In 2006, the US Federal Aviation Administration began issuing permits for commercial drone use. Since then, entrepreneurs and business owners have used drones to earn money by capturing stunning aerial footage and photographs or to get an overhead view of a construction project or plot of land.
With the drone market projected to reach $4.68 billion globally by 2028, it’s never been easier to start your own drone business. Learn some of the ways you can make money with a drone as well as what certifications you’ll need to obtain and what regulations you’ll need to follow to run your own drone business.
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What do you need to start your drone business?
According to the FAA, almost all commercial drones in the US fall under the rules and regulations of Title 14 Part 107, which requires drone pilots to follow a few basic steps before starting their own drone businesses.
Operating requirements
First, figure out which rules and regulations apply to you and your business. Drones weighing less than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) do not require licensing or registration, while those weighing more than 0.55 pounds are subject to all of the regulations in Part 107. If your drone weighs more than 55 pounds, you’ll need to contact the FAA directly on its website or by calling 844-359-6982 and register it as a standard aircraft. If you’re unsure what regulations apply to you as a drone pilot, you can use the FAA’s user identification tool to learn more.
Review Title 14 Part 107, which includes federal rules and regulations regarding drone use, including:
- Always fly your drone within eyesight. Fly your drone so that you can always see it. If you’re using a first-person view (FPV) technology and watching a livestream from your drone’s camera, you must have a second visual observer with an unaided view of the drone itself. The maximum allowable altitude for your drone is 400 feet above the ground and the maximum speed is 100 mph.
- Avoid other aircraft. Never fly close to manned aircraft no matter the situation. Many restricted airspaces like airports have geofencing and use technologies like GPS, cellular data, and radio frequencies to communicate with drones and stop them from crossing a virtual boundary.
- Fly responsibly. Never fly your drone in a reckless or careless manner. To avoid invasion of personal privacy, don’t fly over people unless they are directly participating in your business or project.
- Never operate your drone from a moving vehicle. This includes cars, planes, and any other types of moving vehicles you could release or operate a drone from.
- Only one drone per operator. Per Part 107 regulations, drone operators and visual observers can only operate one drone at a time.
Remote pilot certificate
To become a commercial drone pilot, you’ll need to earn your remote pilot certificate. Start by obtaining an FAA tracking number with an Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) on the FAA website. Schedule an appointment with an FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center and make sure to have your FAA tracking number at the ready.
To take the Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Test, you must be at least 16 years old and have a government-issued identification card. The test consists of 60 multiple choice questions and typically takes about two hours to complete. The FAA offers study materials for the test, including the Airman Certification Standards for remote pilots, a study guide, and some sample questions. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 70% of the questions.
Once you pass the test, as well as a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security background check, you’ll receive a temporary certificate by email within 45 days and a full certificate within a few months. Your certificate remains active for 24 months, at which time you’ll need to take recurrent training courses.
Drone registration
Any drone weighing more than 0.55 pounds you plan to operate for your business needs to be registered with the FAA. You can create an account and register your drone on the FAA website at FAADroneZone. Registration costs $5. Once you receive your registration number, make sure to write it out clearly on your drone—either engraved, on a permanent label, or written with a permanent marker. Keep your registration with you any time you operate your drone commercially or recreationally.
As of September 2023, you also need to set up remote identification for any drones operating under Part 107. Remote ID helps the FAA locate drone operators flying in a dangerous manner or in unauthorized airspaces, such as airports, stadiums, and national wildlife refuges. If you don’t have remote ID for your drone, you may be able to find FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs)—geographic areas designated for flying drones without a remote ID. If you want to find a FRIA near you, explore the FAA’s map of FRIAs across the US.
Make sure you understand the rules and restrictions covering airspace where you plan to fly. Use the FAA’s B4UFLY service, which has both a desktop and mobile application that includes interactive maps to show where it’s safe to fly. Read up on any local laws and local regulations governing the specific area where you operate your business and fly your drone, including any necessary licenses you’ll need.
Although drone insurance for your business is not federally mandated, some local governments may require you to obtain drone liability insurance. Generally, it’s a good idea to get drone insurance for your business even if it’s not legally required, in case of potential loss, damage, or injury.
Ways to earn money with a drone
- Stock photos and videos
- Weddings
- Real estate
- Filmmaking
- Search and rescue operations
- Mapping and surveying
- Drone education
- Building inspection
A professional drone operator can earn money flying drones in a number of ways, including:
Stock photos and videos
License your drone photography and aerial footage to stock websites like Shutterstock, Getty Images, Flickr, or Adobe Stock. Clients from various industries search these websites for stock photography and videography to use in presentations, websites, social media platforms, and marketing materials like brochures, business cards, catalogs, or digital advertisements. A professional drone pilot with a flare for photography can upload aerial photos and videos of landscapes and cityscapes and earn money every time someone licenses that material on a stock website.
Weddings
Another way that you can make money flying drones is by offering drone photography services to clients who want aerial photos and videos of their weddings. As the wedding services market continues to grow, one survey estimated that the average cost for a wedding photographer in 2023 was nearly $3,000 in the US. A drone photographer can team up with regular wedding photographers to capture special footage of the event.
Real estate
Drone pilots with high-resolution cameras can also offer their photography and videography services to real estate agents and companies that need attractive aerial images of their real estate properties. Good real estate photography helps agents attract potential clients for their property listings, and high-quality aerial photography can add an extra touch. Contact local real estate agents to pitch your drone services.
Filmmaking
Skilled drone pilots can fly drones for film and television productions that will pay money for high-quality drone footage based on the needs of their shoot. Although this option can become a more lucrative business in locations with more productions like Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, or London, you don’t always know what projects are underway in your area. Network with other filmmakers and start with smaller projects like branded content, advertisements for local businesses, or music videos.
Search and rescue operations
Some federal, state, and local agencies (as well as volunteer organizations) that perform search and rescue missions now use drones in their operations. A skilled drone pilot could offer their services to get an aerial view over wilderness areas, river rapids, open water, and in dangerous situations like fires or floods. This type of service may require a drone equipped with special technology like thermal imaging to make it easier to identify people in trouble.
Mapping and surveying
Drone pilots can also offer specialized services for companies that need help gathering important data for mapping and surveying. For example, companies can hire drone operators to assist with business planning, land development, topographical maps, and agricultural inspections. Companies using drone operators can gain critical data over large areas much faster than traditional surveying methods and save on the cost of hiring an airplane or helicopter.
Drone education
If you’re a skilled drone pilot, you may want to consider starting a business tutoring clients or selling online courses on how to use drones for commercial photography and videography. You could even launch your own YouTube channel teaching drone flying skills and best practices for taking aerial photographs. Drone education is a great way to earn money while also meeting potential customers for other drone services you provide, like wedding photography or surveying.
Building inspection
Another way you can earn money with a drone is by offering your drone services to companies that need help inspecting construction projects. For example, drone pilots could help roofing companies save time and avoid the risks of a person physically climbing onto a roof to check for damage or deterioration.
How to make money with a drone FAQ
Is operating a drone business profitable?
A drone business can be profitable, especially if you’re a skilled drone pilot with connections to paying clients in industries like real estate, weddings, advertising, construction, or land surveying.
What side hustle can I do with a drone?
There are several side hustles you can do with a drone, including licensing aerial photos and videos to stock image websites or offering drone photography services to businesses.
Do you need insurance for a drone business?
Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not require drone pilots to have insurance, it’s a good idea to purchase insurance to cover any loss, damage, or injury that could occur from your drone flights.
