The statement of goods and services is the document that turns selections into a clear, itemized price for the family. The FTC Funeral Rule emphasizes accurate, itemized price information, so the statement should reflect each item distinctly and agree with your price lists. This article is operational guidance, not legal advice; rely on the FTC resources and your counsel for compliance.
What the statement should capture
- Each service selected, itemized with its price.
- Each merchandise item, itemized with its price.
- Cash advance items, identified as such.
- Subtotals and the total, clearly shown.
- The family and case it belongs to.
Why itemization matters
Itemization is not just a compliance point; it is how a family understands what they are paying for during a difficult decision. A clear, line-by-line statement builds trust and reduces later questions. A lump sum does the opposite, and it is inconsistent with the itemized disclosure the Funeral Rule expects.
The signed statement also matters after the family pays. If a card payment is disputed, it is the first record a response needs, because it shows the itemized prices and the total the family agreed to. Credit card payments for funeral homes lists the other records to keep for a chargeback, and the card network and state rules to check before you add a card surcharge.
What to ask software vendors
- Does the statement itemize each service and merchandise item?
- Does it pull prices from consistent line items so it matches the lists?
- Are cash advances handled distinctly?
- Does the statement live on the case and sync to the invoice in QuickBooks?
How FuneralHQ handles this
FuneralHQ is funeral home case management software that builds the itemized statement of goods and services on the case from consistent line items, so it matches the selections and your price lists, and it becomes the itemized invoice that syncs to QuickBooks. The statement, the case, and the books all carry the same numbers.
Related resources
Read general price list management and the recordkeeping checklist.
The FuneralHQ advantage
Control the record without adding more clerical work
FuneralHQ keeps permissions, activity history, documents, and case data together so good recordkeeping follows the work instead of becoming a second process after it.
We will work through a real example with you, from the first details to the finished record.
See it on one of your casesAbout the FuneralHQ Editorial Team
This guide was written by the FuneralHQ Editorial Team, the in-house team behind funeral home software used by independent firms to run cases, documents, payments, and QuickBooks sync in one record. Our editorial standards explain how we review product claims, outside sources, automation, updates, and corrections.