What Kind of Drone Services Make The Most Money Fast - What Should Drone Photographers Sell?

Cloudpano
August 5, 2025
5 min read
Share this post

💸 How to Make Money with a Drone: Top Drone Services to Offer in 2025

📹 Watch the full video here:
👉 Drone Profit Series: How to Make Money with a Drone

Welcome to the Drone Profit Series 🎥

Hey everyone! Zach Calhoun here—co-founder of CloudPano.com. In this installment of the Drone Profit Series, we’re diving deep into the many ways you can monetize your drone—even if you don’t own one yet.

Whether you're a solo creator, real estate media pro, or small business owner, there’s a service on this list that can become your next income stream. Let’s talk strategy.

1. Start with Real Estate Drone Services 🏠

In the real estate world, drone services are often a natural upsell. 📸 If you're already offering listing photography or videos, you’ve probably heard the question: “Do you do drone?”

Here are a few pricing tips:

  • 🏡 Residential photos only: $150–$300
  • 🏢 Commercial sites or video: $300–$500+
  • 🔁 360° virtual tours or sky-to-ground walkthroughs? You can charge more.

2. Offer Roof Inspections & Insurance Drone Work 🛠️

Roofers, insurance adjusters, and property managers love drone inspections because they’re:

  • ✅ Safer (no climbing!)
  • ✅ Faster
  • ✅ Often high-margin

📩 Pro tip: Email your local roofing companies. Offer to do one free inspection to prove your value. In exchange, ask about their typical payout rates and budgets.

3. Construction Progress Monitoring 🏗️

This is one of the highest recurring revenue opportunities for drone operators. Construction companies need regular updates from the same perspective throughout a project.

You can offer:

  • 📅 Monthly or biweekly flyovers
  • 📸 Same-angle photos or 360° tours
  • 💼 Hosted client portals

💡 BONUS: Use CloudPano to create 360° virtual tours of construction progress and host them with hotspot navigation.

4. Land Mapping & Surveying 🌍

Have a Part 107 license? Then consider:

  • 📐 3D modeling and terrain mapping
  • 🌊 Drainage and civil planning for engineers
  • 📏 Acre-by-acre visualization and elevation

These services often require more technical skill (and special equipment), but the payout per project can be worth it—$500 to $1,000+ per job.

📖 Related read:
Top 5 Ways Engineers Use 360 Photo Documentation for Project Accuracy

5. Event Coverage & Marketing Content 🎉

Not just for real estate! You can also provide drone coverage for:

  • 🎈 Festivals and concerts
  • 💍 Weddings and private events
  • ⛳ Golf courses, gyms, and small businesses

Charge a day rate ($500–$1,000+ depending on scope) and deliver branded content packages through platforms like Pictastic.ai.

6. Government Contracts and RFPs 🏛️

Municipalities need drone services too:

  • 🚒 Fire and police departments
  • 🏗️ Public works and city planning
  • 🗂️ State/federal agencies

These opportunities usually require paperwork, insurance, and time—but the contracts can be lucrative and long-term.

🔍 Check for local RFPs and be ready to bid.

7. Subcontract Your Drone Work 📦

Don't own a drone or can’t travel to every job? Outsource your drone work to qualified local pilots.

You keep control of the customer relationship and delivery. Partner with drone pilots in other states, and charge accordingly.

💡 You don’t have to fly to grow.

📖 Recommended read:
Why Software Developers Are Investing in Virtual Tour Technology

8. Pricing Strategy: Always Quote in Tiers 💰

When pricing drone services, always:

  • 💬 Ask your client what they’ve paid in the past
  • 🧠 Learn their goals and pain points
  • 📊 Offer 3 package options

For example:

  • Basic Photos Only ($150)
  • Photo + Video Package ($300)
  • Full Tour + Hosting + Custom Edits ($500+)

This helps you capture a wider range of buyers.

9. How to Deliver Your Work Online 💻

Use platforms like:

  • 📁 Pictastic.ai for client-facing delivery sites
  • 🌐 CloudPano.com for hosting virtual tours and aerial walkthroughs

No more Dropbox links or cluttered Google Drives.

Final Tips & Resources 🌟

  • ✅ Join our Facebook Group
  • ✅ Post your pricing questions and project scope
  • ✅ Network with other drone pros and find subcontractors

🚀 The drone economy is booming. Whether you're flying for real estate, events, construction, or insurance, there’s plenty of opportunity out there.

Ready to Get Started?

🎥 Launch your first 360° virtual tour today:
🌐 Create  Stunning 360° Virtual Tours in Minutes – Launch Your First Tour with  CloudPano!

🛋️ Need fast virtual staging?
🛋️ Stage Your Listings  Instantly – Try Virtual Staging with Pictastic Today!

📍 Generate leads in any niche:
📍 Find 21+ Leads in Your Niche in  Seconds – Try 21 Lead Finder Now!

🎬 Create real estate videos with AI:
🎥 Turn Photos into  Scroll-Stopping Videos with AI – Get Started with PhotoAIVideo Now!

Want the full breakdown in video form? 🎥
Watch it now 👉 Drone Profit Series on YouTube

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 Photographers Can Sell AI Listing Videos to Their Agent Clients

AI technology is transforming real estate media — and photographers who adapt early have a major competitive advantage. This in-depth guide explains how to sell AI listing videos to agent clients by positioning them as a premium marketing upgrade rather than a technical novelty. The article walks through practical sales strategies, pricing models, subscription opportunities, and common objections, while showing how AI-powered talking head videos can increase average order value and create recurring revenue. Readers will learn how to package AI listing videos into photo bundles, monthly content plans, and brokerage-wide solutions that elevate their services from simple media delivery to full marketing automation. If you’re a photographer looking to future-proof your business and increase profitability, this guide provides a clear roadmap to selling AI listing videos effectively.
Read post

How to Build a Recurring Revenue Stream Using AI Avatar Videos

AI avatar videos are transforming how real estate media professionals build stable, scalable businesses. In this comprehensive guide, we break down how to turn one-off video projects into a predictable recurring revenue real estate media model using AI-powered talking head technology. Instead of selling per-listing shoots, you’ll learn how to package automated listing videos, market updates, and branded content into monthly subscription offers that increase client retention and lifetime value. The article explores practical use cases, pricing strategies, workflow automation, competitive advantages, and common objections — all designed to help photographers, videographers, and marketing agencies shift from transactional income to recurring revenue. If you’re ready to move from freelancer to scalable media platform, this guide outlines a clear roadmap for building consistent monthly income in real estate marketing.
Read post

How to Create an AI Avatar Listing Video From One Headshot (Step-by-Step)

Learn how to create an AI avatar listing video from a single professional headshot using simple, step-by-step software tools. This guide walks real estate agents, brokers, and photographers through the exact process of turning one static image into a talking AI avatar that delivers listing presentations automatically. Discover how AI avatar listing videos save time, boost engagement, improve consistency across marketing channels, and help agents scale their video content without recording new footage. Perfect for anyone looking to modernize their real estate marketing with AI-powered automation.
Read post