The right funeral director can make arranging a funeral simple and stress-free, giving you and your family peace of mind during a difficult time. A great local funeral director will be able to plan all the funeral arrangements with care, supporting you and your family each step of the way with their knowledge and expertise of the local area.

We understand how hard it can be to find the right funeral director for your and your loved one’s needs, especially one that is close to home and familiar with your community. With so many options available it can be confusing to pick a funeral director that understands your needs and will work with you to give your loved one a wonderful send-off.

If you are confused about the different types of funeral directors operating in the UK, we have put together this handy guide to help you understand the major differences between local independent funeral directors and large corporate funeral director groups.

Here is The Farewell Guide’s simple tips to help you find a local independent funeral director where you live.

In this guide we will be detailing:

• The main types of funeral director business models.
• How to tell if a funeral director is independently run or part of a large corporate group.
• Why choose a local independent funeral director over a corporate-owned chain.
• How to find local independent funeral directors near you.
• How to join The Farewell Guide and the benefits of joining as an independent funeral director.

What are the main types of funeral director business models?

There are two main business models for funeral directors in the UK:

1. Large corporate-owned funeral home chains.

Large funeral director chains usually fall into 3 categories: Co-operative owned, private limited companies, and publicly owned companies. These large groups often own their own crematoria, cemeteries, coffin manufacturing and masonry services. Large funeral director chains may have their own branded funeral homes as well as owning a number of “private” funeral homes that they have purchased from independent funeral directors and operate under their brand. They often retain the original owners to operate the funeral home with their experience and reputation in their local community. All of the large funeral director groups are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and some are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD).
 

Some large funeral director chains in the UK are:
Co-op Funeralcare

Co-op Funeralcare is the largest funeral director group in the UK with 1,000 funeral homes and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Co-operative Group. The Co-operative is owned by its members and has a Board of Directors that make decisions about how the business and its subsidiaries are run.

Dignity Funeral Directors

Dignity Funeral Directors owns over 800 funeral homes and 46 crematoria in the UK. Dignity is a publicly owned company, which means it is a publicly traded company owned by shareholders and run by a Board of Directors. Profits made by the company are divided among the shareholders. Dignity operates under three brands: Dignity Funeral Services, The Crematorium and Memorial Group, and Simplicity Creations.

Funeral Partners

Funeral Partners is the third largest funeral group in the UK with over 200 branches. Founded in 2007 they bought several independent funeral homes across the country and expanded. They operate as a private limited company with a head office in Nottingham.

Affordable Funerals

Affordable Funerals also known as “Low Cost Funeral” is a funeral division of the Memoria Group that owns and operates their own crematoria across the UK. Founded by an independent funeral director, the Memoria Group offers affordable, low cost direct and traditional cremation services across the UK.

2. Independent family-owned and operated funeral directors.

Independent funeral homes are usually privately owned by the funeral director and their family. The funeral director runs their own funeral home and makes all decisions to do with how the business is run. The funeral home may be in the same family for several generations. While most local, independent funeral homes have one location some may own and operate 2 or more funeral homes in the surrounding area.

Tip: You can check if your local funeral director is a member of the funeral service trade regulatory bodies in the UK - SAIF (The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors) and NAFD (National Association of Funeral Directors) - by checking their website or the members lists on the association websites.

How to tell if a funeral director is independently run or part of a large corporate group?

1. Look at their website. See if they emphasise that they are local and how long they have been serving the local community. Look out for the words “independent”, “family-owned” or “family-run” in their name.
2. Check if they are members of SAIF - The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors. SAIF is a regulatory trade body whose members are independent. The SAIF logo may appear at the top or bottom of the funeral director’s website page.
3. Go to the main website of a large funeral services chain like Co-op Funeralcare or Dignity. They will have all their branches and locations listed. You can double check if the funeral home near you is part of their group.
4. Check the name or branding of the funeral director. Some corporate-owned funeral directors may retain the original “family” name of the funeral home. Check the fine print on their website, brochures or paperwork. Some branches may have the logo of the corporate owner in their window or next to their name.
5. If in doubt, call them up and ask.

Why choose a local independent funeral director over a corporate owned chain?

While both corporate-owned funeral directors and independent funeral directors offer many of the same services to customers, there are advantages to choosing an independent funeral director for your or your loved one’s funeral.

1. A local funeral director knows the area and has served the community for a long time, maybe even generations. They may be familiar with families in the area and have a personal interest in organising the funeral. Local funeral directors often live in the community that they serve and are part of the fabric of the local community. These factors build trust between the funeral director and the families they serve.
2. As independent funeral directors are usually family or privately owned, their priority is the families they serve, not shareholders or a Board of Directors situated in a different city.
3. Local funeral directors are very familiar with the local area making logistics such as transportation from the funeral home to the cemetery less stressful for the family. They will also have strong connections with local venues and services.
4. Local funeral directors will have knowledge of the local culture and customs of the community they serve. They will be sensitive to the needs of the families they work with.
5. Some local funeral directors may be able to cater to niche funeral needs better than the corporate chains. An example of this is religious funerals (Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.) and being aware of cultural norms held by a particular community, like Caribbean or Asian communities. Other speciality niches include eco funerals and natural burials.
6. Local independent funeral directors provide extremely personalised service. There will usually be one point of contact throughout the funeral arranging process ensuring every step is simple and stress free for the family.
7. Local funeral directors take the time to learn about the person who has died and work closely with their friends and family to arrange a funeral that honours their life with care and thought.
8. Planning bespoke services for a truly unique funeral may be easier with a local funeral director. They will have strong longstanding connections with local florists, vendors and locations to ensure the family gets what they want for their loved one’s send off, whether it is a custom floral arrangement or a specially designed gravestone.
9. Local funeral directors will be able to help with documentation and legal paperwork as they will be very familiar with the local council, registry office, medical professionals, hospitals, financial institutions and notaries in the area.
10. Word-of-mouth and positive community feedback are extremely important to the reputation of local independent funeral directors. This means they take exceptional pride in their service and treatment of the families they serve.
11. Independent funeral directors can be more affordable, depending on the service you want. This is possible due to lower overhead costs.
12. Independent funeral directors are transparent about their operations, including how and where they will keep your loved one’s body before the funeral. You will also be able to visit your loved one on-site.

Concerns customers may have regarding larger corporate-owned funeral directors include:

1. Corporate chains may prioritise their shareholders or Board of Directors over the families they are serving.
2. Organising the funeral may feel impersonal. Families may have to deal with several different people throughout the funeral arranging process rather than one point of contact.
3. The funeral directors employed by the chain may not be from the area, nor come from a family background of funeral directors.
4. Corporate-owned funeral directors may be less flexible in what they offer. They may operate on a one-size-fits-all model which compromises personalised service for efficiency and profits.

How to find local independent funeral directors near you

The Farewell Guide has more than 4500 funeral directors listed on their website, all located across the UK. Funeral directors can be searched by local area and postcode, type of funeral, type of service, and whether you wish to plan the funeral now or in the future. You can see what services they offer, where they are located, and request a price list - all for free.

You can also try out The Farewell Guide’s free funeral planning tool: https://www.thefarewellguide.co.uk/funeral-plan

Join us

If you are a local independent funeral director serving your local community, join The Farewell Guide! We champion local funeral directors like you, and our platform is the perfect place for families in your local area to find you and your services.

It takes minutes to register your business with us: https://www.thefarewellguide.co.uk/funeral-director/register

See what other local funeral directors are saying about being on The Farewell Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QytyQ-gvybg

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