Cremation Cost Comparison:

See the Difference Compare our Fixed Price packages against typical market rates for both At-Need and Prepaid services.

A Guide to Understanding Cremation Costs: How to Save Money and Be Honest

One of the hardest things we have to deal with in life is losing a loved one. Sadly, for many families, this sadness is made worse by the sudden and often overwhelming cost of planning a funeral. When you’re in shock and sadness, it can seem impossible to figure out how much funerals cost.

The only reason the Cremation Cost Comparison Tool above was made is to be open.

Traditionally, the funeral business has not been clear about prices. Prices are often hidden behind general “packages” or only shown after a family has already hired a funeral home. We think you should know exactly what you’re paying for, where the money comes from, and how much you can save by choosing a direct, fixed-price option.

We explain the different parts of cremation costs, the difference between “At-Need” and “Prepaid” services, and why prices are so different between providers below.

The “Hidden” Costs of Traditional Funeral Pricing

You might notice a big difference between the Fixed Price Cremations Package and the Typical Competitor Package when you look at the calculator above. To understand this difference, you need to know how traditional funeral directors set their prices.

The “Professional Service Fee” is often the biggest single cost on a funeral bill. But what does it include?

1. The Fee for Professional Services

This fee covers the costs of running a traditional funeral home. It pays for the upkeep of a big funeral home, a fleet of hearses and limousines, a chapel, viewing rooms, and a big staff of administrative and support workers. These costs are often included in the base “Professional Fee” that every client pays, even if they don’t use the chapel or the limo.

At Fixed Price Cremations, we keep our business model simple. We are experts in Direct Cremation, which is also called unattended cremation. We don’t pass on the costs of running expensive public-facing facilities or a fleet of ceremonial vehicles to you because we don’t have them. This lets us lower the professional fee to zero; it’s just part of the total package price.

2. Fees for transferring and collecting

This fee pays for the cost of taking care of your loved one. This needs a special vehicle, staff who are available 24/7, and special equipment. A lot of competitors charge extra for transfers that happen on weekends or after hours. With our fixed-price model, the transfer is included no matter what time of day it is, as long as it is in our service area.

3. Care for and preparation of the body

When a loved one is in the care of a funeral home, they need to be treated with respect. In a traditional setting, this might involve embalming or reconstructive work, especially if there is going to be a viewing. Invasive preparation is not usually needed for a direct cremation. We offer basic, respectful sanitary care and preparation for cremation without the high costs that come with cosmetic preparation.

4. The Casket

Families tend to spend the most money in this area. In a traditional funeral, families might feel like they have to buy a fancy, polished wooden coffin that costs thousands of dollars, even if they just want to be cremated. A simple, fully combustible, and respectful coffin is needed for a direct cremation. We include a basic cremation coffin in the price of our package, so you won’t feel pressured to buy more like you do at other places.

Why It’s Important to Compare: At-Need vs. Prepaid

The calculator above shows the difference between two types of service: At-Need and Prepaid. It’s important for your financial planning to know the difference.

Cremation at the time of need

“At-Need” means services that are needed right away because someone has just died. This is when a family is most likely to be financially weak. Families often have to pay the first price they are given if they don’t have a plan in place.

As the tool shows, the market price for an At-Need direct cremation can go up to $5,000 when you add up the fees charged by traditional providers. Our Fixed Price At-Need Package ($1,995) is meant to be a safe place during this storm. It includes everything you need (transfer, care, coffin, cremation, and paperwork) for one flat fee, so you can focus on grieving instead of keeping track of your money.

Cremation Paid for

“Prepaid” means that you can plan and pay for your own cremation ahead of time. This is quickly becoming the most popular choice for Australians who want to keep their families from having money problems in the future.

The tool shows that there are two main financial benefits to Prepaying:

Inflation-Proofing: The cost of funerals goes up every year, and it often goes up faster than the general rate of inflation. You won’t have to worry about price increases if you buy the Fixed Price Prepaid Package ($2,135) today. The service has been fully paid for, so it can be used in 5 years or 20 years.

Asset Protection: Money put into a prepaid funeral plan is usually not counted as an asset for the Age Pension (up to certain limits). This is a good financial move for retirees.

In the prepaid section, you will see a line for an Administration Fee. This fee pays for the plan’s setup, the actuarial management, and the safe investment of your money into a regulated funeral fund. Our fee is a clear $140, and it’s included in the total. Many of our competitors either hide this fee or charge much higher commissions.

What do “disbursements” and government fees mean?
“Disbursements” is something that a lot of families don’t understand. These are costs that the funeral director pays for you to third parties.

The Death Certificate is the most common payment. In Australia, you have to register a death and get the official certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages before you can deal with the estate.

A lot of budget providers say they have a low “cremation fee,” but they also charge for the cremation permit, the medical referee, and the death certificate.

Medical Referee/Permit Fees: A doctor must approve the cremation.

Death Certificate: The government charges a fee to give you this document.

We try to be completely clear in our Fixed Price packages. We include these items in our comparisons to show you the total cost. Always ask, “Does this price include the Death Certificate and Medical Permits?” when you compare quotes. If the answer is no, you might have to raise their quoted price by $300 to $500.

The Growth of Direct Cremation

You might be wondering why our prices are so much lower than those of the “Typical Competitor.” We don’t cut corners on care; we just provide a different kind of service.

The trend towards Direct Cremation is growing all over the world. This service separates the memorial service from the cremation of the body.

We take care of the details of the cremation, including the transfer, the paperwork, and the cremation itself, in a professional and private way, without family present.

The Memorial: You can have a memorial service whenever and wherever you want after you get the ashes back.

You don’t have to rent a chapel for a specific 45-minute time slot or pay funeral staff to guide guests if you separate these two events. You can have a memorial in a park, at home, at a restaurant you like, or on the beach. This freedom not only makes things a lot cheaper, but it also often leads to a more personal and meaningful goodbye.

How to Use the Tool for Comparison

You should use the calculator above to check the quotes you may have gotten from other funeral homes.

Step 1: Check out their “Professional Service Fee.” Put it in the “Typical Competitor” box.

Step 2: Find out if they charge more for moving or caring for the dead. Put those numbers together.

Step 3: Find out how much the coffin costs.

Step 4: Look at the whole difference.

The point of this tool is not only to show that we are cheap, but also to give you the information you need to know how much things cost. We think you should make your choice about Fixed Price Cremations or another provider with all the information you need and with your eyes wide open.

If you have questions about these costs or want to talk about an At-Need or Prepaid plan, our caring staff is here to help. The first step to trust is being open, and we are here to help you.