Funeral Directors & Staff - Private Equity Impact on Pricing

Recently, I shared how I built a product without a business plan and was grateful for those who reached out. Over the past few weeks, I have reimagined Obitley, which now focuses on exposing and explaining the forces shaping the deathcare industry through independent investigative journalism. Obitley returns with a clear sense of purpose. Obitley has become an independent investigative journalism platform spotlighting the deathcare industry. This vast field affects everyone, yet most people are unaware of the powerful forces and changes shaping its future—including impacts on how we experience loss, plan funerals, and make end-of-life decisions. Obitley will cover topics such as the influence of corporate consolidation on funeral home pricing, the rise of alternative body-disposal methods, such as human composting, and new FTC regulations affecting consumer rights. We plan to investigate questions such as: Who benefits from private equity in the industry? How do changing state laws affect families’ choices? What hidden costs or benefits are emerging as the industry evolves? Did you know the deathcare industry is worth $147 billion, or that cremation rates just passed 62%? Why is this important? Do you know that Service Corporation International runs 1,514 funeral homes? Private equity firms like SCI are rapidly buying family-owned businesses, and the FTC is updating the Funeral Rule for the first time in 40 years. Almost no one is independently tracking these shifts. No newsroom traces acquisitions or exposes how consolidation affects costs. No one asks what it means when a company controls every funeral service in a given area. Obitley will change that. The first new investigation is now live, delving into Oklahoma’s governor's veto of human composting legislation and the growing debate over disposal freedom sweeping statehouses across the country. Explore Obitley. If you work in deathcare, invest in the industry, or care about the rapid consolidation of essential services, I want to hear your story. Share your story ideas, tips, or experiences directly at obitley.com/contact or email me at [email redacted]. Your input can shape future investigations, spark change, and bring vital issues to light. Join Obitley's second act—get involved today, and let’s make a difference with a clear plan.