Drone Business: From Hobby to Hustle 🚀

Alright, fellow sky-enthusiasts, we all love the thrill of piloting our drones, but what if you could turn that buzz into a business? It’s a question we all ponder – can a weekend hobby actually pay the bills? Here at the magazine, we’re constantly scouting for the best advice for you, the readers who want more than just fun flights, you want results! Well, you’ve landed in the right place! This article dives into the wisdom packed within some of YouTube’s top drone business videos. We’ve sifted through the noise to bring you the real deal on how to launch a successful drone venture, exploring topics ranging from common beginner mistakes to building a six-figure business. We’re talking realistic plans for the drone entrepreneur and not just pie-in-the-sky dreams. Let’s get ready to see what others are doing, and how we can use those lessons to make some real progress!

Key Takeaways From the Experts

Avoid the Common Pitfalls: Jonathan Richey, a real-world drone entrepreneur, identifies some core errors you may make including not niching down and not creating lead gen. We’re also warned to be mindful of the need for the Part 107 certificate and insurance (so not all common ‘pitfalls’ relate to business acumen).
Beyond the Drone: Multiple experts emphasize that drone skills are only part of the equation. You’ll also need to understand marketing, client relations, finances, and business law. Knowing how to use a camera drone doesn’t mean you’re good at managing a business!
Start Now, Learn On the Go: Instead of endless planning, get going! Max Kuz advises against endless deliberation and says you should be gaining real-world experience to get the best insights. Start now!
Build Your Network and Authority: David from Drone Launch Academy says don’t skip out on opportunities like networking and creating content as key steps to establishing yourself as a professional in your niche.
Drone tech is constantly evolving: Always be on the lookout for advances in the industry like new hardware and software that can offer a unique value in your market, and improve efficiencies of your work. (From the Pilot Institute’s news report on emerging tech)
The Value Creation Circle: There’s a lot more than just flying: drone businesses thrive on deep problem understanding and targeted solutions, according to the analysis by Drone Launch Academy. Focus on solving your customer’s issues (and don’t be overly in love with your ability to pilot the drone!).

The Drone Business of Tomorrow? (or What the Videos Don’t Tell You)

So the videos give a lot of specific info on how to get started, and the importance of creating leads, marketing yourself and avoiding common pitfalls. But the tech itself? It keeps getting better, more robust, more specialized for different industries. Think of applications beyond videography and photography. With innovations in agricultural drones, we are about to see new and complex software solutions that combine AI and machine learning with drone tech that can only help grow this field of entrepreneurialism. Those in the drone industry will need to focus on building highly scalable operations because there is no slowing the pace of the advances that will transform both hardware and the user experience of drone based services in years to come. If these videos say anything at all, it’s that if you don’t jump in now and learn the foundations, you’re sure to be left behind later.

Ready for Takeoff? (See the video for a lot more detail)

These video highlights are only scratching the surface, folks! Each video offers a deeper dive, with specific recommendations and hard-earned wisdom. If you are really curious about Launching a Drone Business, scroll down and get all the insights! It’s time to fuel your entrepreneurial ambitions, hone your drone skills, and start turning that passion into serious profit. Let’s get airborne!

Keep reading for the highlighted videos

How to Make Money with Any Drone (Step by Step) Jonathan Richey

30,806 views | 1,037 | March 13 2024 14:00:06 (77 comments)[ Read more … ]

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Question – Have a question about filmmaking, camera gear or drones? Drop it in the comments!

⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 0:00 – How to Make Money with your Drone 0:19 – Drone Recommendation 1:59 – Mistake #1 to Avoid 3:23 – Mistake #2 to Avoid 4:29 – Marketing Your Drone Business 5:33 – What is an Entrepreneur? 5:58 – Examples of Clients

#dronebusiness #dronevideoproduction #entrepreneurship

About: Jonathan Richey shares the framework he used to start his first drone business and shows you how to get started, make money and avoid mistakes.

*This video is not sponsored. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Problem With Starting A Drone Business RocketRyder510

16,287 views | 961 | February 24 2024 18:01:48 (121 comments)[ Read more … ]

In this vid, I discuss the problem with starting a drone business.

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5 Mistakes I Wish I Knew BEFORE Starting a Drone Business in 2024 Max Kuz

17,843 views | 462 | January 21 2024 15:00:04 (87 comments)[ Read more … ]

In this video, I go over 5 Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE Starting a Drone Business. I started my drone business 4 months ago. I wanted to share my experience with it so you don’t make the same mistakes I did. Learn from my mistakes!

Dive into the dynamic world of drone entrepreneurship with our concise guide on Starting a Drone Business. Discover key strategies for launching and growing your UAV business, from navigating Drone Business Legalities to exploring lucrative opportunities in Aerial Photography and Drone Videography. Understand essential UAV Licensing and Regulations, and learn how to effectively market your Drone Services. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pilot, our guide offers invaluable insights into creating a successful commercial drone venture.

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Drone News: New DJI Releases, Anzu Automated Flights, Washington Drone Rescue Pilot Institute

16,092 views | 657 | November 29 2024 13:00:07 (47 comments)[ Read more … ]

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you; DJI Launches Agras T100 and T70 & Enterprise DJI Leaks, Anzu Robotics now has automated flight planning, and a drone rescue in Washington!

Join our community site: https://pilotinstitute.com/community/

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First up, DJI launched a few new products this week!

DJI also released the Agras T100 and T70 in China, meaning we may see these come to the US in the following months. The T100 comes with a 330lb maximum takeoff weight, a 100-liter capacity of fertilizer, and a payload of 187 lbs. The T70 is slightly smaller and comes in two variants, one with a 50-liter capacity and one with a 70-liter capacity. The total payload on the T70 is 143 lbs and features an 8-minute charging time on the battery. In the US, drones would require a 44807 exemption to operate and a Part 137 if used for agriculture. With the T100 and T70, DJI has also released a new D-RTK3, a New DJI RC Plus with O4, and an O4 image relay station. Again, these product releases are limited to China, but are an exciting view into what may come next to the US!

Next up, Anzu has partnered with DroneLink for automated planning! The new integration into the Raptor series allows for advanced mapping including orbits, vertical facades, panos, custom waypoint missions, and panos. New mapping features include single grid, double grid, linear maps, and terrain following, along with custom settings for camera angles and overlaps. Facade inspections include flying vertical columns, spirals, stacked orbits, or horizontal paths, and again, the same custom settings for camera angles, pitch, and overlap. Cool changes to the Anzu that should allow many more folks to take advantage of them!

Last up, Police in Clark County, Washington found two mushroom hunters lost in the backcountry using a weatherproof drone this week! Over 50 volunteers, multiple canines, and SAR teams faced challenging conditions including hail, sleet, and pouring rain while searching. The breakthrough came when the sheriff deployed an DJI M30 and was able to locate one of the missing mushroom hunters from the air and vector ground searchers in on the victim’s location. The breakthrough came when the sheriff deployed an DJI M30 and was able to locate one of the missing mushroom hunters from the air and vector ground searchers in on the victim’s location. Great use of the drone in poor weather conditions for a successful outcome!

Well, the wait is over—our biggest Black Friday sale ever is here!

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Of course, this deal is limited, so click the link in the comments today to grab your discount!

Lastly, for some Community news: we have a winner for the November Drone Photo Contest. The theme was architecture and Ed Ruttledge won with this photo of “The Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge”.

That’s all for this week, we’ll see you later in the community for Happy Hour and on Monday for our Q&A!

https://dronexl.co/2024/11/26/dji-unveils-ultra-compact-mic-mini-drone-content-creators/ https://dronexl.co/2024/11/25/dji-launches-powerhouse-agricultural-drones-t100-and-t70-models-hit-chinese-market/ https://dronexl.co/2024/11/25/dji-rc-plus-2-controller-d-rtk3-o4-transmission/

Dronelink Software Now Integrated with Anzu Robotics Drones

https://dronexl.co/2024/11/23/dji-m30-drone-crucial-rescue-mushroom-hunters-washington/

How To Start a Drone Business In 2025 Drone Launch Academy

45,090 views | 1,547 | August 28 2024 13:00:21 (78 comments)[ Read more … ]

Thinking about launching a drone business this year?

In this video, you’ll learn:

-Why getting your remote pilot certificate (Part 107 license) is just the first step -The complete value creation circle for drone businesses – it’s more than just flying! -How to get paid while practicing your skills using drone job networks -The importance of picking a profitable niche (real estate, construction, surveying, etc.) -Techniques for deeply understanding your customers’ problems and speaking their language -How to network effectively at industry events and conferences -Creating content and building a platform to establish authority in your niche -Real-world examples of successful drone businesses in various industries -The critical importance of perseverance and realistic expectations

Whether you’re interested in real estate photography, construction site mapping, thermal inspections, or other drone services, David breaks down common misconceptions and provides actionable advice for building a sustainable, six-figure drone business.

Learn why focusing on business skills is just as important as piloting skills, and discover strategies for standing out in a competitive market. Get insights on pricing, marketing, and delivering value to clients across multiple industries.

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______ Timestamps: 0:00- 0:41Intro 0:42-3:52 Value Creation Circle 3:53-5:23 Step 1 5:24-8:42 Steps 2,3 8:43-15:52 Step 4 15:53-19:49 Step 5 19:50-23:56 Step 6 23:57-25:08 Tip For Social Media 25:09-28:48 Step 7 28:49-29:32 Outro

If you want to dive deeper into Drone Launch Academy and level up your drone skills, here are some links to some of the online drone courses we offer:

Part 107 Exam Prep Course- https://dronelaunchacademy.com/drone-exam-study-course/

Drone Mapping and Modeling Fundamentals- https://dronelaunchacademy.com/drone-mapping-and-modeling-fundamentals/

Aerial Video A to Z- https://dronelaunchacademy.com/aerial-video-a-to-z/

Aerial Photo Pro- https://dronelaunchacademy.com/aerialphotopro/

Real Estate Media Pro- https://drone-launch-academy.webflow.io/

Drone to $1K- https://dronelaunchacademy.com/drone-to-1k-2023/

Aerial Roof Inspection Pro- https://dronelaunchacademy.com/aerial-roof-inspection-pro/

I Quit $700k Yr. Business to Start a Drone Gig Drone Deer Recovery

15,477 views | 491 | October 16 2024 20:00:30 (46 comments)[ Read more … ]

Hey folks in this video I’m going to share and be real with you guys about Drone Deer Recovery. I will be sharing with you the decisions we made at Drone Deer Recovery that ended up not being good ones learning through the process and building a better company. I am so grateful for the support that you guys have given us as we work through challenges building the first national recognized brand where we use thermal drones to help hunters recover lost game.

Thank you,

Mike Yoder

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About the Author

Patryk Alexander is an associate copy editor at 4kVideoDrones.com, where he sharpens articles and helps keep the website's content clean and error-free. With a background in creative writing, Patryk brings a unique perspective to his editing that helps make 4kVideoDrones.com's content engaging and informative. When he's not editing or writing, Patryk enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the great outdoors.

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