Nevermind the Cost of Living,

In any trade, in any industry, in any part of the market, customers are known to shop around for the best price.

When the coffee at your local is too expensive, you opt to make your brew at home. When you need a bathroom tiled, you contact tradesmen to see who can do it for the most reasonable price.

Lining up quotes does not seem to happen, though, in the funeral industry.

More often than sometimes, families are too grief-stricken to think much about the company they are choosing to help say farewell to their loved ones. They don’t shop around.

Australian Seniors Insurance claim that funeral costs have increased steadily at a rate of between 6% to 11% since 2011. There are several components to funerals, especially if a burial is chosen — the casket, the plot, the ceremony, the wake, the flowers, the headstone.

Scott Harris, Director and Founder of Afterlife Funerals, says that apart from offering streaming options for services after COVID, not much has changed in the funeral industry. Research that Scott and Afterlife Funerals conducted found that a majority of Australians (67%) believe funerals are overpriced.

‘There’s a growing awareness that the funeral industry in Australia exists in a “regulatory black hole”,’ says Scott. ‘This has sparked discussions about the need for better oversight and regulation of the industry to protect consumers and ensure fair practices. In general people need to shop around.’

In November 2023, the largest funeral provider, InvoCare, sold out entirely to an American private equity firm, TPG Capital. InvoCare owns four national funeral brands — White Lady Funerals, Simplicity Funerals, Guardian Funerals and Value Cremations. InvoCare have over 40 funeral brands and 15 cemeteries and crematoria across Australia.

Smaller companies, like Afterlife Funerals, are competitive with their prices. For Afterlife Funerals, the majority of inclusions are supplied internally, making the products cheaper and quality controlled. Afterlife Funerals offers free aftercare, bereavement and wellbeing support through a mental health application.

Here are some of Scott’s tips for organising funeral services:

1. Shop around: all websites should have transparent pricing. If they don’t then expect the unexpected.
2. Start early: Begin planning as soon as possible to reduce stress and ensure all details are covered.
3. Set a budget: Establish a clear budget early on to guide your decisions and avoid financial strain.
4. Reflect the deceased’s personality: Incorporate elements that truly represent your loved one’s life and character. It is about them, not you.
5. Delegate tasks: Set one person as the spokesperson with the funeral director, though don’t hesitate to involve family and friends in the planning process.
6. Music selection: Choose songs that were significant to the deceased or create the desired atmosphere.
7. Eulogy and tributes: Carefully consider who will deliver these important speeches and try to maintain a 3-minute rule.
8. There’s no “right” way: Remember that the most important aspect is honouring your loved one’s memory in a way that feels appropriate to you and your family. Your funeral director can give guidance, though the final rule of thumb is it is up to you.

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