Workshops — Host events and workshops that provide support and information on end-of-life planning.
• Partnerships with Local Organizations — Collaborate with local historical societies, grief support groups, and funeral service providers to strengthen community ties.
• Community Involvement — Participate actively in local events and charity activities to showcase your commitment to the community.
• Family Services — Deliver ongoing support to families with plots, such as annual memorial services and informative newsletters.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that set it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your cemetery meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your cemetery business could be:

• A peaceful green resting place for your loved ones
• Eco-friendly burial grounds to rest in true peace 
• Beautiful headstones and a serene setting in perpetuity 

Networking

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a cemetery business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in cemeteries for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in cemeteries. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

 Potential positions for a cemetery business include:

• Cemetery Workers – excavations, grounds maintenance
• General Manager – reserve plots, accounting
• Marketing Lead – SEO strategies, social media

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed, Glassdoor, or ZipRecruiter. Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Cemetery Business – Start Making Money!

Cemeteries can be beautiful places of remembrance. By starting your own, you’ll be providing a valuable service to your community and could make good money at the same time. It’ll take a serious investment to get started, but it’s a fairly simple business model that offers a real opportunity for new entrepreneurs. 

You understand cemeteries as a business now, so you’re ready to create a serene resting place for your community and a steady income for yourself.