How To Start a Drone Business In 2025

[@Nitescape_LLC]

Thank you for this video. I am 1 1/2 years in and have not been able to expand beyond solar survey. I did on $7.5 Mil house and thought it would open doors. This gave me juice. I appreciate you.

[@droneviewgis6699]

Best "Drone Reality Check" video to date. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. Every new drone pilot needs to view this before setting unrealistic expectations.

[@HorizonHawkDrones]

I started one this year, its a slow start, but it gives me a new reason to get out and make videos.

[@droneviewgis6699]

Creating videos is a great place to start. But also practice how to get into tight spaces with a client looking over your shoulder the entire time. Stay cool under pressure.

[@HorizonHawkDrones]

@@droneviewgis6699 I didn't think about the pressure of someone watching over me n

[@b3owu1f]

How are you finding clients willing to pay $500 to $1000 a day 5 days a week to you can scrape by with present day cost to live? I am in a MCoL area and the average income is about 80K to live ok.. 120K to be able to do things like eat out, maybe update some drone hardware from time to time. Shit is stupid expensive everywhere now.. so my concern is who is willing to pay $300 to $600 for someone to fly a drone for 20 to 30 mins or so.

[@HorizonHawkDrones]

@@b3owu1f Businesses or people who are in niches they love will pay a decent amount. I'm not happy enough with my skills to charge top dollar, but I have been making a few hundred per flight. Eventually, once I grow a bit more I will increase the price because of the amount of time I spend editing.

[@HorizonHawkDrones]

@@b3owu1f The other part of your question, how to find people. So far I have found clients through friends, and then their friends want footage as well. It's a learning process, but I can see how it can grow. I also think increasing your skills while you wait for new people is huge. Currently I'm trying to learn full manual flight on my Avata 2, not that I will be flying manual for most of my videos, but having more control will allow me to get better shots.

[@Burntsugaqueen]

Great video, gave multiple concepts that audience can expand on during their time

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

🙏

[@brandonthevisionary485]

This is the most honest learning video that i learned so far about starting a drone business. I’m so glad i took so notes. Thanks David

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Thanks, glad it was helpful!

[@NightlyNirvana888]

Amazing video, really set up the expecations getting into this business from start to finish, thank you so much for the helpful incite!

[@zzz-r7t]

Thank you for your Video, I have a drone summit tomorrow.. Wish me luck- could be the first step toward my future with RPAS!

[@AndyL922]

"Borrowing prestige" is the term I learned for what you explain at 21:36.

[@motivationallounge]

Great Guide on the topic for beginners, just what i needed the Business aspect. Thank You

[@droneviewgis6699]

Glad to hear you are being honest about how difficult it is to break in, even with relevant background knowledge. Flying 100% is not sustainable, so many other skills are definitely necessary.

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Yeah, you have to bring something else to the table! Unless you’re an FPV pilot, people typically don’t hire you for your flying skills alone

[@kyman64]

Thank you for putting all of this together, it is very much appreciated! I just passed my 107 exam today with a 93, thanks to your videos!

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

You bet. Congrats on your exam!

[@Nailsoupmedia]

great video this should help dronies a lot. Great job. Keep it up

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Thanks 👍

[@marlowemorris752]

Thank you so much for this breakdown, I’m starting a drone business in Atlanta Ga. Will definitely look into more of you products and videos!

[@harrysimpsonimages]

Great points! Just got my 107 and semi retired so ready for some wok with drones.

[@ioneeamigo8357]

I am thinking to start bussines, drone bussines. Thanks for your work buddy

[@jacqueserasmus5811]

Great video, thank you. You set realistic expectations and touch on a lot of ideas. I’ve just started, and doing a lot of free work. I’m getting experience and confidence. Using a DJI mini to avoid license issues and sticking to private individuals with home projects and someone that wants an aerial view of Factory/office/home. It’s not my main source of income, so it is different for me, right now. When I’m done, i accept a donation of the people using me for free, if they felt they got enough value to donate.

[@RoyDudzic]

Great information! I belong to a group of drone pilots in the SEN and this is going to go right with what we do there.

[@juanfravg]

Thank you, mr Jason Bourne. Im glad you found a quieter life at last. Jokes aside, thank you very much on this breakdown. It definitely points me in the right direction or I'd still be lost.

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

😂 if Jason Bourne didn’t carry a gun and was really good at spreadsheets

[@touretz3]

Thank you for not only being honest but always providing so much info

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

You bet. That’s our goal.

[@ajclmt]

Neat! Appreciate this video! Starting a home real estate photography business after I get my part 107. Hoping to have a weird cross niche to bring wellness hacks into the home. Podcast? We'll see!

[@harrysimpsonimages]

Where is the link to the sub out drone flight jobs?

[@thedronerangerky]

Great video! Thank you David.

[@LegendEater]

this was so much usefull even without all the drone stuff put appart thank you

[@babitasharma1709]

Where can I find those different drone networks where they will hire me as a subcontractor?

[@dacoolkid-t3p]

What your thoughts on geodnet rtk services?

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Never heard of it before you mentioned it. Checking it out now. Super interesting

[@babitasharma1709]

Where do you go to search for conferences and meet new people?

[@tdombui]

First and foremost, nice video. Very informative. But is one of your tips really to start a podcast?

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Don't knock it till you've tried it. Great networking tool and great discovery tool.

[@codypratt3590]

As a high school teacher, I can confirm schools are slow business. Oftentimes, when I am looking for something for my program, I am looking for something for next year or even farther down the line. Budgets and regulations are tight in the education world.

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Yeah seems that way! But it’s alright. I’ve enjoyed meeting people in the space. In it for the long haul!

[@Magicinstalls]

I am told if you're able to do virtual walk-through 360 camera footage, as well as outside drone footage you you have a winner in the real estate business

[@calebedziedavidson4866]

please what is the name of your podcast? and is it on apple podcast?

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Drone to $1K. And yes it’s on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, (and should be on all other podcasts platforms)

[@hurpaderpp]

do you need the cert if your drone is under 250g still?

[@Djrendezvous99]

If you are doing it for compensation, yes.

[@WiseWalk]

Hey, great video! Very comprehensive and well produced! I'm looking to possibly start a drone photography/videography business for either real estate or construction but am not sure how to find the jobs at the other end of the funnel. I am in the aviation industry and have a college that I can take two classes at to get my UAV certificate. Would you recommend this approach or just take an online course to get my Part 107 certificate? I also have a background in video editing and KZbin SEO so I could bring that to the table. I have flown drones casually growing up and am familiar with the style of flying. Overall im just interested in starting a business in this but am unsure where to start and how much I'd be looking to spend to get certified and equipment to find customers. Any tips would be great, thanks!

[@philipcrow858]

Do you believe there are good employment options for companies, like power companies, solar, roofing, insurance etc? Other than running your own actual business.

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Yes, we’re seeing a lot of adoption in these industries. Typically it’s not gonna be your sole job to fly drones though (for instance, and roofing whoever is doing the estimating/sales often will fly the property and create an ortho). Currently the main companies where I’ve seen full-time drone pilot jobs as an employee is in the energy sector.

[@philipcrow858]

@@DroneLaunchAcademy thanks so much for the reply.

[@C1K450]

@@DroneLaunchAcademyyup I seen a lot of drone pilot listings but some companies may ask for some experience in certain mapping software or CAD. Others may ask as much as photography and videography editing.

[@FarangFishing]

I am very interested in starting a drone business, not so much photography can do but i am interested in the mapping and real estate aspect of it. I live out of the US and i believe there is a massive business opportunity for this. I have been flying drones for quite a while, mainly FPV but here and there cine drones. I have looked into the M3E and can get a great price on it. I am curious of how to kind of break into the market for it.

[@b3owu1f]

I'd love to do this.. but the hardest part is finding clients.. how do you do that? They aren't abundant and/or usually just use their own drone (illegally perhaps too) given how easy DJI and the likes are to fly now. So I am unsure of this vast market space many talk about. Then you add in AI improvements that keep coming and eventually a person can just tell the drone what to record and how much and thats it. So I am not so clear on how vast/good this drone pilot market is.. and worse how much longer it may be around with all the AI stuff coming in.

[@dailywordbibleproject]

Is it possible to start a drone business for home and vehicle security. Installing drones for homes and inside cars that are automated for quick security inspection. ?

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Probably not as the rules stand now. Part of the rules for commercial operation is that you have to maintain visual line of sight of the drone during the entire operation. Those rules will be changing in the next year or so but for now I don’t know if that’s a viable one from a regulatory perspective.

[@dailywordbibleproject]

@DroneLaunchAcademy i thought so. Thank you for the quick response. It's an interesting field. I'll be subscribing to see what the future holds. Thank you!

[@bluecavemen]

I have a business idea. Where can I pitch my drone business idea too?

[@davcam1970]

Sorry if this was mentioned. I was listening to this in the background… One thing I am always asked, as a professional photographer, is “how did you get into the business?”. Number one piece of advice is never give away work! Not only does this diminish your value in the future, it conditions potential clients, knowing that there might be a way to get free content from the next guy trying to break into the market, ultimately hurting the market you are ultimately trying to break into. If you need to build your portfolio, go out and shoot content on your own. Not only will this give you actual experience / practice, but it allows you to pick and choose the banger architecture, and not an ugly empty track home with bad landscaping.

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Most people I know started with doing some free work when they started out. I don’t think it’s bad advice. I tell people that with the caveat of… If you’re good enough to charge for your work then charge for it. But if you’re so new that you’re still practicing, try to do some free stuff so there’s no pressure. And if you have a client that’s just bouncing around to whomever is free, they probably aren’t that interested in quality work to begin with so it’s likely not a great client.

[@droneviewgis6699]

@@DroneLaunchAcademy I totally agree. I practiced and learned AutoCAD and ArcGIS without pay for over 5 years. That's free work, right? But, now I can say I have over 30 years experience with both software packages and no one can ever take that away. So, keep an open mind about everything people ask you. Sometimes they are just curious and want to build trust with you. I sometimes have to demonstrate different software skills before landing higher paying jobs.

[@TM-ro7lh]

Don’t use a service. Find out who the customers are and go to them. Those services pay you 1/10th of the fee. It’s robbery.

[@libertyor556]

Do I hear the HeyBear Sensory song in the background? 😂😂😂 where my parents at??

[@yellowjacket4588]

I can't listen cause the background music is so annoying and distracting!

[@shelbukowski1443]

"At least in my head makes sense" ok

[@natashapang335]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@dieterhoffman188]

I am from Souther Africa...simy impossible yo start a drone buisiness unless you are wealthy! Its like that by design.Remove drones from the average man so big players can own the sky!

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Well that’s a bummer. What types of things are in place that make it that way?

[@jacqueserasmus5811]

⁠@@DroneLaunchAcademyAlso from South Africa, and don’t think this comment from @dieterhoffman188 is entirely true. Your steps are simple and anyone can do it. You won’t make a living from the start, and there is an investment chunk - but that is for any business/hobby. If you willing to do a few free stuff you’ll get quality training and shout up the ranks with experience.

[@MusicMotivation4you]

That’s not true at all

[@JohnBruno-yi1ex]

Maybe don't sound so much like a dream stealer. It's like you think you are so great and are talking down to people

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Thanks for the feedback. Unintentional! I’m not great at all, especially compared to a lot of the super experienced drone operators out there. Just trying to share what I’ve gathered over the last 8 years or so. Appreciate you watching the video though. Always looking for ways to improve 👍

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

Also want to set realistic expectations for people. Lots of folks who just sell the dream and hype. I want to give people an accurate view of what I’ve seen and what it takes to be successful.

[@toneydefreitas5630]

I know that you're fully aware that there are more than one country on this planet. So don't you give advice on drones to drone owners outside of the US?? Why do most not all ,but most Americans exist in this bubble. Why??????

[@DroneLaunchAcademy]

I have zero experience/background launching business outside of the USA. Would you prefer that I speak and give advice on things that I have no experience about? I feel like that would be counterproductive. Also, many business principals are fairly universal. People want problems solved. If you can do that for them, you’ll make money.