Doing Your Homework on Ownership By: Allyse R. Worland, CFSP

I was obsessed. That’s the only way to really say it. The thought

of owning my own funeral home occupied my every thought.

Controlled my every movement. And dictated every word I said.

Obsessed.

I had been chasing after a local firm for 3 years before I was

finally offered a leadership position. I wanted to get everything

in writing about eventual transfer of ownership, but the owner

did not. He did not want to feel pushed.

For a year, I ran the funeral home as if it were my own.

Dedicated and committed. Training others on how I wanted it to

be. Implementing technology and strategies to increase our

market share. Getting out into the community. I did it all.

Then, after two months of low call volume, I ended up getting

laid off. I was heartbroken, embarrassed, and overall,

disappointed. But when your heart gets broken, your head starts

working. It did not matter about my commitment, education, or

passion for the profession. None of that saved me.

So, with this experience under my belt, I did what I do best and

pondered what I could do to make sure this doesn’t happen to

someone else.

My career pivot has been to help others who want to be funeral

home owners to find someone actually willing to sell, connect

them, and make that buyer’s dream of being an owner come

true. Along with making the seller’s exit smooth.

Much like my reason for becoming a funeral director, I want to

do better for others. So, here’s what you can do as far as

homework if you are serious about ownership:

- Hire a knowledgeable professional who can help you with

the process. Don’t try to do this alone. Handshake and a

promise are unfortunately a thing of the past.

- Stay persistent on updates throughout the process. And

have your professional explain the process to you.

- Don’t make it personal, make it transactional. (This is crazy

coming from me since I have always had the fairytale

dream of working hard, becoming the worthy successor,

and having the owner hand me the keys as they tell me I’ve

earned the place. This doesn’t happen anymore.) Owners

just want a check, and you just want a funeral home.

Looking back, I truly wish that I had someone to guide me better

on what I should have done, now I am able to do better for

others because of my experience.

Looking to sell or buy a funeral home? Let’s connect. Let’s get

you a check. Let’s make you an owner.