Our Current Service Options
1 – Bespoke Funerals (our fees: £1,745)
2 – Simple Funerals (our fees: £2,185)
3 – Unattended Cremations (our fees: £1,595)
4 – Unattended Burials (our fees: £1,540)
Knowing your Costs
We’ve always believed that pricing for funerals should be clear and transparent, and this is true now more than ever. During your main arrangement conversation with us we will provide you with a clear estimate of the costs of the service that you require.
How are funeral costs calculated?
Funeral directors’ invoices are typically made up of a mix of funeral directors’ fees and third party costs, such as crematorium fees or minister / celebrant fees.
Third party costs vary which is why it’s hard to give a complete overview of costs without having a detailed conversation about your individual needs.
Our Payment Terms, Including Deposit Requirements
We always ask for a deposit at the initial arrangement meeting. The deposit is essentially all of the third party costs that we know of at the time of arrangement plus 50% of the remaining known fees. Once we have talked through your requirements in detail we will be able to provide an estimate along with the required deposit amount.
The remaining amount due will be payable by the day of the funeral.
In the case of an unattended cremation we will ask for the entire fee to be paid at the time of arrangement.
We accept many methods of payment from cash, cheques, credit/debit cards and BACS payments.
Bespoke Funerals
The costs for a bespoke funeral are made up of three key elements:
1) Our professional fees (£1,745)
2) The choices you make to personalise your farewell (you can see some examples of these choices and their cost by clicking this link)
3) Third party costs / disbursements (crematoria / cemetery dependent)
Our fee covers the following:
- An initial meeting with you safely in person, over the phone or by video call to discuss all your options, to get to know about the person who has died and how we can work to support you.
- Drawing up of a written funeral arrangement plan which we have agreed with you with clear and transparent pricing
- Collection of the person who has died within a 20 mile radius. Additional miles are charged at £1.50/mile.*
- Washing, dressing and looking after the person who has died where possible until the day of the funeral.
- Our recommendations on suitable locations and suppliers.
- Help with all of the legal and administrative arrangements for the funeral.
- A unique webpage with funeral details and slideshow if required, for you to share information with friends and family. They will also be able to post comments and messages on here for you. RSVP service also available if required.
- Our care and attention throughout the process, including unlimited phone calls and additional virtual meetings.
- Two members of our team to support you on the day of the funeral at a single location.
- Collection and delivery of ashes to you within a 20 mile radius.
- Access to SAIF Care bereavement support.
Our experience has shown that no two funerals are ever the same.
There is always something slightly different that a family needs, and whilst the kinds of options open to us at the moment are more limited than usual there are still things we can do to say a fond farewell to the people we love.
Perhaps hiring an alternative hearse, such as a VW Campervan or Morris Minor Traveller will provide a little extra special personalisation. As with any other hearse we could pass by the doors of friends and family on our way to the crematorium or cemetery. More ideas are on our funeral vehicles page
To provide an idea of the kinds of costs involved we have compiled a price list which takes into account current circumstances. This list contains a selection of the main items we can provide.
We have also compiled a price list for some of the coffins and urns which are available. Our approach has always been to source products and services from a wide range of suppliers so if the one you want is not available we can try to find something similar.
These lists only represent a selection of the products we can provide so please don’t feel constrained by them – we can look to source anything you would like.
The following third party costs (disbursements) are not included in our fee
Cremation related fees:
- One doctor’s certificate: currently £82 for a certificate – prior to COVID 2 certificates were required. There are instances where this is not required and the death has been referred to the coroner.
- Crematorium fees. These can range from £515-967 for a single slot in our local area.
- Where ashes need to be sent out of town a courier fee will apply. This cost will not be applicable if you wish to collect the ashes from us yourself.
Burial costs
- Natural Burial fees are around £2,500 depending on the location – this includes the cost of the plot and interment (grave digging) fee.
- Fees for burial in a traditional cemetery start from around £3,335 in Birmingham (£2,397 in Redditch) where a plot needs to be purchased. The price will be less if a plot has been pre-purchased. These prices will vary for residents and non-residents.
Generally the fee for burial is split into plot, interment and the cost of any plaque / memorial. So even if you have pre-bought a plot, interment fees will still apply at the time of the funeral.
If the grave is already in existence there may be a fee to remove and store the stone for up to 6 months while the ground settles. There may also be a re-fixing fee, on top of any additional engraving required and possibly also a re-turfing fee from the cemetery.
For more detailed information see the Crematoria and cemetery local price list
Celebrant / Minister costs
These vary but start from around £220.
A celebrant building a very bespoke service may charge more, especially if the time needed on the day is longer than an average slot at the crematorium. Getting this part of the ceremony right can be crucial, so finding the right person to represent you and the person who has died, as well as crafting an appropriate ceremony can be a valuable focus.
They will gather thoughts and memories from friends and families and craft these together to form the service and eulogies. They will then act as host and speak during the ceremony.
They carry out a fabulous service but it is possible for families to do this themselves.
Simple Funerals
Our simple funeral includes everything you need to carry out a lower cost and personal funeral at a single location. Our fees are £2,185.
You choose the time and date; hearse and coffin is included.
Third party costs / disbursements (crematoria / cemetery dependent) will be additional
Our fee covers the following:
- An initial meeting with you safely in person, over the phone or by video call to discuss all your options, to get to know about the person who has died and how we can work to support you.
- Drawing up of a written funeral arrangement plan which we have agreed with you with clear and transparent pricing
- Collection of the person who has died during within a 20 mile radius from a healthcare environment. Additional miles are charged at £1.50/mile.*
- Washing, dressing and looking after the person who has died where possible until the day of the funeral.
- A Paulownia, manila (brown) cardboard or oak veneer coffin (there is a £40 supplement if you would like white or green cardboard or a shroud). Coffin choices may be dependent upon supply, we will do our best to supply your choice.
- Use of one of our white cars as the hearse.
- Our recommendations on suitable locations and suppliers.
- We will help you to complete the burial or cremation paperwork correctly in order to complete the administration of the funeral.
- A unique webpage with funeral details and slideshow if required, for you to share information with friends and family. They will also be able to post comments and messages on here for you. RSVP service also available if required.
- Our care and attention throughout the process, including unlimited phone calls and additional virtual meetings.
- Two members of our team to support you on the day of the funeral at a single location.
- Collection and delivery of ashes to you within a 20 mile radius.
- Access to SAIF Care bereavement support.
The following third party costs (disbursements) are not included in our fee
Cremation related fees:
- One doctor’s certificate: currently £82 for a certificate – prior to COVID 2 certificates were required. There are instances where this is not required and the death has been referred to the coroner.
- Crematorium fees. These can range from £515-967 for a single slot in our local area.
- Where ashes need to be sent out of town a courier fee will apply. This cost will not be applicable if you wish to collect the ashes from us yourself.
Burial costs
- Natural Burial fees are around £2,500 depending on the location – this includes the cost of the plot and interment (grave digging) fee.
- Fees for burial in a traditional cemetery start from around £3,335 in Birmingham (£2,397 in Redditch) where a plot needs to be purchased. The price will be less if a plot has been pre-purchased. These prices will vary for residents and non-residents.
Generally the fee for burial is split into plot, interment and the cost of any plaque / memorial. So even if you have pre-bought a plot, interment fees will still apply at the time of the funeral.
If the grave is already in existence there may be a fee to remove and store the stone for up to 6 months while the ground settles. There may also be a re-fixing fee, on top of any additional engraving required and possibly also a re-turfing fee from the cemetery.
For more detailed information see the Crematoria and cemetery local price list
Celebrant / Minister costs
These vary but start from around £220.
A celebrant building a very bespoke service may charge more, especially if the time needed on the day is longer than an average slot at the crematorium. Getting this part of the ceremony right can be crucial, so finding the right person to represent you and the person who has died, as well as crafting an appropriate ceremony can be a valuable focus.
They will gather thoughts and memories from friends and families and craft these together to form the service and eulogies. They will then act as host and speak during the ceremony.
They carry out a fabulous service but it is possible for families to do this themselves.
Other items you might want
Other items such as flowers and orders of service will be an additional cost. These can be done very simply, or not at all – it isn’t necessary to have all these things.
Unattended Cremation
An unattended cremation (often called a direct cremation) is a simple and respectful way of arranging a cremation without a funeral. We take care of the practical aspects of the cremation and you and your family can remember the person who has died at a time and place that suits you.
The costs are lower because we choose the time, location and date.
There is no funeral service and family do not attend.
We take the person ourselves to the crematorium. The crematorium we use is local to us, and is currently Waseley Hills Crematorium.
Our fee for an unattended cremation is £1,595 (this fee includes the cremation fee)
Our fee includes:
- Collection of the person who has died during working hours * (Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm) within a 20 mile radius from a healthcare environment. Additional miles are charged at £1.50 per mile.
- Care of the person who has died until the day of the cremation.
- All paperwork and administration
- Transportation to the crematorium of our choice
- A standard sized coffin
- The cremation fee
- A simple ashes cremation container (or choose another container for an additional fee)
- Return of the ashes to you within a 20 mile radius.
- Access to SAIF Care bereavement support.
* Out-of-hours collection fee
- Our out of hours collection fee of £225 will apply for collections which need to take place between 5pm and 8.30am weekday nights and between 5pm Friday and 8.30am Monday morning. Bank holidays also count as out of hours.
One Doctor’s cremation certificate is not included: currently £82. (Pre COVID, 2 certificates were required so this may change again)
There are instances where the death has been referred to the coroner and so these are not required.
Out of hours collection from is £225.
Out-of-hours are: Between 5.00pm and 8.30am on weekdays. Weekends between 5.00pm on a Friday and 8.30am on a Monday. Bank holidays between 5.00pm on a Friday and 8.30am on a Tuesday.
We can offer additional services to the Direct Cremation if required: Washing and dressing £100, Visiting of the person who has died £105, Webpage to notify people of what is taking place £15.
For an additional £200 we can offer a witnessed Unattended Cremation – this is only available at Waseley Hills Crematorium, at either 9 or 9.30am, Monday to Thursday. Limited to 8 people, you can sit in the chapel and watch the committal, and have a piece of music of your choice for up to 10 mins. There is no service and we still choose the date and time of the cremation.
Although this is a low cost option, we work with the same amount of care and respect for the person who has died as with any other funeral that we arrange.
The costs are kept low because we choose the date and time of the cremation to suit our diary, there is no funeral service at the crematorium and family will not be able to attend.
Unattended Burial
An unattended burial, just like an unattended cremation is a simple and respectful way of arranging a burial without a funeral. We take care of the practical aspects and you and your family can remember the person who has died at a time and place that suits you.
The costs are lower because we choose the time and date.
There is no funeral service and family do not attend.
Our fee for an unattended burial is £1,540 (this fee does not include the cost of a grave, interment or memorial stone)
Our fee includes:
- Collection of the person who has died during working hours * (Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm) within a 20 mile radius from a healthcare environment. Additional miles are charged at £1.50 per mile.
- Care of the person who has died until the day of the burial.
- All paperwork and administration
- Transportation to a local burial ground / cemetery of your choice
- A standard sized veneer or cardboard coffin
- Up to six people to carry and lower the coffin into the grave
- Access to SAIF Care bereavement support.
* Out-of-hours collection fee
- Our out of hours collection fee of £225 will apply for collections which need to take place between 5pm and 8.30am weekday nights and between 5pm Friday and 8.30am Monday morning. Bank holidays also count as out of hours.
If a grave hasn’t already been purchased then a plot will need to be paid for along with the interment (gravedigging) fee.
The cost of a new grave in our local area (for local residents) ranges between £1,650 and £4,835
The cost of interment in our local area ranges between £650- £1,197
A local memorial mason can advise on the cost of a memorial stone.
Out of hours collection from is £225.
Out-of-hours are: Between 5.00pm and 8.30am on weekdays. Weekends between 5.00pm on a Friday and 8.30am on a Monday. Bank holidays between 5.00pm on a Friday and 8.30am on a Tuesday.
We can offer additional services to the Unattended Burial if required: Washing and dressing £100, Visiting of the person who has died £105, Webpage to notify people of what is taking place £15.
Although this is a low cost option, we work with the same amount of care and respect for the person who has died as with any other funeral that we arrange.
The costs are kept low because we choose the date and time of the burial to suit our diary, there is no funeral service and family will not be able to attend.