Have you ever dreamed about escaping corporate life?
Shayda Frost and Timothy Amoui had the opportunity to leave behind their desk jobs, but it was for something pretty unconventional: running cemeteries.
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The Atlanta couple left Los Angeles to run Lincoln Memorial Group, a four-cemetery business that brought in roughly $6.3 million in revenue and about $1.7 million in net income in 2025, according to CNBC Make It. (1)
Their business sells burial plots, vaults, headstones and cemetery services in what Frost jokingly calls “innovative real estate.”
Almost overnight, the pair inherited not just a family business, but an aging operation full of paper files, outdated systems and enormous long-term responsibilities.
“Everyone we knew — every industry professional, every contact we had — everyone said, ‘Sell it,’” Frost recalled. Instead, they doubled down.
A ‘future-proof’ business
The couple never planned to enter the death care industry full time. Frost, 39, worked as a film producer in Los Angeles while Amoui, 36, built a career in financial public relations. Everything changed after Frost’s father, who inherited the cemetery company from Frost’s grandmother, who founded it in the 1970s, died unexpectedly in 2023.
Taking over the company felt less like acquiring a modern business and more like stepping into a time machine that landed them back in the 1970s.
Employees communicated through intercoms. Paper memos were placed in physical office mailboxes. Critical records were kept in rooms packed with filing cabinets and Rolodexes.
Even today, the company is still digitizing “hundreds of thousands” of paper records while simultaneously maintaining analog systems to stay operational.
“My north star is to get to a place where we are digital only,” Frost said.
Despite the operational headaches, the couple sees major opportunity in the cemetery industry especially because many owners are approaching retirement age with few younger successors interested in taking over.
There are over 15,000 funeral homes across the U.S (2)., and a whopping 75% of them are privately owned.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the U.S. funeral homes market size is estimated to grow from an estimated $20 billion in 2026 to $27 billion by 2031. (3) Unlike sectors threatened by artificial intelligence, economic downturns or shifting consumer habits, cemeteries operate on decades-long timelines.
“In this space, we don’t plan for the next two to three years,” Frost said. “We plan for the next 20 to 30 years.”
The company’s biggest growth engine is “pre-need” sales which are burial arrangements purchased years before they’re actually needed.
The couple also hopes to expand by acquiring more cemeteries and eventually adding funeral homes to their properties.
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What to do if you inherit a business
Frost and Amoui’s story is just one example of a growing reality across the U.S.: roughly 6 million small to medium businesses are going to change hands by 2035, in a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ wave of ownership transitions, according to McKinsey. (4)
Inheriting a business unexpectedly can become financially and emotionally overwhelming if heirs aren’t prepared.
Here are several steps you should consider if you inherit a business:
Pause before making major decisions
Frost says many people initially encouraged them to sell the business. But taking time to assess the company’s operations, liabilities and growth potential allowed the couple to make a more informed decision.
Review the finances
Inherited companies could come with hidden debt, tax obligations, aging infrastructure or declining cash flow. Carefully review financial statements, payroll obligations, insurance coverage and legal liabilities as soon as possible.
Hire professionals early
Estate attorneys, CPAs, business valuation specialists and succession-planning advisors can help heirs navigate probate issues, tax exposure and ownership structures. This becomes especially important for regulated industries, like death care.
Modernize operations where possible
Older family businesses can sometimes rely on outdated technology and manual systems. Digitizing records, streamlining operations and implementing cybersecurity can help stabilize the company and improve profitability.
Be honest with yourself
Not every heir wants, or is cut out for, running a business. Some owners ultimately decide to sell, bring in outside leadership or stay on as passive investors instead.
For Frost and Amoui, the decision became about more than business because they can see firsthand the emotional impact their work has on their clients. “We’ve been invited to picnics where they’re celebrating their uncle’s birthday,” Frost said of families visiting cemetery grounds. “It feels like communing more than grieving.”
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Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
CNBC (1); National Funeral Directors Association (2); Mordor Intelligence (3); McKinsey & Company (4)
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Everyone told this Atlanta couple to sell their inherited cemetery business — it now makes $6 million a year
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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