Citrin Cooperman Contributes to Funeral Home Guidebook

NEW YORK, NY, May 20, 2011 (Press-News.org) Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, a leading accounting and business consulting firm, announced today that Ed Horton and the firm's Funeral Industry practice was a major contributor to a funeral home industry guidebook, published by a leading funeral home industry publisher.

The Funeral Director's Guide to Statistics, published by Kates-Boylston, offers readers a comprehensive guide to how funeral industry executives can use statistics to increase their profitability. The book features a chapter written by Horton, co-managing partner of Citrin Cooperman's New Jersey office and head of its funeral home industry practice. Another chapter, "Funeral Homes Still Struggle With Pricing, and Other Issues," written by Kates-Boylston editorial director Thomas Parmalee, is based on Citrin Cooperman's 2010 funeral home industry survey.

Horton's chapter, "How Funeral Home Owners Can Face Business Transfer," explores funeral home owners' readiness - or lack thereof -- to transfer their business. Horton, using statistics culled from Citrin Cooperman's 2010 funeral home survey, details how on average only 3 in 8 funeral home owners have a succession plan in place despite that fact that 63 percent of owners are over the age 50. The chapter also offers insight into the three types of succession and how to prepare for the transfer.

In the other chapter, Parmalee uses Citrin Cooperman's 2010 funeral industry survey to provide readers with vital information on how pricing did not change appreciably from 2009 to 2010. The chapter also references other issues identified in Citrin's survey, such as how the industry is adapting to changing funeral traditions, and how they are priced and promoted.

"Our deep industry experience, combined with the trove of information we derive from our annual survey of directors and owners provides us the ability to offer unprecedented insight," said Horton. "Despite perceptions to the contrary, the funeral industry is changing rapidly and books like this one from Kates-Boylston should be very helpful as funeral homes work to remain profitable."

The Funeral Director's Guide to Statistics is the fourth volume in its Funeral Director Guide series. The 89-page book can be purchased for $99 by calling 800-500-4585.

About Citrin Cooperman
Citrin Cooperman is a full-service accounting firm, providing attest and assurance, tax, and business advisory services to clients in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Citrin Cooperman has deep experience in a number of industries and areas including professional services firms, restaurants, real estate, entertainment, staffing and executive search, valuation and forensic services, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. The firm, founded in 1979, is an independent firm associated with Moore Stephens.