How To Make Money with a Drone – 7 Tips For Drone Pilots

Drone pilots all over the world are earning money with their drones. Could you? In this post I’ll describe how to make money with a drone whether it’s full time or part time.

It is still possible start a drone business that will succeed and last in the long term, and earn money as a drone pilot and aerial photographer. However, as we shall see, it’s one thing to be a good drone pilot but quite another to run a successful drone business. Some people are better at working for themselves while others are more suited to working for others.

Drone operators are now using the very latest UAV technology for remotely controlled aerial surveys of all kinds, from bridge inspection jobs to constant camera surveillance of sensitive areas and projects. While you’re wondering where to start you can continue to practice flying and create stock photos ready for storing and selling on a stock photography site.

A love of flying drones

If you love photography and drones, then starting your own drone photography business could be a great way to combine your passions and earn a living. There are many advantages to running your own business, including the flexibility to set your own hours and work from home.

You’ll also be able to choose your own clients and projects, which means you can pick and choose the work that you’re most passionate about. And if you’re good at what you do, there’s no limit to how much money you can earn. Of course, starting any business requires hard work and dedication, but if you’re willing to put in the time, a drone video business can be extremely rewarding.

My own drone businesses

My advice is derived from the experiences I had between 2013 and 2016. In 2013 I noticed drones were becoming increasingly sophisticated and popular and I noticed the rapid growth of companies like DJI Innovations. Consequently I registered several domain names and got involved in this burgeoning industry.

At first I was a retailer, reselling drones ( DJI Phantoms) using a site called CopterDrones.co.uk. I also blogged about drones and unmanned aviation on DronesUAV.co.uk, and then I ran my own aerial photography business under the name WessexAerialPhotography.com. I did all this in my spare time while employed full time as Network Engineer. It was a busy period!

Too busy in the end. I sold the business and the collection of websites to an aviation partnership. It became clear to me that in order to fully exploit the potential in this industry it would take more time than I was able to give at that point so it was better for everyone if I let it go.

My drone course

This post is a very short version of what I used to create a course that explains things in much more detail. Here’s a description of the course and its contents.

Are you ready to make money with a drone?

So, what I’m about to tell you is based on my own experiences. The opportunities are huge and if you’re ready then you can look forward to a long career in the world of unmanned aviation and possible a very lucrative business if plan and start correctly.

I’d be very interested to know more about you and your ambitions, and if any of what I’m about to say is of use to you. So please, read to the end and leave me some feedback in the comment section below.

Drone pilots & The Law

First I need to make some assumptions about you. I’m going to assume that you are already familiar with the technology and your particular models of drone, and the laws, legislation, and the necessary permits for flying drones in your particular country. I’m going to assume that your drone piloting skills are already up to the required standard.

If you fly drones then it is of course essential that you comply with all the laws and stick rigidly to all the safety recommendations when operating unmanned aerial vehicles of any kind. For commercial operation you will need a drone license in most countries. Check with the Federal Aviation Administration in the USA or the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK for the latest regulations.

Flight skills

The reason I want to set aside the technical aspect and the subjects related to training is because plenty of people have explained this already. I can see from articles and videos already published that there’s plenty of advice about the practical side developing drone flight skills and getting the required training for a commercial operator’s licence.

Besides, drone technology has evolved over the past few years. Any drone pilots offering drone services now have more advantages in that department than I did in 2014. The number of commercial drone pilots with a current remote pilot certificate is growing year on year. When I started there were less than 150 individuals (or legal entity) listed with the CAA.

Running a business

Instead, I would like to pass on my advice about running a small business on your own, planning ahead, and gaining new clients. You might be very adept at UAV flying, aerial photography, and video editing but you need more that these practical skills to make a success of a your business.

The tips that follow apply to any aerial photography venture whether your speciality is aerial photography, videography, aerial mapping, thermal imagery, agricultural services, aerial roof inspections, or whatever. I’m sure you have your own ideas but a aerial footage business is obviously the most common starting point for most drone pilots.

Making money with a drone as a side hustle

Not everyone wants to commit to a full time running their own drone business with all the risks associated with it in its first few years. Some drone pilots just want to earn some money with a drone in their spare time. Here are just a few ideas of ways in which you might be able to achieve that goal.

• Aerial photos for stock photography. As a part time drone photographer you can submit your aerial photos and drone videos to stock photos sites like Unsplash, Pixabay, etc.
• Aerial photos for sale. Some drone photographers simply create a portfolio of drone photos on sites like Picfair.com and sell them direct to the public.
• Start your own YouTube channel. Show off your aerial video footage by creating YT videos and develop a drone YouTube channel that can eventually be monitized through Adsense and other ad revenue.

1. Preparation & planning before can make money with a drone

Your first task is to consider your market.

• Who are your potential customers likely to be?
• How will you find them and how you will you retain your current clients?
• How will you persuade them to use your services as opposed to a competing drone service?
• How far are you prepared to travel?
• Is all your business going to be locally based, in your home country, or abroad as well?

What’s in a name?

You will also need to decide on a business name for your new business. This might be based on your business location or on the services you intend to supply. It’s worth spending some time on this and giving considerable thought to the branding. Review the names of current drone companies and come up with something original of your own.

You’ll need a steady stream of clients

This may seem obvious but it’s suprising how many people rush into business without considering this in detail. Even if you already have ten people who have promised to hire your services you will need ten more, and ten more after that for years ahead.

Are they likely to be one-off clients or is any chance of repeat business with them? Obviously it will be a bit harder if all your clients are only going to hire you just the once. Repeat business and up-sells will make life a little easier.

How you can make money with a drone

Real estate industry

Real estate agents are a common source of potential customers. There’s a fairly constant demand for real estate photography so it’s a good place to start looking. Real estate agents need plenty of good quality marketing materials that include aerial clips of the properties for sale. Some make their own aerial videos but others still outsource the task to drone operators.

Construction and insurance companies

Another area that you might want to explore is construction drone services. Construction projects have been transformed by the use of drones for planning and capturing the progress from breaking ground to completion. Drones can film and photograph the site from the air, create 2D and 3D maps, and record the exact location of the buildings’ infrastructure as it is built.

Aerial wedding videography

Like funerals and haircuts there are some things that happen every year no matter what the enconomy is doing and one of those constants is weddings. Taking drone photos of the guests as they arrive and depart from the celebrations is another way in which drone owners can earn.

Good quality aerial footage of weddings can be combined with the still images to create memories that will last a lifetime and people are willing to pay for it. As with all such drone footage though you’ll need to be adept at using video editing software.

Aerial inspection services

Aerial surveying is one of the most common ways in which UAV video companies obtain clients. There is a contstant need for good quality aerial footage of the areas listed below, particularly after storms have passed through, but also to survey gradual aging and deterioration.

• Roof inspections (domestic & industrial)
• Wind turbines
• Solar panels
• Bridge inspections
• Power line inspections
• Gas pipeline inspections
• Data collection
• Drone surveying
• Aerial mapping
• Precision agriculture
• Cell tower inspections
• Whole building inspections

Utility companies in particular are making good use of drones for aerial surveys of not only pipelines and cables but also water or gas outlets.

Aerial surveying

Aerial surveillance is another area to explore. As well as for security this can also be for wildlife and environmental monitoring purposes. You may be required to perform air surveillance over wild open spaces using mapping drones in order to note the changes in habitat or to capture custom aerial footage of wildlife.

Drone deliveries

While drone delivery is still in its infancy and drones have not yet replaced helicopters for larger deliveries it seems certain that the day will eventually arrive when you’ll be able to make money by fulfilling drone deliveries, either on an ad hoc basis or as a regular service.

It’s been a few years since Amazon first started experimenting with drone deliveries but work has continued. Fixed wing drones were used to complete a drone delivery of medicines from Solent Airport to the Isle of Wight during the pandemic.

Many more examples of drone deliveries exist particularly using disaster relief drones where the local infrastructure is severely damaged and drone flying is the only way to delivery urgently needed supplies and medicines.

Make money in the drone market

Be the drone pilot that runs a drone shop selling the best drones. Be the person who sells drones but with added value because you can explain how to use various drone models face to face with customers and perhaps give demonstration flights.

Teach your customers how to capture the best drone footage. You needn’t be just the person who sells them. You can also use your knowledge and enthusiasm to build up a healthy client base of repeat customers.

2. Create a business plan for your start up

If you’ve ever watched the TV show Dragons’ Den (and I recommend you do) you will probably know that it is essential to know the figures for your business. It doesn’t matter how good the product or service, if it doesn’t show a reasonable profit in a given timeframe then it’s never going to succeed.

So your first task is to create a business plan. This doesn’t have to be a complicated PowerPoint presentation with pretty pictures and multimedia (unless you intent to pitch for some investment) but you should at least compile one or more spreadsheets that remind you of what your capital costs and expenditure are likely to be in the first 12-24 months. There are plenty of free Excel templates online. Just google for ‘business plan templates Excel’ or similar phrases.

You’ll need an initial investment for buying not only at least one well equipped drone, but also supplemental kit like thermal imaging cameras or cameras for collecting infrared video. You’ll also need to budget for ground vehicles of one kind or another. Your business is designed to help you anticipate where you’ll need to invest but also how you can save money.

What’s your CODB? Know your numbers

You should know the answers to basic questions like, What’s your CODB? (cost of doing business). You need to understand for your own benefit and be able to explain to anyone who might be an investor or a lender of funds. You need to be certain how many clients and how much business you need per month to break even and go into profit. You’ll need to set an hourly or daily rate for your business.

I cannot stress enough how important this is for your success. Many ventures of this sort (in fact, any type of business) fail in their first two years because the owners just don’t know what to charge for their products or services. Set the right price at the start.

Don’t forget to factor in drone insurance. You will need not only hull insurance for the UAV and all the other kit you take to site, but also general liability insurance against any mishaps that result in property damage or worse, injuries to people as a result of your commercial drone activities.

Business insurance is a must, not an optional extra. Any company or sole operator not paying for liability insurance are taking a huge risk and are probably operating illegally without drone insurance, bringing the drone industry into disrepute.

You’ll also need to decided whether you’re going to operate as a sole proprietor or as a limited liability company.

3. Controlling the budget for your business venture

The second point I want to emphasise to keep a tight rein on your budget. You might thing that you need every new gadget, tool, and software for your business. It’s very easy at the start when you’re flushed with enthusiasm (and you’ve still got money to spend!) to buy all the latest kit.

Just remember that for every pound or dollar you spend you will have to replace it with several pounds or dollars. Do you really need that gadget or software today?

Don’t get bitten by the softare bug and suffer from upgradeitus. A lot of software tools are filled with features we don’t use. Stick to the essentials.

While there will always be a need to maintain your equipment and some online tools will help your marketing you need to be certain that everything you buy earns a good return on investment.

4. Set the right price for your drone flying

Imagine the scenario; you’ve quoted for a job but your client hesitates and tells you that they can only pay a proportion of your price. They may even hint that they will hire you again if they can secure a discount this time.

My advice is to stick to your original price and don’t be talked into a discount that results in you working at a loss. You should know from your plan what your break even price is so you’ll know there will a point at which it’s just not worth taking the job.

The contrary argument to this is that some work is better than none but once you let a client agree to a discount it’s much harder to obtain your full price later on. You need to explain to them that your price is set in accordance with the going market rate and that, just like them, you need to make a fair profit just to stay in business.

Remember also that a small discount for them is a much bigger loss to you than they imagine. For example, if you need to take £300 to break even so you add £150 profit and your quoted price is therefore £450.

If they persuade you give to them a 10% discount then you’ll lose £45, but that’s £45 off the total price. By giving them a 10% discount you’ve just lost 30% of your profit!

So brush up on your negotiation skills. Eventually it will pay off. People tend to respect those who show confidence in their own abilities and pricing. If your work is of sufficient quality then people will respect you and your prices.

5. Reinvestment and further drone training

Following on from the point about profit there is the need for reinvesting in your business. You didn’t think that £150 was going to go into your back pocket, did you?

Drone technology is evolving rapidly. I like to think that these years are similar to the early years of mobile phones or the world wide web. We are beginning to see the potential but no one is really sure just how big this technology is going to be.

You’re going to need to reinvest some of your profits in new equipment and perhaps external drone training and online courses for yourself. As your business grows you may need to send employees on drone training courses too.

Training is the usualy the first budget to be cut when a business experiences a downturn in sales but it’s essential if you and your employees are to maintain currency in their respetive skills and certifications.

All this needs to be considered while still keeping in mind the points mentioned previously about your budget. You will have to discern between what is sound reinvestment and what is non-essential.

6. Marketing

Even the most talented people can fail in business by not attracting new clients. If you’ve got excellent drone piloting and other skills then you are off to a great start but you need to feed your business with new clients.

There are some businesses that do well simply by word of mouth. Good work is referred to others and the orders continue to flow in but they are rare. Most businesses need to budget for marketing every month.

Presumably you added a marketing budget to your plan. If not then do so now because it will have an impact on your prices.

Don’t imagine that marketing is something you can do just on rainy days when there’s no flying. You will need to put some effort into it every week, come rain or shine.

You can do a lot yourself to save on costs but what you save in pounds in spent in hours so you’ll need to decide whether or not some or all of this task can be outsourced.

Free online marketing

There is a lot you can do to attract potential clients online. We are all familiar with websites and the various social media (SM) accounts that can be set up for free but it takes time and doesn’t always work. If you rely on this method alone and no new clients find you then your business will start to fade before it’s fully begun.

You can showcase your work in a website or YouTube channel but if your potential clients don’t find you there, then what?

You can add your company details to one of the many UAV directories but if the website isn’t being promoted enough to bring you new clients then your subscription could be wasted.

You can start tweeting, create a Facebook page, and upload shots to Instagram. You can open as many accounts as you like but how much time can you spare each week to spend on these tasks? Do you know the best times to post?

I’ve been checking lots of drone business websites and SM accounts. It’s apparent that a lot are underused and left neglected. Nothing says ‘don’t bother’ more than a dead account that hasn’t seen a tweet or update for six months.

You’re going to need to combine the efforts in attracting organic traffic via your website and SM accounts with the more direct approach of paid advertising.

The marketing budget

Once again, this refers back to your business plan. Knowing where to spend your budget depends on your target market. Is print advertising still a good choice for reaching them? Perhaps a quarter page advert in a specialist trade magazine is a productive choice.

Or should you do what more and more businesses are doing and pay for clicks using Google Adwords, Bing, or Facebook ads?

Don’t forget you can also try the old fashioned method of cold calling. However, I strongly suggest you research this first. Take the time to find out what the best format is for an email. Learn about the best heading, opening line, second line, and signature in your emails. Keep a record of what emails you send out and note the responses.

Research your clients and show a genuine interest in them and their business and they may return the favour by responding to your unsolicited email. Send a follow up if you like but whatever you do don’t spam people.

7. Time management

Yes, this old chestnut. It crops up in every list of tips for would-be millionaires but it does so for a very good reason. If you’ve ever read any autobiographies written by successful people you may have spotted two bits of advice that they all want to pass on.

The first is that we all only have 24 hours in a day. No one gets any more.

The second is that it pays dividends if you spend your time wisely. It’s a precious commodity and it’s not infinite. So develop the habit of spending 90 minutes each day doing your essential tasks. I suggest you spend 90 minutes on marketing

Do this before you check your email, Facebook, or Twitter. Don’t read the news or faff about with online distractions. Do your 90 minutes of marketing then at least if the rest of the day becomes unproductive you have at least succeeded in achieving that much.

This concludes my list of seven tips for starting a business using umanned vehicle systems. If you need any help with your website, social media management, pay per click advertising, or internet marketing videos then please get in touch.

I hope I’ve demonstrated knowledge of both the market and running a business so I would be glad to quote for your online marketing needs.

Drone pilot jobs

Of course, you don’t have to take the risk of starting a UAV company of your own. If all the above seems like just too much effort and risk then you can find drone pilot jobs and work for someone else, either as a permanent employee or as a contractor.

As a drone pilot you might choose this route in order to gain experience learning how to operate expensive drones in a commercial environment first before venturing into self employment or starting a UAV company

Operating a drone photography business

In conclusion, if you’ve set you’re about to start a drone business in which you legally fly drones for commercial purposes then as a business owner you’ve got a lot of planning, preparation, and research to do. You will need to be familiar with the drone laws and local rules in order to operate safely. As a drone service provider you’ll need to have a strategy for keeping your existing customers,

I hope this post has given you some inspiration and ideas for how to make money with a drone. If you found this post of interest or helpful in any way I would be grateful if you’d add a comment below. Even better, please share it!

Thank you for reading and good luck with your drone business.