Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are fast becoming indispensable tools in a variety of industries.
If you have a technical inclination and want to start a new business or have an existing business that could benefit from the new technology, consider taking advantage of one of the latest trends and becoming a drone expert. Offering unmanned aircraft services by contract could also be an ideal part-time or home-based business.
1. Drone Regulations
The first thing you will want to do when you are thinking of starting a drone business will be to verify the current regulations.
2. How to Start a Drone Business
Conduct a preliminary Market Research: Survey companies and potential customers in your area that could benefit from drone services. Find out if there are competitors. Is the target market already saturated?
If there seems to be a demand for unmanned aircraft services, write down a business plan, even if you do not need debt financing for the start-up capital for your business to work.
3. Drone Operator Licenses
Remember that your commercial drone can not fly in certain places, and regulations govern its use.
4. Commercial, Industrial and Insurance Inspections
As with roof and building inspections, drones are increasingly used in other industries to perform inspections that are costly or dangerous to humans. This includes large structures that are difficult to access, such as:
- Bridges
- Cell phone and TV towers.
- Oil pipelines
- Power lines
- Solar panels
- Wind Turbines
Drones can also be used to inspect Damaged areas for Insurance Claims.
5. Sale of Drones, Repair, Training and Customization
If you are a drone expert and have a mechanical inclination with knowledge of electronics, the sale, repair and customization of drones could be a lucrative business for you.
In addition, drones require knowledge and skills to operate them safely, creating a demand for experienced drone instructors. If you have the right skills, experience and UAV certifications, why not offer your services as a trainer?
6. Underwater Inspections
Now, underwater drones are available for less than $ 1,000, can be controlled remotely using a laptop or smart phone and submerged to depths of up to 100 meters
Apart from photography, underwater drones have many other commercial applications, including:
- Environmental assessments
- Search and recovery
- Aquaculture
- Underwater inspections (including tanks, pipes, ship hulls and propellers)
- Marine research
- Compliance with the law
7. Agricultural Surveys
The drones are revolutionizing agriculture. The ability to inspect crops from the air with an unmanned, cheap aerial vehicle equipped with a variety of sensors allows the farmer to collect an unprecedented amount of useful data, including information on:
- Soil hydration
- Variations in soil composition.
- Pest / fungus infestations
8. Building Inspections: Ceilings, Chimneys, Siding
A drone can conduct a detailed study of the exterior of a building and deliver high-resolution videos of the building’s roof, gutters, chimneys and enclosures, allowing the building owner to detect problem spots in advance.
9. Search and Rescue
Drones are becoming an indispensable tool in the arsenal of search-and-rescue organizations. Becoming a search-and-rescue drone operator or selling, renting, or equipping search-and-rescue drones has the potential to be highly lucrative while doing good deeds at the same time
10. Security Surveillance
Drones can also help detect other property threats, such as fires and water leaks. Live video transmissions from unmanned aircraft can be sent to a mobile device from the owner of a home or business, to a central monitoring facility or directly to emergency services
11. Photography
Photographers and filmmakers now use drones to take high-quality images and videos from the air, such as
- Landscapes
- Sports events
- Real estate
- Weddings and other special events.
- Wildlife
- Cinema(Film) and television subjects.
