If you run a small funeral home, you likely wear many hats: answering phones, meeting with families, handling paperwork, and sometimes even putting that embalming license to use.

And over time, you’ve built processes that help you and your team keep everything moving, even when your team is spread thin.

Because your processes work, you may wonder if you need funeral home software at all or if you only need something simple that supports the way you already work.

But the truth is, there is no “big” or “small” software, there’s only the right software. The right solution won’t add complexity. It’ll provide easy-to-use, reliable tools that help you manage your business and serve families.

In this blog, you’ll learn what features to look for in funeral home software, plus see how other small firms have found success with Passare.

1. Easy to use

You may not need every feature, but you do need a system that’s easy to use, intuitive, and suitable for funeral professionals, regardless of the number of features it offers. Bonus if it’s also easy to learn (more on that later!).

Look for:

• Tools that match your existing workflow (not the other way around).
• A clean, intuitive layout that makes sense for newer and experienced staff.
• A product team that builds new features based on real funeral home feedback.

Christine Swagerty, Administrative Assistant at Bersticker-Scott Funeral Home (85 calls each year), shares how user-friendly software has made all the difference:

"Passare has been a breath of fresh air because it's way more user-friendly than the systems I am used to working with! The software makes sense and functions the way you would expect it to."

Read Christine’s full review. →

2. Easy to learn, with ongoing support

No matter how tech‑savvy your team is, learning new software comes with questions. That’s why it’s important to find software that has a reliable support team to help you get started and be there whenever you have a question.

Look for:

• An onboarding service to help you migrate data, set up the system, and learn new features.
• A responsive, knowledgeable team that understands funeral homes, not just software.
• Training resources you don’t have to pay extra for, like webinars or help articles, that your whole staff can access.

Maddison Bakker, Funeral Director at Huff Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services (120 calls each year), shares what it was like implementing Passare:

“Transferring everything to Passare was seamless and pain-free. The Passare team was great to work with over Zoom calls. They were ready to answer questions and walk us through the program step by step. We didn't have any issues getting started.

It was really easy to send all of our information to the Passare team. We told them what we needed to get up and running, and before you knew it, they had all of our accounts set up and ready to go.”

Read Maddison’s full review. →

Pro tip: Make sure you also have the option to upgrade your tech support if you ever want more personalized support.

3. Saves you time.

In a profession where every minute counts, your software should eliminate extra steps, not add more to your plate. You need tools that reduce busy work so you can spend more time helping families plan meaningful services.

Look for:

• Integrations that cut down on data entry, so you’re not typing the same information into multiple systems.
• Tools that eliminate time spent on paperwork with digital forms or templates you can reuse.
• Productivity features like notes, reminders, and calendars to help you keep up with all the details.

Ashley L. Price, Owner/Funeral Director at Price Funeral Service, Inc. (50-60 calls each year), shares how she got hours back in her week after switching to Passare:

"Passare has saved me time because I don't have to enter the same information over and over.

Between our website, answering service, and submitting death certificates, there are a lot of places we have to enter information. Before Passare, I'd sit in front of the computer, re-entering data when I had 40 other things to do.

Now, I can put the information in one time, and Passare sends the information everywhere it needs to go. It has been a huge timesaver."

Read Ashley’s full review. →

4. Helps you manage your business

Like we mentioned earlier, you may not think your small funeral home needs software at all. You’ve got processes in place that have worked for years using paper files, Excel sheets, and mental checklists.

But as one small firm put it, “Even small firms need tools that keep them current, organized, and ready to meet families’ expectations.” — Jeff Nichols, Owner at Nichols Bewley Funeral Home

With the right software, you can enhance your current processes to increase efficiency, improve team communication, and reduce the risk of errors. That’s a win for your business!

Look for:

• Organization tools like case filters, tags, and digital whiteboards
• Tools to improve processes with collaboration tools like checklists, notes, or barcode tracking
• Mobile capabilities so you can manage cases anytime, anywhere

Andy Stout, Owner at C.R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (170–200 calls each year), shares how robust case management has been beneficial for his business:

"I would definitely recommend Passare to colleagues, and I already have! It’s a handy platform for funeral directors. I know there are several software platforms out there, and new ones are constantly coming out. But Passare is just so solid. Passare is robust, but it’s incredibly user-friendly.

Passare eliminates the need to go through multiple other programs, so it really consolidates our work."

Read Andy’s full review. →

5. Helps you serve families

Today’s families expect digital convenience. In fact, according to our New Funeral Consumer report, 92% of today’s consumers have purchased merchandise like groceries, clothing, or shoes online. That same study found a 44% increase in the number of families who were comfortable planning a funeral online.

This is a good indicator that families want to interact with your funeral home digitally. Which is why you’ll want to look for software that not only has your business in mind but has tools built to help you connect with families.

Look for:

• An online at-need planning tool so multiple family members can collaborate on service details no matter where they are.
• An eSignature tool so families can review and sign forms digitally instead of printing, scanning, or driving back to the funeral home.
• Secure messaging that allows families to ask questions, clarify details, and stay updated without endless missed voicemails.

Kelly Hyke, Owner/Manager/Funeral Director at Hyke Funeral Home (80 calls each year), shares how Passare’s Planning Center has helped him continue to serve every generation of families in his community:

"Families have responded well to Planning Center, especially the younger generation. They grew up using computers, and so it comes easier to them. Plus, we live in such a mobile society that someone might have kids on the West and East Coast, or even overseas.

It's so nice that all of them can work on the funeral arrangements together in Planning Center, no matter where they are."

Read Kelly’s full review. →

Not sure digital tools fit your planning process? Read this before you rule out an online at-need planning tool: https://www.passare.com/blog/why-your-funeral-home-needs-online-at-need-planning-software

Find software that fits your funeral home

At the end of the day, you don’t need “big” or “small” software...you just need the right software.

The right software should save you time, help you manage your business effectively, and improve service to families. Hopefully, this article has helped you identify what to look for when choosing a system that truly fits your firm.

See how Passare can help you save time, manage your business, and better serve families in a demo with our team.

Share the benefits of Passare with the rest of your team!

• For the funeral director → A funeral director's guide to Passare
• For the manager → A manager's guide to Passare
• For the admin → An admin's guide to Passare