Start your drone business

See what your first year looks like

Adjust the sliders to match your market and service type. Most operators recoup their hardware cost within the first two months.

Your operation

Jobs per week 6 jobs
Avg. rate per job $400
Working weeks / year 48 wks
Drone package cost $9,500

Service type

Market

Charlotte, Denver, Austin, Phoenix — strong demand, less saturation

Annual revenue $115,200
Year 1 profit $101,850
Hourly equivalent $55/hr
Payback period 3.1 wks
Line item Timing Amount
Drone package Hardware, batteries, carrying case
One-off −$9,500
FAA Part 107 certification Exam + study materials + LAANC access
One-off −$250
Liability insurance $1M hull + liability — required by most clients
Annual −$1,800
Software + maintenance Editing suite, cloud delivery, drone upkeep
Annual −$1,800
Job revenue 6 jobs/wk × $400 × 48 wks
Annual +$115,200
vs. hiring a traditional crew Equivalent output via manned crew or helicopter
Client saves +$42,624
Year 2+ recurring profit No hardware cost — repeat clients compound
From yr 2 $111,600/yr

Year 1 net profit

Drone pays for itself in 3.1 weeks
$101,850
DJI Matrice 4T Thermal Drone
DJI Matrice 4T Thermal Dro
DJI Matrice 4E
DJI Matrice 4E
DJI Matrice 4TD
DJI Matrice 4TD
DJI Matrice 30T
DJI Matrice 30T
DJI Mavic 3T Advanced (3TA)
DJI Mavic 3T Advanced (3TA
DJI Inspire 3
DJI Inspire 3
DJI Matrice 400 Fly More Kit
DJI Matrice 400 Fly More K
Autel Robotics EVO Lite 640T
Autel Robotics EVO Lite 64
Freefly Alta X Gen2
Freefly Alta X Gen2
Freefly Astro Max Mapping Essentials
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Freefly Astro Max (NDAA/Blue)
Freefly Astro Max (NDAA/Bl
Freefly Astro Max
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Freefly Alta X Gen2 (NDAA)
Freefly Alta X Gen2 (NDAA)
Freefly Astro Max Mapping Essentials (NDAA/Blue)
Freefly Astro Max Mapping
DJI Matrice 4D
DJI Matrice 4D
DJI Matrice 4T Thermal Drone Wilderness Bundle
DJI Matrice 4T Thermal Dro
Autel Robotics EVO II Dual 640T
Autel Robotics EVO II Dual