Burial society have been helping families bury their loved ones with dignity. This is a guide on how to start a burial society business in South Africa.
Overview
Burial societies are not often setup as businesses, they are rather setup as a group project where members contribute a fixed amount each month. Members can register themselves and other family members, usually up to 10 people.
The society pays out when any registered member dies, the pay out is usually quicker than one from insurance companies. This is because you don’t need to produce any documentation or follow a lengthy process.
Burial societies elect people who will act as government over the money. It’s usually three or more people who are in different positions like treasury, chairperson and secretary. This is to minimize fraud and corruption. Challenges arise when members fall behind on their monthly contributions to the society.
How to get started
Running a burial society as a business means that you will be acting more like an insurance company, this can be very risky. You will be expected to offer cover, unlike in a normal burial society where the money comes the members. If it happens that money runs out for some reason and people keep passing on; you will still be expected to pay out.
A good way to go around this would be to modernize the burial society and charge members for your services. That way they won’t look to you to cover them, you will just help them to manage their finances and grow the society.
This includes offering formal accounting and investment services, you can take the money that is contribute by members and invest it in low-risk assets. However, you should be able to have money that is just in a normal account that can be withdrawn at any time.
Withdrawing money from an investment account can take a very long time, especially if it’s in a fixed deposit or bonds.
How to get members
Getting members for a burial society is easy, most people will know about it, you just have to invest in word of mouth. Be transparent, make sure that everyone knows that they’re signing up for a burial society. But you are just charging them for accounting and investment services.
Another great way would be not to charge them at all, take the monthly contributions and invest them and take the returns from investments. This is a win for everyone.
Conclusion
This was a guide on how to start a burial society in South Africa. Do you have any thoughts or questions? Comment below.
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Jetro Malapane
12 May 2021Good Day,
I would like to register my burial society with FSB, anyone to assist with this? 0828896943
Kind Regards,
JM
Katleho Mokoena
30 Jun 2021Yes I wanna register a burial society
Teboho
22 Sep 2021Katlego… I’m Teboho from Riverlea in Jozi..
I’m a young man trying to assist Family wherever I can. I have had a the same idea for Months now… I have 10 friends who are also interested.. Let’s meet at talk about this… 0818814406
Lebogang
25 Jul 2021I also want to register a burial society any help available pls…
Zonia
9 Aug 2021I want to register a buriel society and need help
Patric MONTJANE
29 Sep 2021I want to start a society whats needed
Victor Mabaso
21 Dec 2021Hi I would like to start a burial society and I actually want to grow it to a funeral services at a later stage. Im based in Nelspruit and I would like to register with FSB and get my paper work ready and system in place if you have info kindly assist me, call me on 0838843323
Thandi Mntambo
16 Jan 2022I want to start a burial society what are the requirements?
Ruduwaan Muller
20 Jan 2022Im Ruduwaan Muller i want to register my burial society 083 8780162 call me
Sasanna Mokwatsi
30 Jan 2022I want to start a burial society
Phage Khampe
7 Feb 2022I am interested in opening a burial society how do i start
Irda Lebatla
17 Mar 2022Hi I would like to start a burial society and I actually want to grow it to a funeral services at a later stage. Im based in Nelspruit and I would like to register with FSB and get my paper work ready and system in place if you have info kindly assist me, email irda8265@gmail.com
bindzulani burial services
6 May 2022yes i wanna start my own burial society i am based in Limpopo how do i need to start and what paper work do i nee to have to get registered my email address jnrbvuma@gmail.com
Edward
11 May 2022I want to register a Burial society, how can I start….