What should you check before buying a monument and headstone company?

A monument company sells something families keep for generations, so a mistake in lettering or a delay in setting a stone stays visible for a long time. When you consider buying one, you are checking the stone, the shop, the people who install it and the book of orders still to be filled. The checks below follow that path from supplier to cemetery.

Stone, suppliers and stock

Ask what granite is on hand, what is on order, and who owns it. Ask how the company buys stone, whether supplier terms are written, and whether a supplier would continue to deal with a new owner. Check that stock in the yard is the same as stock in the books. A walk through the yard with the seller, and a list of what you saw, is a simple start.

Equipment and design files

Engraving and sandblasting equipment, saws, polishing tools and lifting gear all need to be in working order. Ask for service records and note what is leased. Then ask about the design files: lettering templates, artwork and past proofs. Do not overlook them. Confirm that they are backed up and that they come with the business. The equipment questions for a print shop follow a similar method.

Installation crew and cemetery relationships

Setting a stone takes a trained crew, the right vehicle and equipment, and good timing with the cemetery. Ask who does the installs, how long they have worked there, and whether any of them plan to leave. Ask which cemeteries and funeral homes send regular work and how those relationships are managed. If they depend on one person, speak with the seller about how that will change after the sale.

The order book

Ask for a list of every open order with its stage, the customer, and what has been paid. See the page on what happens to unfinished headstone orders when a monument company is sold, and do not assume it will resolve itself. Ask your lawyer whether any licensing applies where the business operates.