You passed the Part 107. Now what? The certificate opens the door but it does not hand you clients. The good news is there are some very accessible ways to start making money with a drone that do not require years of experience or a massive portfolio. Here is where most people actually start.
Real Estate Photography and Video
This is the most common entry point for new commercial drone pilots and for good reason. Real estate agents need aerial photos and video for listings, the demand is constant, and the shoots are pretty straightforward. You show up, fly a few passes around the property, maybe shoot a sunset, and deliver edited photos and a short video clip.
Rates vary a lot by market but entry-level real estate drone work typically runs anywhere from $100 to $300 per shoot. You can build a small portfolio fast because properties are everywhere and agents are always looking for affordable options. It is a good first gig because the expectations are clear and the workflow is repeatable.
Roof and Property Inspections
Roofers, insurance adjusters, and property managers are all starting to use drones to inspect roofs and large structures instead of sending someone up a ladder. If you can fly steadily and capture clear footage of a roof, gutters, chimneys, and siding, you have a sellable skill.
This one is great for beginners because it does not require the same creative eye as photography work. You are capturing documentation, not art. A roofer who does not own a drone will often pay $75 to $150 to have someone come out and do an inspection flight so they can quote a job or assess damage without the risk of sending a crew up.
Events and Weddings
Weddings, outdoor festivals, sporting events, graduation parties. If it happens outside and people care about it, someone probably wants aerial footage of it. This market is competitive but there is a lot of it. The key is getting a few good clips of your work out there so people can see what they are buying.
One thing to keep in mind is that flying near crowds has restrictions under Part 107. Make sure you understand the rules around flying over people before you take on event work. Waivers exist for a reason.
Construction Progress Documentation
Construction companies, developers, and project managers use drone footage to document progress on job sites. A weekly or monthly flyover of a build gives them a visual record, helps with client updates, and can catch issues early. This kind of work often turns into a recurring gig because the same site needs documentation over months.
Recurring clients are worth a lot more than one-off shoots. If you can land a construction company that is building something over six months, that is steady income from a single relationship.
Agriculture and Land Surveys
Farmers and land owners use drones to check on crops, survey large properties, and spot irrigation or drainage problems. This is a more specialized niche and often requires specific equipment or software depending on what the client needs, but it can pay well and the competition is thinner than real estate or events.
If you are in a rural area where real estate demand is lower, agriculture is worth looking into. The clients tend to be practical people who just want useful information about their land and are happy to pay for it.
One Thing That Helps More Than Anything Else
Build a small portfolio before you try to charge full rates. Offer to do a couple of shoots for free or at a heavy discount in exchange for permission to use the footage in your portfolio. Two or three good examples of your work will close more clients than any amount of explaining what you can do. People want to see it.
The certificate gets you legal. The portfolio gets you paid.
Still need to get certified?
FAA 107 Prep gets you ready for the Part 107 knowledge test so you can start taking paid work the right way.