Top 10 Unique Drone Business Ideas & Opportunities

Are you looking to start a drone business but not sure where to begin? Perhaps you want to find out about the drone business ideas and opportunities that pay you well and are not as competitive. If so, you have come to the right place. 

Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly becoming a popular alternative in many different industries and verticals. 

The proof is in the pudding. According to Fortune Business Insight research, the drone industry is expected to grow at 15.37% CAGR over the next five years.

As more and more use cases for drones are emerging, there is an incredible amount of business potential waiting to be uncovered. In this article, you will discover unique drone business opportunities that are worth giving serious thought to. 

Here are a few hand-picked drone business ideas to consider.

1. Drone Event Photography Business

Event photography is one of the most lucrative drone business ideas in the drone industry. Drones allow you to capture events from a unique perspective. You can get some amazing photos and videos of the events that are not easy to capture otherwise.

You can capture the energy and excitement of the events from a bird’s eye view and get some truly unique shots to make your clients happy.

Starting a drone-based event photography business can be a low-risk, high-return investment. Drones provide dynamic pictures and panoramic views so business owners can easily expect to make up to $1,200 or more per day.

If you’re a creative photographer, you can create an additional revenue stream and make money by adding a drone-based event photography business to your offerings.

2. Drone Training Business

Drones are increasingly being used in many different industries. Many people even in the professional setting fail to understand the complexities involved in flying a drone. Using drones requires some serious training and skill building. That’s where you have the opportunity to make an impact through this drone business idea.

If you’re passionate about drone business ideas and you love to teach, droning-based training and courses are an opportunity worth looking into, You can even become a drone coach and help aspiring pilots take their flying skills to the next level.

If you have a knack for teaching, you can also join the Drone U Elite Pilot program where we’ll provide you the training and support so you can create another revenue stream and help others. We’ve created, tested, and refined plenty of great options for you to be able to offer in your area as a Drone U Elite Pilot.

Learn more about Drone U Elite Pilot program

3. Drone Rental Business

For many individuals and organizations, purchasing and managing drone inventory is a headache. You can solve this problem with the drone rental business. This is a lucrative drone business idea that allows you to rent out drones to individuals and organizations that need them for specific events or purposes.

Renting drones for business can be a great way to keep your options open and you can also make a decent income with them.

Local businesses often look for drone technology to help in their business. In addition to renting, you can also provide them with a one-day offer of testing drones before they make an agreement with you.

You can start a small business renting drones out to operators looking to shoot events, photography, or just for fun for a one-time reason.

Alternatively, you can use an online peer-to-peer marketplace like Fat Lama to locate drones that are available for rent, or UpSonder, which is a marketplace where individuals looking to hire or sell expert drone piloting services.

Drones are also rented on-demand for the purpose of assessing damage from incidents like theft, flooding, and natural disasters.

This is a great way to make money with your drones without having to fly them yourself all the time.

4. Drone Stock Photography Business

If you have a knack for taking great photos and drone business ideas interest you, you can start a stock photography business using drones. This involves selling your photos to businesses and brands who need them for advertising, marketing, and other purposes. Aerial video and photography may provide infinite possibilities because most companies need photos to help build their brand and manage their digital material in innovative ways.

It’s a great way to make money with your passion and can be very lucrative if you have a large portfolio of high-quality photos.

The Drone Stock Photography business can be a great option if you are a nomad or you frequently hike, climb, or get involved in some kind of adventure. These activities can result in decent money in your pocket.

There are a number of popular stock video websites like Shutterstock, Pixabay, and Pexels to name a few, etc. for getting high-quality graphics. Sometimes, buyers are also prepared to pay hundreds of dollars for videos that are just a few seconds long

5. Drone Insurance & Licensing Consultancy

If you’re familiar with the drone industry, you can offer insurance and licensing consultations to businesses and individuals who want to manage drone use for business. This is a great way to help people stay compliant with state and federal regulations and prevent any liability associated with their drone operations.

In every country, you need special licenses and permissions to use drones. There is a need to establish a consultancy firm in this area. You must be fully aware of local, state, and federal regulations related to operating drones

Nearly 17% of commercial drones are used for insurance services. The key to success in running a business in this field is in forming relationships with local insurance firms and adjusters.

Adjusters frequently find themselves scrambling in times of crisis, with insufficient human resources to handle each claim swiftly, securely, and correctly.

Drone operators may deploy their tools to take photographs of the damage and generate reports in a matter of minutes, allowing claims to be handled and paid with greater efficiency.

Make sure you understand the parameters and standards that apply to these types of business ideas with drones and follow the FAA’s recommended safety precautions.

6. Drone Delivery Service Business

A drone delivery service involves using your drone to deliver items like food, documents, or packages to individuals or businesses. It’s a great way to make money with a drone and can be very convenient for your customers.

Drones can transport goods, materials, commodities, and services while also taking on simple functions that can help small firms save money.

Small companies can profit considerably from drones when they operate within the parameters of local rules and regulations.

Fast Food Delivery Drone Business

If you live in a densely populated area, you can start a fast-food delivery service using a drone. This is a great way of making money with a drone.

Package Delivery Drone Business

If you are not keen on delivering food items you can start a package delivery service. There are many drone business ideas and opportunities available but this can also be an amazing way to make money with a drone.

Just FYI, Amazon and Australia Post are already using drones to deliver packages.

7. Drone Repair Service Business

Like any electronic product, drones also require maintenance and repair in order to function effectively. Drones must be repaired or replaced when they are damaged as a result of an accident or wear and tear.

Having a drone repair business can meet this market requirement and you can be making money with a drone.

If you are someone who is curious about how things operate, you might find this drone business opportunity appealing.

8. Mapping and Surveying

Mapping and Surveying have become one of the biggest growth drivers in the drone service industry. You can use drones to map towns, structures, and land masses, thanks to geo-referencing technology. You can deliver precise measurements using drone survey data. 

Since these services are increasingly in demand so you can build a solid drone business idea around mapping.

Drones with specialized equipment can also collect cartographic data for three-dimensional mapping with astounding accuracy of just a few millimeters. Clients will hire you to keep an eye on urban planning, mining, calamities, and geo-spatial projects.

9. Drone Security Surveillance

Drones can be used for surveillance in a variety of settings, such as law enforcement, wildlife monitoring, and industrial inspections. They can also be used to monitor and respond to natural disasters, such as floods and wildfires, and can assist in search and rescue operations.

10. Media Coverage

Drones can be used for drone business ideas such as media coverage by equipping them with cameras and other sensors to capture video and still images from a variety of locations. This allows you to capture footage from angles and perspectives that would be difficult or impossible to achieve otherwise.

For example, drones can be used to capture aerial footage of events such as protests, parades, and sports games, providing a unique perspective on the action. 

They can also be used to capture images of natural disasters, to assist in news coverage and reporting. Additionally, drones can be used to capture footage of breaking news events, such as car accidents and crime scenes.

Which Drone Business Idea is Best For You?

Among these drone business ideas, choosing the right one depends on your experience, interests, and skills.

If you’re curious about how things operate, you might find the drone repair business idea appealing. But if you’re one of the creative types who land an extrovert who loves to travel, event photography might be a good option.

And if you’re left-brained and like attention to detail, go for mapping and inspections. 

No matter which drone business opportunity you choose, always learn to fly. One of the best ways to hone your flying skills is to be part of the Drone U community. Inside the Drone U community, you will discover 41+ courses and get guidance from link-minded pilots who have been there.

Join in today and get trained by the best drone pilots in the country.