Thanks to their advanced technology, discreet size, and ease of being manned remotely, drones are used in different industries to optimize and improve processes. That is why today we will share with you a list of 10 business ideas with drones. In addition, we will mention the general requirements and permits to set up drone business.
How profitable is the drone business?
At a global level, the demand for services that drones can provide is increasing exponentially, since these technological devices have become very useful tools for daily and business life.
They allow us to minimize risks, monitor and control various processes and collect data in hard-to-reach areas or contaminated environments. To this is added the recent accessibility to produce and acquire drones and the more flexible regulations for their use in some countries of Europe and America. According to some studies, commercial applications of drones are expected to continue to grow, becoming part of the daily operations of industries such as agriculture, insurance, and journalism.
Profitable business ideas with drones
It is more than clear that drones are here to stay and that their use is increasing in different industries. Therefore, it is key that you familiarize yourself with different ideas to start a drone business.
1. Surveillance and security
After military use, surveillance and security use is one of the most useful and indispensable services provided by drones. Thanks to its aerodynamic characteristics that allow you to quickly visualize the environment and obtain data in real-time. The use of remotely manned aircraft has increased for police purposes in some countries since for a nation to have high-tech elements that are difficult to evade is vital to maintain order and security schemes within social circuits.
The same has happened in the field of civil security and surveillance systems. So a business with drones can also be executed by companies that are responsible for maintaining and monitoring private entities. Or simply to monitor and improve the safety of the inhabitants of residential areas.
2. Event monitoring
For families, it is extremely valuable to have a memory of the important events celebrated in the passing of their lives. As a result, event registration and monitoring service are one of the most highly demanded within profitable drone businesses.
The shots and photographic pieces that can be achieved with a drone are unique and show a very broad technological advance. This is thanks to the fact that many of them have HD cameras of different resolutions and record in 4K format, allowing to have the classic memories in photographs and videos on a ground plane, to have aerial and zenithal video and photography shots covering the event in its entirety.
This is a very popular type of business since it is possible to cover everything from weddings, birthdays, and business parties to concerts, sports competitions, and other massive events. This undoubtedly represents a great opportunity in the market, whether you are starting your own drone event monitoring company or looking to make alliances with established event organizing companies.
3. Aerial photography
For lovers of photography at an amateur or professional level, offering aerial shot services is a complete revolution in the field, since the vast majority of photographic jobs that require high-altitude shots are taken from below. This often results in average-quality shots that don’t cover all the details. Before the rise of drones, aerial shots were taken from airplanes or helicopters, so acquiring this service was a real luxury.
The use of drones has made this service more accessible, expanding the market and allowing it to operate with greater safety and accuracy. So offering photography services with a drone will allow you to stand out in the market and give added value to your clients with an innovative proposal at a reasonable cost.
4. Audiovisual production
Without a doubt, two of the businesses that grew the most during the 20th century were film and television. The information revolution helped these two industries to improve the quality of the pieces presented to consumers. And the arrival of drones undoubtedly meant an immediate evolution in film and TV production. Drones made it possible to optimize resources thanks to the ease of taking panoramic shots quickly and in a controlled manner.
So if you are passionate about audiovisual production, entering this market with a drone business can be very lucrative. You can offer your services for the filming of music videos, documentaries, commercial videos for TV, and corporate videos for companies, among others. As you can see there are many options, you just need the equipment and a lot of creativity.
5. Agriculture
Working in the agricultural sector implies rigorous control of plantations and crops. Therefore, the demand for equipment and gadgets that can perform these functions is very high. This is where there is a great opportunity to start a drone business, offering services to help minimize risks in agriculture.
With a drone, it is possible to monitor extensive fields of crops that require exhaustive control, managing to monitor different factors such as irrigation and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. As well as general surveillance to have a record of the behavior of the crop. This in turn will allow the improvement and optimization of resources and the quality of agricultural production.
6. Real estate sales
When we talk about sales, we all know that the best way to do it is to show the best side of our products. This, of course, also applies to companies that are dedicated to the sale of real estate for which having a device that captures the best of their properties is very advantageous. Even more so if they manage to give a panoramic view of the entire area and its surroundings.
In this way, they will be able to improve the possibilities of sale, offering a more complete experience to buyers, in which they can visualize the social conditions in an effective and real way and show the complete structure of the property.
A drone business idea specializing in real estate can be very profitable as this is a market with high exposure and strong demand. Many companies are dedicated to the sale of real estate and are looking for an innovative way to display their products.
7. Tourism
In tourism, the visual is key to selling, as potential customers expect to see the best of the different destinations. This provides a great opportunity to set up a drone business dedicated to advertising tourist attractions, hotels, resorts, cruise ships, campsites, hostels, etc. And it is that the use of drones will help tourism companies provide a more detailed experience of the characteristics of the places and the services they offer. At the same time, it will give customers a close idea of what they can find at the destination.
As mentioned above in other ideas based on advertising services, the display of unique captures influences the purchase decision. And the tourism sector is no exception since a large part of its products are landscapes and natural resources of immense beauty. Therefore, the best way to attract the audience is through high-quality videos and photos.
8. Mapping and surveying
Thanks to their software and technology, drones can take 3D shots for map creation. The map areas more accurately and efficiently with their digital measurement systems.
This type of mapping is already becoming an important part of the operations of agricultural, mining, and construction companies. In addition, they work for flood monitoring, forest management, and urban planning. And this results in a very profitable opportunity to offer these types of services in the field of surveying and mapping.
9. Drone rental
A drone rental business is a very attractive alternative if you have ample capital since the initial investment is quite significant. This is if you want to acquire several types of drones to cover the different consumption needs. Before deciding to start a drone rental business, you must carry out a market study and investigate the different technical specifications of the machines to make the best purchase decision and acquire the most functional models to meet the demand in different industries and geographical areas.
The advantage here is that you are not focusing on a single sector but that your target audience is all the people or companies interested in renting a drone. Whether for recreational, commercial, or corporate purposes, which means that it is profitable to rent drones. Keep in mind that this business requires legal documentation to provide the rental service. As well as the payment of a policy or deposit by the client to ensure the life and care of the unmanned aircraft.
10. Drone repair and maintenance
For this business, you must have studies and training that allow you to correctly manipulate the structure of the machine. However, it is one of the most profitable businesses because the raw material is your knowledge and skills in drone repair and maintenance.
This invests less compared to other business ideas since it is not 100% necessary to have a local. You can receive the equipment at your home or provide the service at home. Also, the parts and parts that must be used for the repair and maintenance of different types of drones can be obtained from other damaged equipment.
Therefore, it is profitable to repair drones because the value of labor in this work is quite high since the number of people dedicated to this business is limited worldwide.
How to start a drone business
If you are wondering how to start a drone business, you should know that for this it is necessary to comply with the legal requirements demanded by the government of the country where it is going to be executed. However, there are a series of basic conditions worldwide that must be followed to do business with drones, these are:
- Verify if the country’s legislation allows the use of drones inside it.
- Has the acknowledgment document received issued in most countries where the recreational and corporate use of drones is allowed? This certifies that the operator is authorized to handle it.
- Check which are the spaces in which the recreational and corporate use of drones is allowed. Generally, for recreational spaces, the drone should weigh between 2 and 3 kilograms. In some countries, when this weight is exceeded, you must go to aerodynamics clubs.
- When the drone is used for commercial or business purposes, it must have third-party damage insurance.
- Drones weighing 5 kilograms must be registered in the aircraft registration register of the corresponding country. And also have an airworthiness certificate for drones of lesser weight, these requirements do not apply.
Information regarding the regulation of the use of drones is available on the websites of the Aeronautical organizations of each country.
Final words
There is no doubt that technology and innovation are two concepts that, when articulated, can result in great ideas to undertake and earn money. And a drone business is a clear example of this, as we have a revolutionary tool with hundreds of applications and uses in various markets.
Now that you know what it takes to start a business of this type, carefully evaluate each idea and select the one that best suits your priorities. Do not forget that like any business here it is necessary to plan, investigate and comply with legal requirements. All this is in favor of offering a quality service, guaranteed and with added value.
