Industry Analysis & Industry Trends
Resurrecting profit
Over the past five years, the trend toward lower-cost cremation services over burial services has adversely affected revenue and profit and increased merger and acquisition activity. As disposable incomes return, people will be more likely to spend on more expensive grave sites and services, but cremations will still remain popular. As a result, operators will implement more value-added services to offset cremations' low profit margins... purchase to read more
Industry Report - Industry Products Chapter
Sale of graves, plots and other spaces
The Cemetery Services industry derives the majority of its revenue from the sale of graves, niches or spaces in mausoleums. In 2012, these sales generated 39.1% of the industry's revenue. Typically a funeral home will negotiate the purchase of burial plots, though consumers can do this on an individual basis as well. In certain states cemetery plots can be purchased from a cemetery broker rather than a funeral home director. The cost of a burial plot is typically more than $4,000. Individuals may also purchase niches within columbarium walls. Columbarium walls have become a common feature of many cemeteries, reflecting the increasing popularity of cremations as opposed to burials... purchase to read more