How to Make an Easy $100 This Holiday Season Using Your Drone

Cloudpano
December 1, 2025
5 min read
Share this post

How to Make an Easy $100 This Holiday Season Using Your Drone 🎄🚁💰

If you’ve been looking for a simple, fast way to earn extra cash this festive season, this guide is for you. The holidays are one of the best times of the year to make money with drones, and with the right strategy, anyone—yes, even beginners—can earn an easy $100 or more in a single day.

This step-by-step drone profit guide will show you how to turn your drone into a mini money-making machine. And if you want to go further, these simple holiday gigs can evolve into a year-round drone side hustle or even a full commercial drone business in 2025–2026.

Let’s dive in. 🎁✨

1. Why the Holidays Are the Easiest Time to Make $100 With a Drone 🌟

Every December, demand skyrockets for high-quality photos and videos. The holiday season creates a perfect storm of opportunity for anyone wanting to make money with drones because:

🎄 Families want beautiful Christmas photos
🎄 Realtors rush to close end-of-year listings
🎄 Businesses need holiday ads and social content
🎄 Events and festivals want aerial coverage
🎄 Homeowners want drone photos of Christmas lights

This means you have more opportunities to book simple, fast drone gigs than almost any other time of year.

Whether you’re helping a realtor capture a cozy listing, filming a Christmas festival, or photographing a neighborhood’s lights, this is the season where even complete beginners can pull in extra cash fast.

This article isn’t just a holiday tips list — it’s a true drone profit guide designed to help you take the first steps toward a long-term drone side hustle.

2. The Drone Profit Guide Mindset — Why Your Drone Is a Money Maker 🚁💵

If you own a drone, you already have something incredibly valuable: skills and equipment that most people don’t have.

Your drone allows you to offer:

  • Aerial perspectives
  • Cinematic footage
  • Roof and property visibility
  • Marketing content
  • Event coverage
  • Real estate visuals

All of these are services that real people and businesses pay for — especially during the holidays.

A good drone profit guide teaches you one important truth:

👉 People aren’t paying you for drone shots. They’re paying you for speed, convenience, access, and perspective they cannot capture themselves.

Once you adopt this mindset, you’ll see endless ways to make money with drones — starting at $100+ per gig and scaling up from there.

3. Best Holiday Drone Gigs to Make $100 Fast 🎁

Here are the easiest, most beginner-friendly holiday drone jobs that pay $100 or more.

🎅 1. Real Estate Holiday Photos

Realtors want listings to look warm, cheerful, and move quickly before year-end. Offer:

  • Exterior drone photos
  • A quick 15–30 second aerial video
  • “Holiday edition” angles with festive decorations

Charge: $100–$150 for a 20-minute shoot.

🎄 2. Christmas Light Drone Photos

Families and neighborhoods LOVE drone photos of Christmas lights.

You can offer:

  • Single-home sessions
  • Neighborhood group packages
  • “Before and after dark” holiday photos

Charge: $50 per home or $100 for a 3-home mini session.

🎁 3. Holiday Events & Festivals

Small towns, churches, and organizations love aerial event highlights.

You can capture:

  • Tree lighting events
  • Holiday parades
  • Winter festivals
  • Christmas markets

Charge: $100–$300 depending on duration.

🏡 4. Last-Minute Realtor Requests

Toward the end of the year, many realtors scramble to:

  • List a property
  • Update old photos
  • Create “holiday charm” marketing materials

They pay well for speed.
A simple drone package earns $100–$200 easy.

🎥 5. Holiday Promo Videos for Small Businesses

Small businesses need social content for:

  • Black Friday
  • Christmas sales
  • New Year promotions

Offer a 20–30 second aerial clip for $100–$150.

All of these gigs are quick, simple, and perfect for a holiday drone side hustle.

4. What You Need to Get Started 🧰📸

You don’t need much to follow this holiday drone profit guide. Just the essentials:

  • A drone with a camera
  • Fully charged batteries
  • Extra memory card
  • A basic editing tool (CapCut, iMovie, or DaVinci Resolve)
  • Insurance (if applicable in your area)

And of course:

👉 Follow your local drone regulations and safety laws.
In the U.S., you need a Part 107 if you plan to make money with drones commercially.

That’s it — no big equipment list. No complicated setup. Just simple tools to launch your drone side hustle.

5. How to Price Your Holiday Drone Services to Earn $100 Quickly 💰

To hit that $100 fast, choose pricing structures that are clear, simple, and festive.

Here are a few effective packages:

🎄 Holiday Mini Session — $100

  • 5 edited aerial photos
  • 1 short video clip

🎁 Real Estate Holiday Quick Package — $150

  • 10 aerial photos
  • 20–30 second video
  • Same-day delivery

🎅 Christmas Lights Special — $75–$100

  • Evening aerial photos of decorated homes

The key to holiday drone pricing:
👉 Flat-rate packages that are easy to say yes to.

People don’t want complexity, they want clarity — especially during the busy holiday season.

6. How to Find Clients FAST During the Holiday Rush 🚀

This is where you go from reading a drone profit guide to actually making money with drones. Here are proven ways to get clients fast:

1. Message Realtors Directly

Send a simple message like:
“Doing $100 holiday drone sessions this week — want me to stop by your listing?”

It works.

2. Post in Local Facebook Groups

Examples:

  • Community groups
  • Buy/sell groups
  • Photographer groups
  • Real estate groups

Add a sample drone photo for instant attention.

3. Offer Holiday Specials

People love seasonal offers like:

🎄 “Christmas Lights Drone Photos — One Day Only!”

This creates urgency.

4. Visit Popular Locations (Legally)

Think:

  • Downtown holiday districts
  • Christmas markets
  • Big neighborhoods with lights

People will approach you and ask for pricing.

5. Contact Event Organizers

Direct message organizers on social:

“Want drone footage for your event recap?”

Many will say yes immediately.

These methods turn your drone into fast holiday cash — and the foundation of your drone side hustle.

7. Turn That $100 Into a Full Drone Side Hustle for 2025–2026 🎯

Once you’ve made your first $100, something clicks:
👉 You realize this is real. You can actually make money with drones.

From there, your holiday success becomes the launchpad for your drone side hustle:

📸 Build a starter portfolio
📲 Create a simple Instagram page
🌐 Make a basic website
🎥 Post short behind-the-scenes clips
💼 Reach out to past customers

Most drone side hustles begin with holiday gigs or real estate sessions — just like this.
If you stay consistent, you can earn $500–$1,000 per month working part-time.

This is the natural next step in your drone profit guide journey.

8. How This Can Become a Commercial Drone Business Long-Term 📈

Once you gain experience and build relationships, your drone side hustle can evolve into a full commercial drone business offering:

  • Roof inspections
  • Mapping & 3D modeling
  • Commercial real estate
  • Construction progress
  • Cell tower surveys
  • Agriculture
  • Solar inspections
  • Drone marketing videos

This is where projects easily jump from $100 to $500 to $1,500+.

Holiday gigs teach you:

✔ confidence
✔ workflow
✔ speed
✔ client communication
✔ editing
✔ pricing

These are the exact skills needed for a profitable commercial drone business in 2025–2026.

9. Common Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid ❌

Even a great drone profit guide won’t help if you make these common mistakes:

🚫 Underpricing
🚫 Forgetting spare batteries
🚫 Flying illegally or unsafely
🚫 No contract or written expectations
🚫 Delivering late
🚫 Not communicating clearly
🚫 Trying to be perfect instead of fast

Avoid these, and you’ll instantly look professional — even as a beginner.

Read: 

Conclusion — Your First $100 Is Waiting 🎄🚁✨

You now have a complete drone profit guide for the holidays. Everything you need to make money with drones, land your first gig, and start building a real drone side hustle or even a future commercial drone business.

This season is the perfect moment. Demand is high, competition is low, and people want fast, beautiful content — the exact thing your drone can provide.

🎁 Your first $100 is waiting.
🎄 Your first client is waiting.
🚁 Your drone side hustle begins today.

Go fly. Go earn. Go build your drone future. 💰✨

Your all-in-one virtual experience solution starts here.

Share this post
Cloudpano

Choose The Right 360° Camera

Insta360 ONE RS 1-Inch 360 Edition

  • Compact, ready to go anywhere

  • Interchangeable lens that’s upgradeable

  • Dual 1-inch sensors for improved clarity and low light performance

  • Dynamic range and 6K 360° capture

  • 360° photo resolution at 21MP

Learn More

Insta360 X4

  • 8K 360° video recording for ultra-detailed visuals.

  • 4K single-lens mode for traditional wide-angle shots.

  • Invisible selfie stick effect for drone-like perspectives.

  • 2.5-inch touchscreen with Gorilla Glass protection.

  • Waterproof up to 33ft for underwater shooting.

Learn More

Ricoh Theta Z1

  • 360° photo resolution in 23MP

  • Slim design at 24 mm thick

  • Built-in image stabilization for smooth video capture.

  • Internal 19GB storage for photo and video storage.

  • Wireless connectivity for remote control and sharing.

Learn More

Ricoh Theta X

  • 60MP 360° still images for high-resolution photography.

  • 5.7K 360° video recording at 30fps.

  • 2.25-inch touchscreen for intuitive control.

  • USB Type-C port for fast charging and data transfer.

  • MicroSD card slot for expandable storage.

Learn More
Property Marketing
Allows potential buyers to explore properties in detail from anywhere, enhancing the real estate marketing process.
Automotive Spins
Create an interactive virtual showroom and engage affluent digital buyers with live 360º video calls, all through the CloudPano mobile app for a complete automotive sales solution.
Interactive Floor Plans
Create 2D and 3D floor plans with measurements in 4 minutes or less, all from your phone. Download the Floor Plan Scanner app and get your first scan free.

360 Virtual Tours With CloudPano.com. Get Started Today.

Try it free. No credit card required. Instant set-up.

Try it free
Latest posts

See our other posts

Interviews, tips, guides, industry best practices, and news.

How to Make an Easy $100 This Holiday Season Using Your Drone

This article is a beginner-friendly drone profit guide that shows readers exactly how to make an easy $100 during the holiday season using their drone. It explains why December is the peak time for drone income, the mindset needed to make money with drones, and the best fast-paying holiday gigs—including real estate shoots, Christmas light photography, and event coverage. The post walks readers through required equipment, pricing strategies, how to find clients fast, and how one simple holiday gig can turn into a long-term drone side hustle. It also outlines the path to scaling into a full commercial drone business in 2025–2026, plus the common mistakes beginners should avoid. The article ends with an inspiring call to action encouraging readers to take flight and start earning.
Read post

Drone Profit Guide: How to Make Money With Drones and Start a Successful Drone Side Hustle in 2025–2026

This comprehensive drone profit guide teaches beginners exactly how to make money with drones, start a profitable drone side hustle, and grow into a full commercial drone business in 2025–2026. The article breaks down the essential equipment needed, how to get FAA certified, and the most lucrative drone services available today—including real estate photography, roof inspections, construction mapping, events, and more.
Read post

How Virtual Tours for RV Dealers Improve Customer Experience and Sales

Virtual RV tours are transforming how customers shop for RVs, giving buyers a faster, more immersive way to explore models from anywhere. This article explains how virtual tours for RV dealers, including 360° walkthroughs, interactive hotspots, and VR-ready experiences, dramatically enhance the RV customer experience while increasing engagement, lead quality, and sales growth. Dealers will learn how digital RV walkthroughs shorten the sales cycle, reduce low-quality calls, improve buyer confidence, and position their dealership as a modern, tech-forward leader. The post also covers best practices, success stories, and future trends like AI-guided tours, VR showrooms, and CRM integration to help dealers stay ahead in the evolving world of online RV shopping.
Read post