As dark as that declaration sounds, it’s a pretty good way to describe what Harman’s company does.

DiscountUrns.com sells cremation urns online, making it easier for families and loved ones to take care of this death-related detail, Harman says. "We’re doing for urns what Amazon.com does for books," the 36-year-old says in an outburst of entrepreneurial enthusiasm.

DiscountUrns.com has only two full-time employees and very low overhead. It orders from vendors, so it has no inventory to manage. The result, Harman claims, is prices that are about half what funeral homes charge.

Harman and his partner, Charles Aughenbaugh, who designed and maintains the Web site, launched the company in December 1998. And so far they are doing well, Harman says. He believes that DiscountUrns.com is the largest revenue-producing site of its kind on the Internet.

Online customers can browse through hundreds of choices, including pet cremation urns and miniature momento urns designed to hold a small portion of the cremated remains. Variety, low cost and the Internet’s accessibility help lure customers, Harman says. Family members from all over the country can get online and help choose an urn or see the one that the family has chosen.

Harman’s goal is for the company to control 10 percent of the online funeral-products market, which would make DiscountUrns.com about a $4 million company. To get there, he plans to add vaults and monuments to his list of products.

What’s next, cyber-cemeteries?