What are items or services obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider referred to as?

The term "cash advance items" refers to goods or services that a funeral provider acquires from a third party and pays for on behalf of the client. These items are typically outside of the funeral provider's direct inventory and may include things like cemetery plots, obituary notices, or flowers. The funeral provider fronts the cost initially, and later this amount is passed on to the family, typically noted as a cash advance on the final invoice.

Understanding this terminology is crucial in the context of funeral services, as it helps clarify which costs are typically included in the funeral provider's service fees versus those that are additional expenses incurred for third-party services. This distinction is important for transparency in billing and for families to understand what they are paying for in relation to the funeral services.