How To Start Funeral Parlour In South Africa
What is Funeral Parlour?
A funeral home, funeral parlor or mortuary, is a business that provides burial and funeral services for the dead and their families. These services may include a prepared wake and funeral, and the provision of a chapel for the funeral.
How To Start Funeral Parlour In South Africa
Starting your on funeral parlour business follows the exact same procedure as starting any business, but you will need a Certificate of Competence. To begin, choose a business entity, i.e. Sole Proprietorship, Closed Corporation or Private Company.
Before you start a business you need to register with the South African Revenue Services, Employees tax (PAYE), Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Unemployment insurance fund (UIF).
Certificate of Competence:
Government regulations state that a Certificate of Competence must be applied for in order to open funeral parlour. Before you submit an application for a Certificate of Competence, you must publish two notices in two different official languages in newspapers that circulate in the area in which such premises are situated.
This must be done 21 days before submitting the application. The applicant makes an application for a Certificate of Competence in writing to the Local Authority in whose area of jurisdiction the funeral undertaker’s premises will be situated.
The application must be accompanied by-
- A description of the premises and the location.
- A complete ground plan of the proposed construction or of the existing buildings on a scale of 1:100.
- A block plan of the premises on which north is shown indicating which adjacent premises are already occupied by the applicant or other persons and for what purpose such premises are being utilised or are to be utilised
- Particulars of any person other than the holder or any of his employees who prepares or will prepare corpses on the premises.
- Subject to the provisions of regulations R 237 of 8 February 1985, no person is allowed to prepare any corpse except on a funeral undertaker’s premises in respect of which a Certificate of Competence has been issued and is in effect.
Dealing with other issues
As a funeral home owner, you will have to deal with various insurance providers. It is important that you understand how funeral insurance cover works. Your staff must know how to assist the family in claiming the policy. Other matters you must have knowledge of are:
- Registration of Death.
- Purchasing of Graves.
- Cancelling of Identity Documents.
- Arrangements with Church and Minister.
- Crematorium protocol.
- Health Department documents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the requirements to open a funeral parlour?
Starting your on funeral parlour business follows the exact same procedure as starting any business, but you will need a Certificate of Competence. To begin, choose a business entity, i.e. Sole Proprietorship, Closed Corporation or Private Company.
How do I register for a funeral parlor?
The applicant makes an application for a Certificate of Competence in writing to the Local Authority in whose area of jurisdiction the funeral undertaker’s premises will be situated. Particulars of any person other than the holder or any of his employees who prepares or will prepare corpses on the premises.
How much does a funeral parlor make in South Africa?
Top-earning owners are said to make over $92,000, according to Career Trend. To start your own funeral home, you’ll need between $150,000 and $300,000 to open a small-scale and intimate mortuary, according to Small Business Chron
Is a funeral home business profitable?
The average profit for a funeral home in the United States is between six and seven percent. That means many firms are below these paltry numbers. Properly calculating overhead, including taxes and debt and adding profit as a line item, is the first step in pricing.
How do I start a crematorium in South Africa?
To open a new crematorium business you would need to apply for a licence through your local municipality. There is no fee, but the application requires a great deal of work and preparation on your part.
How do I become a funeral director in South Africa?
- Step 1: Complete Education Requirements. State licensing boards that issue credentials to morticians require candidates have an associate’s degree.
- Step 2: Complete an Apprenticeship.
- Step 3: Pass a Licensing Exam.
- Step 4: Maintain Licensure.
How much does it cost to keep a body in the morgue in South Africa?
On average, South Africans spend a minimum of R23,500 to a maximum of R86,000 to shoulder funeral costs. And this is just the tip of the iceberg since these prices do not include the costs of catering, flowers, tombstones and transporting the body.
How many funeral Parlours are there in South Africa?
South Africa has a thriving funeral services industry, and there are roughly 70,000 active undertakers and some 15,000 operational funeral parlours in the country.
Are funeral homes a good investment?
Sales growth of funeral homes is quite natural as the global population has grown by 400% over the last 100 years — this provides a steady flow of business and cash to death care companies and will continue to do so.
What makes a funeral home successful?
Excellent customer service and authentic sincerity constitute a large part of a funeral home’s reputation, which is one reason these two qualities are very important to funeral directors and their staff. The staff will treat you well and with consummate professionalism. If they don’t, there’s a problem
Why are funerals so expensive?
Funerals must be planned quickly, and they must be taken care of within a few days. This leaves people in a difficult position, unable to shop around for a deal. When you can’t look for a deal, you will likely pay top dollar at the first place you call. Quick planning is a major reason funerals cost so much money.