Thoughts on new venture!

Hi guys, i am in the throws of setting up as a sole trader in the business of grave tending and maintenance[could i hear laughter!]. my services will offer headstone cleaning,weeding,turfing,gravel washing and re-placement,re-guilding,border railings and allignment etc. I really could do with some feedback to see if this is a good idea,i.e-do you tend to a grave,how much is reasonable monthly charge,what you think of conditions of graves etc. Any feedback would be most appreciated!

How strange - Today I went for the Sunday walk with the kids to a local pub which goes through a graveyard and my daughter said I wonder who cleans the graves that must be a hard job and I exclaimed that no such profession.

Sorry can't add anymore than that - except next time I will say yes there is a guy on the forum that does that.

Good luck with it

__________________
PDF Software | K Rend | Claim Back Construction Retention |Fast Drying Screeds

Forum Rules and FAQ's at a glance

Hi bandx

Would suggest initial market research with people way outside your geographical area (if you live in Kent, for example, contact funeral directors and small grave tending services providers in Essex and Norfolk).

Work out which questions are the most important to ask (because the answers to them will tell you whether this business idea is viable) - usually you'll find people get restless if they're asked more than 2 or 3 questions.

Be upfront but brief in explaining the reason for your call "I'm bandx, I'm based in [Kent] and I hope to set up my own business tending graves here. We'll never be competitors so I'd be very grateful if you could help me out by telling me [which services are most popular with your clients, what advertising methods work best for you, etc]".

Once you've found out a lot of information about whether clients go for annual contracts or one-off care, how much they're willing to pay etc then you can start to contact funeral directors and cemetery owners in your own area. You'll be able to find out from them whether they think there's an unmet need for more grave tending services and whether they'll do anything to help you advertise your services (eg funeral directors will have web sites with links to relevant complementary services - such as yours).

I imagine a lot of your potential clients will be the elderly and the "too busy", basically family and relationship oriented people who feel a continuing physical / place connection to their dead. They won't be people like me (for whom the memories of dead family and friends are what matters, not where their bodies / ashes lie).

Hope these ideas help.

__________________
Career Counselling | Graduate Careers Advice
Outplacement Support

Welcome aboard bandx

I think it's a great idea, I bet there's quite a market for tending to a loved ones grave, keeping it tidy, maybe regular flowers, partner up with a local florist etc. I bet a good route in would be with your local bereavement charity/service. Helping people to come to terms, by knowing their loved one is in safe hands. Obviously have to tread carefully on the sales pitch

Best of luck!

__________________
cheers Steve
Forum Admin - teaboy and general gofer...

Forum Rules and FAQ's at a glance | Find me on Google+ | or even Facebook!

My Local Services - The UK and US Online Business Directory | JobsVitae - Recruitment Help and CV Creation

If you're here to spam, then expect a ban

Hmm thats a tough one - people will be really upset when things first go wrong and will probably go to the graveside a lot in the 1st few weeks, this i can imagine will drop off as time heals.

I dont actually have a gravestone for my father, if i did though would i pay for that to be tended to, i really dont know - wouldnt be more than a few pounds a month if i did though

Hope that helps - & oh - welcome to MLF

__________________
Thanks
Clive

Forum Rules and FAQ's at a glance

My Local Services - The UK and US Online Business Directory | JobsVitae - Recruitment Help and CV Creation

I think it is a great idea. If what holds true in the US as in the UK, many families are transient and do not necessarily live where their loved ones are buried. Be sure you are up to the proper tools and cleaners needed for head stones. Also, families will want a before and after pic as well. And if you ask for their loved ones special dates, such as birthday, deathday, anniversary, etc - you could include a floral program for them as well. Good luck!