We’ve all heard this quote from Karl Marx’s Das Kapital:

“With 20% profit, capital becomes eager.
With 50% profit, it becomes bold.
With 100% profit, it dares to trample all human laws.
With 300% profit, it dares to risk any crime.”

But today, I want to talk about an industry where profit isn’t 300% — it’s 30,000%. That industry is Buddha Columbarium niches. Maybe the term is still unfamiliar to many. “Buddha Columbarium” is actually a refined name for what is more commonly known as ash storage shelves in temple underground halls or memorial pagodas.

Saying the profit is 30,000% might sound exaggerated, but there’s some truth to it. A single Columbarium unit can be produced for as low as ¥100, yet the final price to consumers can exceed ¥30,000. From this perspective, it’s easy to see where the high profit margin comes from.

However, while the markup from production cost to end price is indeed extreme, we must also consider other expenses. For example, sales commissions typically account for 30% to 50% of the selling price. Temples also provide land and buildings, so they usually receive 20% to 40% of the revenue. Ultimately, the actual profit for investors tends to range between 20% and 50%.

Even with that split, returns can still be 60 to 150 times the initial investment.

At first glance, these numbers make the industry seem incredibly attractive—especially when compared to the 10%–30% profit margins in traditional sectors.

But the reality isn’t so simple.

I’ve been in this industry for over ten years and have served hundreds of clients. Yet, very few have actually made money from these investments.

You might hear stories about certain temple columbariums being completely sold out, or that you need connections with high-level officials to secure a niche. But these are often just rumors—rarely verified.

So why aren’t more investors getting rich despite such high profit margins?

1. Huge upfront investment.
   A 1,000 square meter underground hall can hold 10,000 to 15,000 niches. Even with a conservative estimate of 10,000 units at the lowest price, the initial investment would be around ¥1 million. In reality, most temples opt for high-end products, which cost three to five times more. A typical project of this size requires at least ¥5 million.

2. Lack of sales and consumer demand.
   This is the biggest reason why many Columbarium projects fail. No matter how high the profit margin, without sales, there is no revenue. It’s like the saying: without health (the “1”), all the zeros behind it mean nothing.

3. High marketing costs.
   Temple columbariums don’t sell themselves. They require active promotion—organizing Buddhist events, attracting devotees, and subtly introducing the concept of purchasing a niche. All of this costs money: sales staff salaries, advertising, transportation, free incense, souvenirs, etc.

It’s not that no one ever buys a niche—some do get sold. But for most projects, the occasional sale isn’t enough to cover the enormous operating costs.

By now, you probably have a clearer idea of whether investing in temple columbariums is profitable.

As a sales manager at HuaHeng Columbarium Factory Jiangxi, China, I might be expected to praise the industry to boost sales. But out of responsibility to my clients, I often advise against investing in temple Columbarium projects—even if it means losing a sale.

That said, while temple projects may be risky, China’s unique social landscape suggests that indoor ash storage is likely to become more common in the future. I believe indoor ash storage will eventually become mainstream—though not necessarily within temples. I explore this in more detail in my column article, “The Museum of Life.”

If you found this article helpful, feel free to message me on this platform. I’m happy to share more insights—no holding back!

Sales Manager: Mr. Luo
HuaHeng Columbarium Factory, Jiangxi, China