You bought your new drone and want to start making money. How do you gain customers?

Drones have revolutionized the way we see the world—literally. From capturing breathtaking aerial shots to mapping landscapes with pinpoint accuracy, these machines are more than just high-tech toys. For those with a passion for flying and creating, drones offer incredible opportunities to turn a hobby into real income. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or just starting out, earning your first $1,000 with a drone is an exciting milestone—and it’s more attainable than you think.

In this post, I’ll share practical ways to transform your drone into a money-making tool, drawing from my experience as a commercial drone operator and content creator. So, if you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, let’s dive in. The sky isn’t just the limit—it’s where the opportunity begins.

Getting Started.

If you’re brand new to the drone world and short on connections, the hardest part isn’t making money—it’s landing that first client. But here’s a strategy that might surprise you: work for free. Yes, you read that right. The simplest way to earn your first $1,000 with your drone is by starting with no price tag at all.

Here’s why it works: if your portfolio is filled with recreational shots, it’ll only take you so far. The moment you ask someone to pay for your services, they’ll want proof—something that looks professional. If you don’t have that yet, honesty is your best tool. Let potential clients know you’re new. Show them the work you’ve done, and offer to do a project for free. In exchange, ask for a testimonial, a shout-out, or permission to feature their logo on your website. It removes the pressure from both sides and gives you the chance to build trust—and a portfolio worth paying for.

Before I ever had a paying client, I worked for free for about six months. Each month, I took on one or two jobs, pouring more time into editing and refining photos than I ever spent flying. Honestly, I wasn’t an expert at drone settings, and my photography knowledge was limited. Drone photography is simpler than traditional photography, but it comes with its own challenges. You have to learn to work within those limitations and still produce images and videos people are willing to pay for.

During those months, I built a small network of 5-10 clients who were happy to recommend my work. Most of them let me display their logos on my website and use the photos and videos I’d created to promote my services. Suddenly, I wasn’t just showing random shots of horizons—I had real, client-driven content to showcase. And when it came time to land my first paying client, they could see the quality of my work and felt confident hiring me.

What should I charge?

I’m not here to tell you what the “right” rate is because it varies—different regions, markets, and even industries have their own standards. But if you’re new to drone content creation, it’s smart to charge a bit less at first. Your rate should reflect your skill level, and here’s a hard truth: most people think they’re better than they really are when starting out.

If pros in your area charge $150/hour, take a good, honest look at their work. Are they producing professional-grade content for local businesses? If you’re just getting started, you might not be at their level yet—even if you feel your shots are better. Consider setting an introductory rate, maybe $100-$125/hour, until you’ve built up a portfolio of professional jobs.

What you charge also depends on the type of work you’re doing. For example, my first paid gig was filming hole-by-hole flyovers for a local golf course. I knew I’d need multiple takes to get it right, and charging by the hour felt like I’d be billing them for my inexperience. Instead, I offered a flat rate per hole, which felt fair for the scale of the project.

Here’s the bottom line—the TL;DR if you will: what you charge is a balance between your current skill level and what your time is worth to you.

Reach Out to Potential Customers!

The reality to earning that first $1,000 is that clients are highly unlikely to come looking for you. You are going to have to reach out. In my case I still ping golf courses here and there to offer my services. I always keep my drone in my truck when I travel anywhere because I never want to miss an opportunity to use my drone as a service. Here is a short list of what I have used my drone for at this point:

• Filmed a firework show for a baseball team.
• Helped a farmer locate lost livestock after major storms.
• Helped someone check on their cabin after floods near a river.
• Created a recruitment video for a D-III college baseball team.
• Created 18 flyover videos for a local golf course. (Multiple times)
• Helped a trailer company film a reveal video for a new trailer.
• Took aerial photos for a major farm for promotional materials.
• Inspected the roof of a barn that was leaking.
• Inspected the roof of some homes after major hailstorms.
• Helped hunter identify game trails on their property during the summer.

Those are the ones that come to mind. Not all were paid gigs. I included all of them mostly to demonstrate how versatile a drone can be and how there are endless applications which you can use them to make an income.

There is no denying that the market is saturated and drone operators are everywhere, but what is important to remember is the quality will always rise to the top. If you curate your work carefully. Build great clients who love your work. Then continue to seek out additional clients the money will come sooner than you think. Even if you are working for free in the beginning.