Are you looking to earn money as a drone? I was in 2017 when the drone service company started and found a lot of it. Trade drone pilots benefit from an industry that continues to grow every year. Now it is a good time as it was ever to join the ranks More than 400,000 Done drones licensed in the United States.
So How much you can make? There are a lot of factors that enter into this, including the site, training, drones that fly and the type of services you provide. However, one of the most important decisions you will make is how to set your prices, especially when looking to land on high wages.
Prices definition can be a challenge for a new pilot or even some old warriors. In this article, we will go beyond how to pricize your services strategically to get the maximum benefit from the market and landing these high wages that each pilot wants.
Who can earn flying money?
Before jumping to how your services are priced, it is important to mention who can become a trading pilot for drones. If you are planning to use a drone to earn money in the United States, you can only do this legally if you have a license from FAA. To get Part 107 licensesyou need to Meet the following requirements.
- He is at least 16 years old
- Be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language
- Be in a physical and mental state to fly the drone safely
- Pass the initial knowledge test: “An abnormal general – small (UAG)”
The exam covers everything from reading CT scans to where and when you can transport a drone. If you do not really know how to read cuts, weather reports or understand the bases associated with drones, you may need help in learning the material. Check online courses like those you offer Height Universityand Gold sealand Experimental Institute To learn everything you need to know the test. You can also buy study materials from reliable flight supply stores such as Athlete.
Understand the market and stand
Before you can adjust your prices, you need this Understand your market. When I first started in the drone company, I lived in Montana countryside. Few people used drones at the time, and the work was slow. When I got a job, it was often for things like basic real estate imaging functions, and I will be lucky to earn $ 50 and some additional gas dollars. Quickly forward a few years when I went back to California, the same type of work will achieve at least $ 400 for each disturbance. Understand your market issues.
You need to do the following to get a clear picture of the market.
- Select your place
- Research competitors
- Understand the average market prices
Pynenous drones can choose to provide one type of service or diversification and provide many of them. Some of the most common services include real estate imaging, ceiling examination, crop management, thermal inspection, and maps. Not all services are created equally. Thermal inspections, for example, require more advanced equipment and training than real estate imaging. This means that the pilot can usually ship more for this service.
With many licensed pilots, you will definitely have competition. Look for pilots who provide the same services or the like. What rates do they receive? How is their schedule booked? Use the information you collect to determine the price range of the market.
- Professional advice: You can use platforms like UpWork, Thumbtack, The Droning Company and Droners.IO to see what other pilots ship in your area.
Once you have an idea about average high and low market rates, you can locate the location along the scale. If you are new and only offer basic air imaging without editing, you will need to start near the lower end. Remember that nothing says you should stay in the range. If you think you can provide more than your competitors, priced your services accordingly.
For example, at some point in my career, I was a licensed real estate sales representative in California. When I take charge of real estate photography, I told my client that I have received training in identifying red flags on an expulsion that might be a source of concern for them. I also submit a real estate report in addition to the photos and videos that I take, with marketing advice and notes about what I saw. Since the customer gets both the images they need and an expert opinion on any issues that must be addressed before selling, I can impose a higher price than most pilots in my area.
Destroy your costs
Now that you got a better understanding of your market, it’s time to know your costs. The traditional models of this search for your fixed costs (drones, licensing, insurance), variable costs (travel, liberation time) include, and the time you invest in a project to determine an hourly average or quote in the project. I calculate Asali using a shortcut I developed a few years ago, Arrow+T. Here is how it works.
- First, “A” symbolizes the average hour rate. You can use your market research to help select this, but I usually start with $ 150/h for basic work. Part of this number reflects fixed costs such as insurance.
- Next is the first “p”, which is the infallibility time on the site. This is the time it takes to set up, fly, pack everything, and leave it.
- The second “p” is the remaining work. These will be things like editing photos as soon as you return.
- “O” means other costs. These are things outside your natural work as a drone. For example, when I photograph remote parcels from vacant lands, customers sometimes want to buy a “sale” mark and place it on the ground. The cost of the mark and my time associated with the drilling of the hole will fall under “O.”
- “W” means tear. I add a small amount to every function that covers wasting to my car, drones and other equipment over time.
- Finally, there is “t” for travel. Gas, flying, hotels, food and things like fees in this number are included.
Below is an example of how everything together. Let’s say that one of the customer asks me to photograph a plot of 50 miles from my office. They need a standard package of photos and videos, but nothing is fancy. They also want me to leave a “sale” sign on the expulsion. In one or two pictures, they want me to draw the parcel border lines; Otherwise, it is not necessary to edit.
- A = I will use the standard rate of $ 150/h
- r = I can complete the work within two hours
- R = Due to the lack of a small amount of editing, I will add $ 25
- O = “for sale” sign will cost $ 10 in addition to the time to dig a hole for that, so I will make this $ 15
- W = There is nothing crazy in this job, so I will just tear $ 10
- T = Based on miles in my car and the average gas price, travel will be $ 30
Therefore, when we all add all together, the total that I will impose on the customer for this project is ($ 150) xr (2) = $ 300 + R ($ 25) + O ($ 15) + W ($ 10) + T ($ 30) = $ 380
Put yourself as a distinguished service provider
Now that you can calculate the price of your services, it’s time to go to these high wages. This may seem intuitive, but most customers who receive a great reward are not looking for the lowest price. These types of customers realize that they need to pay the price of pilots who are more experienced and have better equipment. Here are some tips to make you stand out from the crowd.
- Investment High -quality dronesSupport equipment, editing programs and customer experience. Do not expect to land with high -wage customers with equipment that cannot produce the quality of the product they pay.
- Development of a professional web site, wallet, and certificates. You may also want to build a town ball. These can appear your capabilities in the areas that your customers know and they can immediately make contact with them.
- Use the story of stories and case studies to highlight your results.
- The brand consistency is the key. Your logo, colors, prophets, and professional efficiency should be the distinctive features of your brand.
In addition, be sure to know your customer before trying to get their business. You should understand a little about their industry or their needs from their point of view. Create specialized proposals for them instead of the general proposals offered by most customers. You should also be very confident of your price when working with high wages. If there is a question about the price, distinguish the value you bring and the return on the investment it provides to them.
With an in -depth understanding of your market, standing and competition, you can easily calculate your costs and set the right prices. Use tools such as the Arrow+T model to calculate your costs, and you can provide bids with confidence on any project that comes on your way. Remember that high wage customers are there, but you must be professional and confident at all times. When looking for to win the work of these individuals, make custom rates and sell the value of your services. Do this, and you will see the reservations coming at any time at all.
Instructions
Do I need a drone to provide free drones while building a wallet?
Yes, even the improper business requires a license of 107 by the FAA rules.
What are the most profitable drones in 2025?
The maps and thermal inspection drawing and tracking the progress in the construction tend to push more than others.
Can I run a part -time drone while working in full -time job?
Yes. Many pilots start part -time and grow with increased demand.