Five Ways You Can Make Money as a Drone Pilot

One of the best parts about being a drone operator is you can make money doing something you love. The UAV business is still new and uncrowded, and with such a diverse range of opportunities, there is plenty of room for new drone pilots to earn a living. Before you start flying your drone for business purposes, you’ll need to make sure you're legally licensed in the US, obtaining your Part 107 Certification. 

While there are a lot of creative ways you can be successful as a drone pilot, there are some proven business models that have already shown to be popular. Here are five ways you can make money as a drone pilot.

Aerial Photos and Video for Real Estate 
Real estate photography is one of the most popular uses of drone photography and video. As real estate services become more competitive, agents are upping their game offering beautiful aerial photos and videos of their properties. This skill can also be used for other industries as well, including resorts, hotels, and even commercial businesses. Whatever the property, you can help them display their buildings or land from a new, unique perspective.

Aerial Surveying
Aerial surveying is a process that involves taking high-altitude aerial photos of land, often from multiple angles, in order to derive data that would be impossible or impractical to obtain on land. These photos can be used for a variety of purposes, from transportation projects and archaeology, to wildlife and vegetation monitoring. 

Wedding Video and Photography
Drone video and photography is gaining popularity in the wedding industry as couples look for a unique way to capture their memories of the day. Drones can be used to capture creative photos and video from above, providing a unique perspective of a couple's wedding day. Drone pilots will need to make sure they can safely fly above specific venues, as local drone laws and regulations can vary depending on the location.

Inspections
As a drone pilot, there are a wide range of inspection services you could offer. Certain jobs that are not easily performed by a human are made easier with the help of a drone. Inspection jobs could be anything from evaluating roof damage for leaks or shingle conditions, to taking aerial photos of bridges to check for overall condition or deterioration. Inspection requests are usually used by individuals, businesses, or government entities to evaluate damage or collect data before making costly repairs.

Open a Drone Franchise
As we have mentioned on this blog before, one of the best ways to make money as a drone pilot is to open a drone franchise. You’ll get brand recognition, headquarter support, and advertising help when you decide to join a franchise. Running your business under a franchise will give you the freedom to own your own business and focus more on doing what you love, while giving you a business plan with a proven track record to guide you.

There is truly unlimited potential to what you can achieve as a drone pilot. These are just a few of the ways you can start earning money, but there are endless opportunities to be successful as a drone operator. You can use this guide as a starting point, and we are always here to answer any questions you may have.




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