Bookkeeping for Funeral Homes · QuickBooks ProAdvisor GOLD · NC
Your funeral home's books — from someone who knows what's in them.
Most bookkeepers can record transactions. Not many understand how preneed revenue is recognized, how trust accounts work, how to separate at-need from preneed receivables, or what a funeral home's P&L should actually look like. Duane does.
What makes funeral home accounting different
Preneed revenue recognition
Preneed funds received today can't be recorded as revenue until the service is performed. Trust accounts must be tracked separately. Most general bookkeepers set this up wrong.
At-need receivables
Assignment claims, insurance assignments, Medicaid, and family payment plans all have different collection timelines and probabilities. Your AR aging should reflect that reality.
Service vs. merchandise
NC regulations and IRS treatment differ between funeral services and merchandise. Your chart of accounts should separate these — not for complexity, but because it tells you something useful.
Cash flow vs. accrual
Many funeral homes run on cash basis when their economics call for accrual. The difference shows up most clearly in multi-month preneed campaigns and insurance assignment periods.
What this looks like in practice
Duane works with independent funeral homes the same way he approaches preneed consulting: starting with what's actually happening rather than what the records say should be happening.
For a new setup, that means building a chart of accounts that reflects how the funeral home operates — service types, revenue streams, and the specific line items that matter for both operational decisions and NC regulatory requirements.
For a cleanup, it means reconciling trust accounts, correcting preneed revenue recognition, separating at-need and preneed receivables, and producing financial statements that match the bank.
For ongoing monthly work, it means a P&L and balance sheet that the funeral home director can actually use — including call count, average contract value, and preneed capture rate if you want it.
Also available: preneed program consulting
Because Duane is both a bookkeeper and a licensed preneed director, he can help you understand not just what your preneed program is costing you — but whether it's performing the way it should.
Not a CPA. Financial services from Cutlip Associates do not constitute accounting, auditing, or tax advice under NC GS Chapter 93. Duane works alongside your CPA and can coordinate tax-ready reports at year-end.
Does your preneed trust account match what's on the books?
Call or text (919) 822-2010. That question alone tells you whether a review is worth your time.