This first clip in the series will cover getting started with a commercial drone business and give you a brief overview of how you can turn your hobby into cash.
Thanks Rick. I'm in. After a 22 year military career and a retired Police Officer now living in a slightly rural area in the Pacific Northwest and at my age this is perfect. Thanks for getting the juices flowing. Looking forward to the next video.
Great stuff. Just subscribed. If someone can't get into the drone business from this video, they either don't really want in the business, or they just don't know good advice when they see it.
I really appreciate your time taking to explain / give all those hints as if your read my mine.I have been on the net learning/doing some homework on how to get the first steps into that and buying my 1st drone.
WOW, I am so glad I found this channel. Great ideas, I have a few homes I would love to film, they are spectacular pieces of architecture and I am sure the owners would be tickled pink to have some footage for free. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the series, keep doing what you are doing Rick, love your channel
This is by far the most informative and "real life" video I have seen on this topic. I have been flying quadcopters for several years now with the intention of eventually getting a return on my investment by flying commercially. I plan on taking the Part 107 test and flying my P3Pro to make a few dollars. Please continue this series.
Thanks a lot for watching and the support. I enjoy doing these clips and have another in this series that should be done this week. I think this is a critical time for commercial drone pilots and the opportunities these amazing flying machines provide are incredible so you're on the right track. Be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss any updates in this series and thanks again. Rick
Thank you. Lots of great tips in this video that will work everywhere - even down here in Melbourne, Australia. We have some slightly different laws, testing & fees to become a commercial operator through CASA (FAA equivalent), however your ideas and approach to starting a new business are well thought out and applicable in many different areas. Looking forward to the next video in the series.
Thanks for the support and I'm finishing up the next few in the series so stay tuned this week. I know the regulations are different "Down Under" but many of the ideas should relate well from the business side. I appreciate you commenting and will be posting the next clip in the series very soon.
Great video Rick! Everything was explained very clearly. I currently take pictures professionally and intend to use your videos to give me solid insight as I get into drone work.
Great video Rick! This is exactly why I got into flying drones. Earlier this year I was laid off of work after 19 years with the same company and so I spent a few weeks trying to come up with a unique idea for a small business in my area. After much research, I came to the realization that this would be huge in my neck of the woods. This past Feb I started out learning to fly on a couple of inexpensive drones and recently moved up to the Phantom 3 Professional. While I still have a lot to learn, I'm confident in my flying and I've got some amazing footage already. I continue to practice my aerial photography each day (weather permitting of course) and am super excited with the prospect of being one of the first businesses to provide this service in my area. I really enjoy your videos, and am looking forward to the continuation of this particular series. Thanks again! I patiently await "part 2". :)
Thanks for the post and I'm glad that you're enjoying the channel. I agree with you and think that this area will explode in the next few years and if you get started early you will be in the lead position with your local real estate offices and builders to secure their work. I'm hard at work on the next few clips in this series so stay tuned to make sure you know when they're posted. I'm also working on a series of clips to help you prep for the Part 107 test, which might be helpful for you as well.
Just subscribed. I have watched tons of videos on youtube and this is the first one where the host doesn't bore me to tears with stories and/or opinions. A lot of good info, presented in a clean straight-forward way. Thank you for your efforts. I'll be watching more videos from Drone Valley.
Great job; you got me excited about the prospects. I hope that, as a newcomer, I am not too late to the party. Either way, it is something to work toward, and maybe - at a minimum - will help me build better skills. That has its own value! So, thanks.
Ronaldo Gonzalez Just purchased a DJI Mavic Platinum with the Mod Accessories and long distance controller from Drone World. Should be in my possession within a week. Anxious to receive it and to apply it for my hobby and business. Additionally, the next purchase is the DJI Inspire with all the bells and whistle. Enjoy your very professional and informative presentations, keep up the great work and reviews!
Some great ideas in another video with a lot of thought put into it. I was just thinking two hours ago 'when I'm a proficient pilot how can I make a few bucks in retirement flying my p3s?". You were thinking the same thing, but you have actually started doing something about it. I'd enjoy seeing more of your thoughts on this topic when you have time. Thank you Rick.
Some great ideas here! I have actually been doing some of these things (again, we're thinking alike!), but some of it I hadn't even thought of! Great info! Thanks!
Thanks a lot for the comments and the support for the channel. I'll have a few more clips along these lines to detail the next steps in getting a business like this started.
Thanks for this information. I just purchased my Phantom 4 5 mins ago. You have given me such a great idea for marketing. I am so glad I found your channel. You make such great sense. This is such perfect timing. Some of these things I already do. I have experience in video editing. You have a great business sense. Thanks again.
Thanks a lot for the post and the compliments. I think this is a really exciting time for commercial drone operators and have a few more clips in this series almost finished so be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss them.
Great video, I've been deeply interested in drone photography, watching drones on UA-cam. Sure wish I would've found your channel much earlier. I guess I'm going back in your playlist and start watching. Thanks again.
Thanks for watching and posting, be sure to sub the channel. I have a few more clips in this series that I'll be posting soon to help with other steps in the process.
I am super excited. I just woke up one morning and said why not buy a drone. (I'M SERIOUS!!!). I have rc aircraft experience. I use Real Flight simulator which is awesome. The physics are real life and if I crash, I can press reset. I'm looking to buy the Phantom H Pro. They have a program for drones so I can fly as long as I want. It even has battery drain like the real thing. Lately I've been eating, sleeping, dreaming about drones. ITS IN MY BLOOD and it came out of nowhere. I'm laid off for the winter from my construction job but go back in march, work tons of overtime and GET THIS DRONE. Doing tons upon tons of research now. This video is extreeemly helpful. Excellent job sir. I'm former military and kind of OCD so I strive for perfection to the point it drives me nuts lol. So thanks for this important video. I'll probable be up till 4 am since I'm laid off.
Studying for the basic knowledge test is the key. There are going to be so many people trying to do this AP work... There already are people doing it even without "certification". Looking forward to what you discuss in the next segment.
Eric, thanks for the compliments and I do hope you take some of the ideas in this clip and run with them. This is an interesting time for commercial quad operation and an entire new industry is just getting started....I'm glad you're getting in on the ground floor. I'll have more clips in this series posting soon so be sure and sun the channel so you don't miss them. Rick
I haven't been able to find part 2. Have you gone any further with the title video. I am very interested and you did a great job on this one. Am really looking forward to any additional videos that you make. Thank you so much..
Keep up the great work, I don't think you need to watch and comment on others clips if you don't want to or dont have the time, because you give so much with your wealth of information, and people should appreciate that. The other guy just posts clips, your are instructional, which takes a lot more effort.
John, thanks for the kind words and support. I've only been posting clips for a little while and wasn't sure of the etiquette of UA-cam and didn't want to offend that subscriber. He makes a good point that if he's visiting my page I should return the favor and visit his on occasion to see what he's up to. I really do try and do that but as my channel has grown, it's becoming harder to stay current. I really enjoy making these clips and hope that they are helpful and thought-provoking for others to watch and really try to deliver value with each of them. That takes a bit of time, which leaves even less time for surfing UA-cam. I appreciate your comments and will do my best to keep producing clips to help make this hobby more fun (and profitable) for all of us. I hope you subscribe so you don't miss anything.
Rick, you are one smart guy. It's just a hobby with me now but I'm really interested in studying for my 107b. I'm trying to get my son to study and take it with me. He has been talking about stating something up. There is so much info out there about the 107 test and I am really confused about what I need to study. You have a great business sense and your video's are very enlightening. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thanks for the post and the kind words. I've started a few businesses in my life and I think there is a real opportunity right now for pilots that pass their Part 107 and want to fly commercially. I get calls weekly from real estate agents and homeowners that want aerial photos. I think this is a great time to get into that business for you and your son. The Part 107 test is a little tricky but there is a lot of good information available online for free (or low cost) to help you prepare. I'm working on a few clips to point you in the right direction for the test so be sure to stop back. I hope you and the family have a Merry Christmas too and thanks for supporting the channel. Rick
Thanks a lot for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the clip. I'll have more in this series very soon so be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss anything. Rick
Excellent video, I'm UK based and have been thinking along the same lines as you, everyday I do a. Little more on my website, make a template for invoicing, works on t's & c's, working on quote forms, business cards, learning video editing (some vids on my channel getting better) I have my course booked September, I'm so excited to get started on this, good luck to you hope it all works out for you, and subbed also 👍
Thanks a lot for watching and subbing the channel. It's an exciting time to be a drone pilot and passing the test is the first step in making a little money from your hobby. I think this will be a "gold rush" period where the pilots that get there first will have a lot of opportunity so it sounds like you're doing everything right. Keep up the great work and stay tuned. I have a few more updates to this series as well as a Part 107 test prep series I'm working on.
Great video and great practical advice. I couldn't agree more. Waiting for follow up videos. I was thinking they were going to be released shortly after the initial one. Have I missed them?
I have a few more clips in this series posting next week that walk you through a few of the things you'll need to get started so be sure to stay tuned.
Awesome information. I flew RC Aircraft for several years, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but have became disabled via a back and neck injury, and no longer to work actively anymore. The injuries also does not allow me to fly aircraft anymore because of size and the fact of maintaining, gassing up, starting, etc. so I have decided to fly drones, and because I also worked and volunteered in emergency services (police/fire/emergency mgt) for over thirty five years, I want to assist in search and rescue missions. Our city and county do not have the money to hire pilots to fly missions, so that weighs heavily on my decision. When I saw the title of this video, it also got me thinking more, because I had already thought of it, if commercial flying for a small profit to help at least buy crafts and accessories, because just like any RC hobby, it gets expensive. I do have a couple questions if you wouldn’t mind answering. The first is, you mentioned insurance. Are you talking insurance in case something happens to the property or persons you are working for? Or are you talking insurance on your craft? Or both? And tying in with that, is there insurance available just for drones to cover for damage to property and the cover your drone in case you lose it, or crash it? My second question is, do you believe the DJI Phantom 4 Pro is the best drone, not only for fun, but also search and rescue missions and I guess commercial jobs. I love your videos, every one I have watched have been well put together, informative and a pleasure to watch. Thanks for all the videos and information.
You really do a great job with all of your youtube videos - and that is a great skill - doing great videos - to already have in your pocket, for some of your home tours. I plan on mixing stills (Ken Burns, fades etc) and clips from drones along with the ground shots - should definitely help sell homes for real estate agents and sellers. I am still learning the video editing side. Where do you get the liability insurance? My state (SC) does not have any plans to require it, but they eventually will...and we droners will...and our clients will. Thanks for posting this. Oh, one point (which I am certain you know)...those freebies you mention prior to having the 107 can't be used by the prospective realtor to promote his/her sale until you give the go ahead. It's a GREAT idea to show them just how attractive their listing can be though.
Thanks for the kind words of support. I agree with your approach and it sounds like you come from the Photog side of things. I just love flying and have had a lot of local realtors as me about filming their homes so I'm working ahrd to get good at that. One of the things I mentioned in the clip about doing a few homes for free really works well and can open a lot of doors. My plan is to allow them to use the first few for free and then continue on with a standard package of shots for a flat fee. I have also started using an Osmo (SteadyCam) to also offer walk-throughs as another option they seem excited to use. I'll have more in this series posting soon so be sure to stop back. Rick
Informative video, thanks for making it. I've applied for my Part 107 license and expect it soon. I'm learning how to operate the drone and capture video and stills. I'd already thought about doing some free stuff to build a portfolio and grow business. I'll subscribe to your channel. One small critique, you might consider a wireless mic to feed your recording device. It would make the audio much higher quality. Thanks again for doing this.
I have a few more clips in this series almost done and hope to be able to post them this week so be sure to sub the channel and stop back soon. Thanks, Rick
Rick, quick question for you, Is a gimbel guard going to mess with my GPS or glonass with my Autel X Star Professional drone? You're one of the people that I admire most on UA-cam and I've taken a lot of your advice.
Rich, thanks for the question and I'm sorry I missed the comment. Most of the gimbal guards are designed to work with a particular drone and are built to avoid any sensors. Both of the ones I sell for the P3 and P4 allow you to add them to the quad without affecting any of it's safety features or performance. The one thing that is really important is that you install them correctly. The position of the guard is really important and if you're off by a little bit when mounting it, you might have issues. Other than that you should be fine and they really do work well. Thanks for the kind words on the content and for posting. Be sure to stop back soon, I have a lot more content posting. Rick
My wife and I just started like you said, with a list. My bride decided to leave work years ago and stay home to help me because I'm disabled. Money now is fixed and once a month AND not that much. This drone opportunity sounds awesome and we would love to be able to grab a tiny part of what is out there. We both are older but we can get around good. I just watched your first video on making money with a drone and got real excited. I felt like it was talking to me in a lot of ways. What's the drone of choice getting started for making money in your process? We have about $1500 as a ceiling to use on this to get started. I can invest more later when some money starts coming in and/or I'm able to save more. At any rate, thank you for your patience with me. Merry Christmas George
Thanks for the sub and for stopping by. I'll have a few more in this series done this weekend so please be sure to stop back so you don't miss them. Rick
A truly professionally-done drone channel. Your channel is the 1st stop I make vis my drone research. Kudos! FYI: Canada (Federal government) just released their new drone rules/regulation at 10 AM Eastern today (Dec 21st) As a note of interest to non Canadian nationals flying a drone in Canada: I read that this is possible via filing a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). How to apply: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/applying-special-flight-operations-certificate.html
Thanks a lot for the post and I appreciate the kind words on the channel. I did see the announcement and am still pouring through the details. I may actually do a clip comparing the regulations to the rules in the US. This is becoming a very popular question for folks wanting to take their quads along on vacation to fly. I really appreciate the post and hope that you've subbed the channel so you don't miss any updates. Rick
Rick. Thanks for all of your great work. Really appreciate all you do. Can you tell me the method you use to upload videos and still images for your potential customers to access?
Mark, thanks for the post and I setup a free Google Drive account and create a folder for each client in the Cloud. When I film a location, I create a folder inside of the client folder with the date and location and upload all of the finished photos and videos into that folder and send them a link. I leave them up for about 6 months in case they have to come back and grab them again. I hope that helps and stay tuned to the channel as I'm thinking of starting this series again from scratch since there have been so many changes. Rick
I would like to see DJI come out with removable antennas. There can be a sensing circuit that will not let you transmit without an antenna. I hope the people at DJI will read these feed backs.
Hi rick. I heard your part about a certificate and I researched it a bit more. I'm still a little confused. If I don't have a certificate am I not supposed to be flying? Thanks again. Love the vids, keep it up.
Thanks for the comment and there are 4 or 5 companies that I checked before finding the right policy. I'll do a clip on this as part of the series to help explain how I went about it. I basically found 4 companies on the web by searching that specialize in drone insurance and asked for a quote. I also checked with my current company that has my house, life and auto. After comparing the coverage, I went with my local guy who provided a better coverage for less because he could add it to my current policy. Look for a clip on this soon. Rick
Do you have a recommendation of the preferred (affordable android or Apple) tablet to use with the remote control that does not need to be connected to cellular service? And what is the max size. I am looking to get a dedicated tablet rather than my phone and even though I'm an apple user I want what will display best.
Nice one Rick. Do you have a day job? Will this idea replace that over time ? I guess you can put skill learned in the day job to good use in the drone business.
Thanks for watching and I have the next two parts of the series almost finished and hope to have one of them posted next week. Make sure you sub the channel so you don't miss them. Thanks, Rick
Very helpful, just subd and will continue to watch. I have the dji 3 pro and have been also been thinking about starting a drone based business here in Florida. Been studying dor the part107 test. Any hints or tips on how I go about getting my business off the ground? (pun intended)
Thanks for watching and subbing the channel. I hope to have a few more of these clips posted soon and will cover a lot of the things you'll need to know to set things up. In the meantime, focus on passing the Part 107 test and decide on a name for the business so you have somewhere to start. Thanks again and be sure to stop back. Rick
My wife and I run our own business, drones are a hobby for me right now, but a lot of what you say is true for any start up. Great info! Looking forward to watching your other videos!
question: to do drone inspections, are companies also expecting you to tell them about their buildings or do they have an inspector who will review the images for inspection? Thanks.
I have subbed and looked at a lot of your videos and found good information. I started up Cirrus Aerial Videography LLC a little over a year ago and I'm intending to take the Part 107 exam. What insurance companies did you find for liability insurance ? Also the ARgtek range extenders how much range did they give you? Thanks for the videos!!
Thanks a lot for the sub and the compliments on the clips. I enjoy making them and have a few new ones posting this weekend. Great idea starting your company, I'm convinced this market will explode over the next few years. One of the clips I'll be posting is the first in a series of Study Guides for Part 107 that I'm working on to help you prep for the sections on the test. With insurance, the best reference for finding a great deal is the web. I have a few companies I've compared but don't feel right advertising them. I started with my current agent that has my homeowners, life and car policy but found this type of insurance to be pretty specialized and went with a different company. Lastly, the ARGtek range extenders are amazing and with most flights easily doubled my distance. The bigger benefit for me is that they give me a more reliable signal in close so I can fly around buildings and other obstacles with less signal loss. I hope that helps and thanks again for stopping by. Rick
Starting any business is hard (and I've had a few) but what I'm trying to do with this series is break down the steps required to get started and provide a little insight on how to present yourself in the best way possible to increase your chances of success. I've learned the hard way that a few simple mistakes early on make it harder to succeed and as I add more sections to this series I'll provide a few tips and tricks I've learned over the years that can shortcut a lot of the hassle of getting started. I will also cover more opportunities than just real estate for profitable droning.
I have both a Nvidia Shield K1 (Android) and an Ipad 4 mini. The glare is tough on both of them. You can use a sun shield to help with most of it and they are a pretty inexpensive accessory. I usually just park near a tree if possible and hunker down under there for shade. Thanks for watching and posting and be sure to sub the channel.
Great video Rick. A question for you, I'm starting a drone photo business in a few months. I want to work for cattle ranchers, real estate, and inspections. I have enough money to buy either the Mavic Pro Fly More package with the 3 extra batteries etc.; or the Phantom 4 Pro basic package. I'm leaning toward the Mavic since the extra parts will come in handy, but the P4P has such a great camera. Which would you get if you were just starting out? Thank you for any feedback.
Jim, good luck with the new business, the timing is perfect for you. Your question is a tough one since I really love both of the quads for different reasons. The Mavic is amazingly portable and the P4P has additional crash avoidance and a better camera. If you were asking about taking it with you on trips, I'd stick with the Mavic but since you're local with most of the work you'll be doing and size isn't an issue I would go with the P4P for the business. I know you'll have to spring for a second (and maybe third) battery but you can add them after you do a few projects. Because the only tangible thing you'll be delivering to your clients are the videos and pictures, you'll want them to be the best quality possible and right now between these two quads, the P4P wins. I hope that helps and thanks a lot for the kind words on the clips. Rick
Where can we watch your flight footage and edits? Been watching your videos for a while now (very informative!) and would love to see some of your work
I have a lot of footage that I will be posting soon. I have been so busy working on these other reviews and tutorials that it's starting to cut into my flying time. It's hard to balance the two but I'll pop a clip up this week with some of my recent flights. Thanks for posting and I hope you sub the channel. Rick
Hi Rick, great video, Thanks! Just one question, do you have any recommendations on a provider of Drone insurance as you mentioned? I am having trouble finding a provider... Thanks so much...
Dan, thanks for the post and be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss any updates in this series. The drone insurance game shifted slightly a few weeks back when the FAA published the final draft of Part 107. Up until that point, there were a few national insurers that offered plans to hobbyists flying drones. After that was published many of these companies pulled back from writing new policies until you pass Part 107. It seems that they want to make sure you're serious about flying and only want to insure licensed pilots. This may change but it seems like a new criteria for reasonably priced policies. Stay tuned as this may all change in a few weeks when Part 107 goes live.
Thank you for your quick response! Again I want to tell you that you do an outstanding job with your videos! And I have been watching many of them. The Part 107 final draft maybe exactly why I am receiving a little ambiguity talking with insurance companies, I just started calling around about a week ago and having a difficult time locating one that will wright a policy. I wish the AMA would offer commercial Drone coverage. I have been in the RC hobby and a member of the AMA since 72, but found I am not covered when flying commercial by them.
Almost six years old video, still relevant - thanks for this!
Thanks Rick. I'm in. After a 22 year military career and a retired Police Officer now living in a slightly rural area in the Pacific Northwest and at my age this is perfect. Thanks for getting the juices flowing. Looking forward to the next video.
Great stuff. Just subscribed. If someone can't get into the drone business from this video, they either don't really want in the business, or they just don't know good advice when they see it.
This was *great*, thanks! This has really helped solidify my "maybe I can make the hobby at least semi-support itself" plan!
I'm glad you enjoyed the content and I'll more in the series posting soon. Good luck with the business, it's a great time to get into it. Rick
I really appreciate your time taking to explain / give all those hints as if your read my mine.I have been on the net learning/doing some homework on how to get the first steps into that and buying my 1st drone.
WOW, I am so glad I found this channel. Great ideas, I have a few homes I would love to film, they are spectacular pieces of architecture and I am sure the owners would be tickled pink to have some footage for free. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the series, keep doing what you are doing Rick, love your channel
passed my 107 last week. thanks for the motivation.
Thank you. Great clip. Please make more...the best I've seen on the subject.
Priceless information (even a year and a half later). Thanks!
This is by far the most informative and "real life" video I have seen on this topic. I have been flying quadcopters for several years now with the intention of eventually getting a return on my investment by flying commercially. I plan on taking the Part 107 test and flying my P3Pro to make a few dollars. Please continue this series.
Thanks a lot for watching and the support. I enjoy doing these clips and have another in this series that should be done this week. I think this is a critical time for commercial drone pilots and the opportunities these amazing flying machines provide are incredible so you're on the right track. Be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss any updates in this series and thanks again. Rick
Outstanding right to the point video!!!
Rick, this is one of the best videos great information very pleased thank you so much looking forward to getting into business with my drone.
Rick great topic! Can’t wait for the next video! I better start flying more.
Thank you. Very good advice!!
You are appreciated! So much information and inspiration. Thank you and please keep up the great work.
Noah, thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you're enjoying the channel. I have more content posting this week so please stop back soon. Rick
Thank you. Lots of great tips in this video that will work everywhere - even down here in Melbourne, Australia. We have some slightly different laws, testing & fees to become a commercial operator through CASA (FAA equivalent), however your ideas and approach to starting a new business are well thought out and applicable in many different areas. Looking forward to the next video in the series.
Thanks for the support and I'm finishing up the next few in the series so stay tuned this week. I know the regulations are different "Down Under" but many of the ideas should relate well from the business side. I appreciate you commenting and will be posting the next clip in the series very soon.
Great video Rick! Everything was explained very clearly. I currently take pictures professionally and intend to use your videos to give me solid insight as I get into drone work.
Great video Rick! This is exactly why I got into flying drones. Earlier this year I was laid off of work after 19 years with the same company and so I spent a few weeks trying to come up with a unique idea for a small business in my area. After much research, I came to the realization that this would be huge in my neck of the woods. This past Feb I started out learning to fly on a couple of inexpensive drones and recently moved up to the Phantom 3 Professional. While I still have a lot to learn, I'm confident in my flying and I've got some amazing footage already. I continue to practice my aerial photography each day (weather permitting of course) and am super excited with the prospect of being one of the first businesses to provide this service in my area.
I really enjoy your videos, and am looking forward to the continuation of this particular series. Thanks again! I patiently await "part 2". :)
Thanks for the post and I'm glad that you're enjoying the channel. I agree with you and think that this area will explode in the next few years and if you get started early you will be in the lead position with your local real estate offices and builders to secure their work. I'm hard at work on the next few clips in this series so stay tuned to make sure you know when they're posted. I'm also working on a series of clips to help you prep for the Part 107 test, which might be helpful for you as well.
I very much enjoy your videos the attention to the details has made me a subscriber, thanks!!!!
Awesome. You really got me fired up! Complete rookie here, but hopefully I can make something work in the next few months!
Just subscribed. I have watched tons of videos on youtube and this is the first one where the host doesn't bore me to tears with stories and/or opinions. A lot of good info, presented in a clean straight-forward way. Thank you for your efforts. I'll be watching more videos from Drone Valley.
Spencer, thanks for the post and I'm glad you enjoyed the clip. I'll be posting more in this series very soon so be sure to stop back. Thanks, Rick
i love your videos , keep up the GREAT work , Thankyou
Thanks,I needed that,I will follow through. David
Great video youve given me some really good ideas, i like the way you explain and go through stuff, well done much appreciated
Great job; you got me excited about the prospects. I hope that, as a newcomer, I am not too late to the party. Either way, it is something to work toward, and maybe - at a minimum - will help me build better skills. That has its own value! So, thanks.
Thank you for the great advice
I appreciate your incite on the topic of going commercial! Great video!
Thanks for watching and posting. I'm working on a few more in this series as well so be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss any.
Great advice Rick!
Your videos are really awesome...thanks so so much
awesome series! I'm definitely interested in seeing future videos keep up the great work
Ronaldo Gonzalez
Just purchased a DJI Mavic Platinum with the Mod Accessories and long distance controller from Drone World. Should be in my possession within a week. Anxious to receive it and to apply it for my hobby and business. Additionally, the next purchase is the DJI Inspire with all the bells and whistle. Enjoy your very professional and informative presentations, keep up the great work and reviews!
Some great ideas in another video with a lot of thought put into it. I was just thinking two hours ago 'when I'm a proficient pilot how can I make a few bucks in retirement flying my p3s?". You were thinking the same thing, but you have actually started doing something about it. I'd enjoy seeing more of your thoughts on this topic when you have time. Thank you Rick.
Some great ideas here! I have actually been doing some of these things (again, we're thinking alike!), but some of it I hadn't even thought of! Great info! Thanks!
Thanks a lot for the comments and the support for the channel. I'll have a few more clips along these lines to detail the next steps in getting a business like this started.
Rick, love your series of clips on "droning". Keep up the good work, you get 5 stars.Looking forward to the upcoming series.
Thanks for stopping by and I'll be posting a few more clips this weekend for the series and other flights I've taken locally.
Thanks for this information. I just purchased my Phantom 4 5 mins ago. You have given me such a great idea for marketing. I am so glad I found your channel. You make such great sense. This is such perfect timing. Some of these things I already do. I have experience in video editing. You have a great business sense. Thanks again.
Thanks a lot for the post and the compliments. I think this is a really exciting time for commercial drone operators and have a few more clips in this series almost finished so be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss them.
I did. Thanks again.
great advised ty . great ideas
Great video, I've been deeply interested in drone photography, watching drones on UA-cam. Sure wish I would've found your channel much earlier. I guess I'm going back in your playlist and start watching. Thanks again.
Thanks for watching and posting, be sure to sub the channel. I have a few more clips in this series that I'll be posting soon to help with other steps in the process.
Well done mate, good video well presented
I am super excited. I just woke up one morning and said why not buy a drone. (I'M SERIOUS!!!). I have rc aircraft experience. I use Real Flight simulator which is awesome. The physics are real life and if I crash, I can press reset. I'm looking to buy the Phantom H Pro. They have a program for drones so I can fly as long as I want. It even has battery drain like the real thing. Lately I've been eating, sleeping, dreaming about drones. ITS IN MY BLOOD and it came out of nowhere. I'm laid off for the winter from my construction job but go back in march, work tons of overtime and GET THIS DRONE. Doing tons upon tons of research now. This video is extreeemly helpful. Excellent job sir. I'm former military and kind of OCD so I strive for perfection to the point it drives me nuts lol. So thanks for this important video. I'll probable be up till 4 am since I'm laid off.
Appreciate your information (positive points) Thanks!
Tracy, thanks again for the support! Rick
Studying for the basic knowledge test is the key. There are going to be so many people trying to do this AP work... There already are people doing it even without "certification". Looking forward to what you discuss in the next segment.
Superbly done, very good advice.
Thanks for the post and I'll have more in this series posting soon so be sure and sub the channel. Rick
hey,
Thank you for information it was very helpful.
taking some of these ideas putting them into action.
Eric, thanks for the compliments and I do hope you take some of the ideas in this clip and run with them. This is an interesting time for commercial quad operation and an entire new industry is just getting started....I'm glad you're getting in on the ground floor. I'll have more clips in this series posting soon so be sure and sun the channel so you don't miss them. Rick
Good info and well delivered
I haven't been able to find part 2. Have you gone any further with the title video. I am very interested and you did a great job on this one. Am really looking forward to any additional videos that you make. Thank you so much..
Keep up the great work, I don't think you need to watch and comment on others clips if you don't want to or dont have the time, because you give so much with your wealth of information, and people should appreciate that. The other guy just posts clips, your are instructional, which takes a lot more effort.
John, thanks for the kind words and support. I've only been posting clips for a little while and wasn't sure of the etiquette of UA-cam and didn't want to offend that subscriber. He makes a good point that if he's visiting my page I should return the favor and visit his on occasion to see what he's up to. I really do try and do that but as my channel has grown, it's becoming harder to stay current. I really enjoy making these clips and hope that they are helpful and thought-provoking for others to watch and really try to deliver value with each of them. That takes a bit of time, which leaves even less time for surfing UA-cam. I appreciate your comments and will do my best to keep producing clips to help make this hobby more fun (and profitable) for all of us. I hope you subscribe so you don't miss anything.
Awesome information. Subbed n liked. Thank you
Rick, you are one smart guy. It's just a hobby with me now but I'm really interested in studying for my 107b. I'm trying to get my son to study and take it with me. He has been talking about stating something up. There is so much info out there about the 107 test and I am really confused about what I need to study. You have a great business sense and your video's are very enlightening. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thanks for the post and the kind words. I've started a few businesses in my life and I think there is a real opportunity right now for pilots that pass their Part 107 and want to fly commercially. I get calls weekly from real estate agents and homeowners that want aerial photos. I think this is a great time to get into that business for you and your son. The Part 107 test is a little tricky but there is a lot of good information available online for free (or low cost) to help you prepare. I'm working on a few clips to point you in the right direction for the test so be sure to stop back. I hope you and the family have a Merry Christmas too and thanks for supporting the channel. Rick
Your vedio was helpful I will fellow your advice thank you so much!
Great Video!! Well explained and filled with very helpful content. Thank you Sir
Thanks a lot for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the clip. I'll have more in this series very soon so be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss anything. Rick
awesome video great info god bless
Thanks for the post and I'm glad you enjoyed the clip. I have a few more in this series that I am working on so be sure to stop back soon. Rick
Excellent video, I'm UK based and have been thinking along the same lines as you, everyday I do a. Little more on my website, make a template for invoicing, works on t's & c's, working on quote forms, business cards, learning video editing (some vids on my channel getting better) I have my course booked September, I'm so excited to get started on this, good luck to you hope it all works out for you, and subbed also 👍
Thanks a lot for watching and subbing the channel. It's an exciting time to be a drone pilot and passing the test is the first step in making a little money from your hobby. I think this will be a "gold rush" period where the pilots that get there first will have a lot of opportunity so it sounds like you're doing everything right. Keep up the great work and stay tuned. I have a few more updates to this series as well as a Part 107 test prep series I'm working on.
Very good information
great ideas
Great video and great practical advice. I couldn't agree more. Waiting for follow up videos. I was thinking they were going to be released shortly after the initial one. Have I missed them?
I think this is a great idea. I live in cowboy country close to Rocky Mountains in Canada and I'd like to do this commercially as well.
I have a few more clips in this series posting next week that walk you through a few of the things you'll need to get started so be sure to stay tuned.
Drone Valley Great, looking forward to that!
Awesome information. I flew RC Aircraft for several years, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but have became disabled via a back and neck injury, and no longer to work actively anymore. The injuries also does not allow me to fly aircraft anymore because of size and the fact of maintaining, gassing up, starting, etc. so I have decided to fly drones, and because I also worked and volunteered in emergency services (police/fire/emergency mgt) for over thirty five years, I want to assist in search and rescue missions. Our city and county do not have the money to hire pilots to fly missions, so that weighs heavily on my decision.
When I saw the title of this video, it also got me thinking more, because I had already thought of it, if commercial flying for a small profit to help at least buy crafts and accessories, because just like any RC hobby, it gets expensive.
I do have a couple questions if you wouldn’t mind answering. The first is, you mentioned insurance. Are you talking insurance in case something happens to the property or persons you are working for? Or are you talking insurance on your craft? Or both? And tying in with that, is there insurance available just for drones to cover for damage to property and the cover your drone in case you lose it, or crash it?
My second question is, do you believe the DJI Phantom 4 Pro is the best drone, not only for fun, but also search and rescue missions and I guess commercial jobs.
I love your videos, every one I have watched have been well put together, informative and a pleasure to watch.
Thanks for all the videos and information.
Yes yes yes, $ to fly, going strong 👊😎✌🏼️
Thanks for the visit Slayer. I'll have a lot more detail for this series over the weekend and next week.
You really do a great job with all of your youtube videos - and that is a great skill - doing great videos - to already have in your pocket, for some of your home tours. I plan on mixing stills (Ken Burns, fades etc) and clips from drones along with the ground shots - should definitely help sell homes for real estate agents and sellers. I am still learning the video editing side. Where do you get the liability insurance? My state (SC) does not have any plans to require it, but they eventually will...and we droners will...and our clients will. Thanks for posting this. Oh, one point (which I am certain you know)...those freebies you mention prior to having the 107 can't be used by the prospective realtor to promote his/her sale until you give the go ahead. It's a GREAT idea to show them just how attractive their listing can be though.
Thanks for the kind words of support. I agree with your approach and it sounds like you come from the Photog side of things. I just love flying and have had a lot of local realtors as me about filming their homes so I'm working ahrd to get good at that. One of the things I mentioned in the clip about doing a few homes for free really works well and can open a lot of doors. My plan is to allow them to use the first few for free and then continue on with a standard package of shots for a flat fee. I have also started using an Osmo (SteadyCam) to also offer walk-throughs as another option they seem excited to use. I'll have more in this series posting soon so be sure to stop back. Rick
Informative video, thanks for making it. I've applied for my Part 107 license and expect it soon. I'm learning how to operate the drone and capture video and stills. I'd already thought about doing some free stuff to build a portfolio and grow business. I'll subscribe to your channel. One small critique, you might consider a wireless mic to feed your recording device. It would make the audio much higher quality. Thanks again for doing this.
Keep us informed !
I have a few more clips in this series almost done and hope to be able to post them this week so be sure to sub the channel and stop back soon. Thanks, Rick
Rick, quick question for you, Is a gimbel guard going to mess with my GPS or glonass with my Autel X Star Professional drone? You're one of the people that I admire most on UA-cam and I've taken a lot of your advice.
Rich, thanks for the question and I'm sorry I missed the comment. Most of the gimbal guards are designed to work with a particular drone and are built to avoid any sensors. Both of the ones I sell for the P3 and P4 allow you to add them to the quad without affecting any of it's safety features or performance. The one thing that is really important is that you install them correctly. The position of the guard is really important and if you're off by a little bit when mounting it, you might have issues. Other than that you should be fine and they really do work well. Thanks for the kind words on the content and for posting. Be sure to stop back soon, I have a lot more content posting. Rick
I'm a commercial helicopter pilot, 7000+ hrs, with a 107 as well. Will travel. :-)
awsome thanks for sharing
I'll have a few more of this series posting in the next few days so be sure to stop back so you don't miss them. Rick
Will do thanks Rick
My wife and I just started like you said, with a list. My bride decided to leave work years ago and stay home to help me because I'm disabled. Money now is fixed and once a month AND not that much. This drone opportunity sounds awesome and we would love to be able to grab a tiny part of what is out there. We both are older but we can get around good. I just watched your first video on making money with a drone and got real excited. I felt like it was talking to me in a lot of ways. What's the drone of choice getting started for making money in your process? We have about $1500 as a ceiling to use on this to get started. I can invest more later when some money starts coming in and/or I'm able to save more. At any rate, thank you for your patience with me.
Merry Christmas
George
great presentation and a very nice channel...thank you for sharing... I subbed as promised ;)... have a great weekend!
Thanks for the sub and for stopping by. I'll have a few more in this series done this weekend so please be sure to stop back so you don't miss them. Rick
A truly professionally-done drone channel. Your channel is the 1st stop I make vis my drone research. Kudos! FYI: Canada (Federal government) just released their new drone rules/regulation at 10 AM Eastern today (Dec 21st) As a note of interest to non Canadian nationals flying a drone in Canada: I read that this is possible via filing a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). How to apply: www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/applying-special-flight-operations-certificate.html
Thanks a lot for the post and I appreciate the kind words on the channel. I did see the announcement and am still pouring through the details. I may actually do a clip comparing the regulations to the rules in the US. This is becoming a very popular question for folks wanting to take their quads along on vacation to fly. I really appreciate the post and hope that you've subbed the channel so you don't miss any updates. Rick
Great information I Subbed.
Deon, Thanks for stopping by and the sub. I'll have a lot more material posting this weekend and next week so stay tuned.
Thanks sir
Rick. Thanks for all of your great work. Really appreciate all you do. Can you tell me the method you use to upload videos and still images for your potential customers to access?
Mark, thanks for the post and I setup a free Google Drive account and create a folder for each client in the Cloud. When I film a location, I create a folder inside of the client folder with the date and location and upload all of the finished photos and videos into that folder and send them a link. I leave them up for about 6 months in case they have to come back and grab them again. I hope that helps and stay tuned to the channel as I'm thinking of starting this series again from scratch since there have been so many changes. Rick
@@Dronevalley Thanks so much for the answer. As always, extremely helpful.
I would like to see DJI come out with removable antennas. There can be a sensing circuit that will not let you transmit without an antenna.
I hope the people at DJI will read these feed backs.
Hi rick. I heard your part about a certificate and I researched it a bit more. I'm still a little confused. If I don't have a certificate am I not supposed to be flying? Thanks again. Love the vids, keep it up.
Thank you sir I got my checklist ready any updates to this video that you would like to share
Thanks again Rick. These tips are invaluable. Is there an insurance company you would recommend? Should it be one specifically for drone work?
Thanks for the comment and there are 4 or 5 companies that I checked before finding the right policy. I'll do a clip on this as part of the series to help explain how I went about it. I basically found 4 companies on the web by searching that specialize in drone insurance and asked for a quote. I also checked with my current company that has my house, life and auto. After comparing the coverage, I went with my local guy who provided a better coverage for less because he could add it to my current policy. Look for a clip on this soon. Rick
Bro ... it is that simple. :)
Do you have a recommendation of the preferred (affordable android or Apple) tablet to use with the remote control that does not need to be connected to cellular service? And what is the max size. I am looking to get a dedicated tablet rather than my phone and even though I'm an apple user I want what will display best.
Nice one Rick. Do you have a day job? Will this idea replace that over time ? I guess you can put skill learned in the day job to good use in the drone business.
Yes please go into it in more detail. Please Rick
I really enjoyed this video. Part 1 - Introduction. How can I continue to see the rest of the videos as I don't seem to see them listed here?
Thanks for watching and I have the next two parts of the series almost finished and hope to have one of them posted next week. Make sure you sub the channel so you don't miss them. Thanks, Rick
Very helpful, just subd and will continue to watch. I have the
dji 3 pro and have been also been thinking about starting a drone based
business here in Florida. Been studying dor the part107 test. Any hints
or tips on how I go about getting my business off the ground? (pun
intended)
Thanks for watching and subbing the channel. I hope to have a few more of these clips posted soon and will cover a lot of the things you'll need to know to set things up. In the meantime, focus on passing the Part 107 test and decide on a name for the business so you have somewhere to start. Thanks again and be sure to stop back. Rick
Thanks much!
You're welcome and I appreciate you stopping by. I'll have more in this series soon so be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss any. Rick
My wife and I run our own business, drones are a hobby for me right now, but a lot of what you say is true for any start up. Great info! Looking forward to watching your other videos!
question: to do drone inspections, are companies also expecting you to tell them about their buildings or do they have an inspector who will review the images for inspection? Thanks.
I have subbed and looked at a lot of your videos and found good information. I started up Cirrus Aerial Videography LLC a little over a year ago and I'm intending to take the Part 107 exam. What insurance companies did you find for liability insurance ? Also the ARgtek range extenders how much range did they give you? Thanks for the videos!!
Thanks a lot for the sub and the compliments on the clips. I enjoy making them and have a few new ones posting this weekend. Great idea starting your company, I'm convinced this market will explode over the next few years. One of the clips I'll be posting is the first in a series of Study Guides for Part 107 that I'm working on to help you prep for the sections on the test. With insurance, the best reference for finding a great deal is the web. I have a few companies I've compared but don't feel right advertising them. I started with my current agent that has my homeowners, life and car policy but found this type of insurance to be pretty specialized and went with a different company. Lastly, the ARGtek range extenders are amazing and with most flights easily doubled my distance. The bigger benefit for me is that they give me a more reliable signal in close so I can fly around buildings and other obstacles with less signal loss. I hope that helps and thanks again for stopping by. Rick
Thanks Rick for your quick reply. Happy flying!
Great video!!! But it's easier said then done. I've had my business for 3 moths and I'm lucky enough to have a hook in the field.
Starting any business is hard (and I've had a few) but what I'm trying to do with this series is break down the steps required to get started and provide a little insight on how to present yourself in the best way possible to increase your chances of success. I've learned the hard way that a few simple mistakes early on make it harder to succeed and as I add more sections to this series I'll provide a few tips and tricks I've learned over the years that can shortcut a lot of the hassle of getting started. I will also cover more opportunities than just real estate for profitable droning.
Drone Valley I think it's great but I have some insight for you, I've been in th3 business for awhile.
gracias mui amable
Rick what tablet do you use when flying and also any tips on reducing sun glare?
I have both a Nvidia Shield K1 (Android) and an Ipad 4 mini. The glare is tough on both of them. You can use a sun shield to help with most of it and they are a pretty inexpensive accessory. I usually just park near a tree if possible and hunker down under there for shade. Thanks for watching and posting and be sure to sub the channel.
good advice
Thanks for the reply and I hope you sub the channel. I'll have a few more clips in this series posting next week.
i want to start with this but i dont know how much money i need to invest or what kind of drone would i need.
nice video
Thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed the clip. I'll have a few more in the series posted soon so be sure to stop back. Rick
Hi Rick,I own a DJI Mini 2 do you reckon this little drone would be OK for real estate work for taking photos and videos ?
Great video Rick. A question for you, I'm starting a drone photo business in a few months. I want to work for cattle ranchers, real estate, and inspections. I have enough money to buy either the Mavic Pro Fly More package with the 3 extra batteries etc.; or the Phantom 4 Pro basic package. I'm leaning toward the Mavic since the extra parts will come in handy, but the P4P has such a great camera. Which would you get if you were just starting out? Thank you for any feedback.
Jim, good luck with the new business, the timing is perfect for you. Your question is a tough one since I really love both of the quads for different reasons. The Mavic is amazingly portable and the P4P has additional crash avoidance and a better camera. If you were asking about taking it with you on trips, I'd stick with the Mavic but since you're local with most of the work you'll be doing and size isn't an issue I would go with the P4P for the business. I know you'll have to spring for a second (and maybe third) battery but you can add them after you do a few projects. Because the only tangible thing you'll be delivering to your clients are the videos and pictures, you'll want them to be the best quality possible and right now between these two quads, the P4P wins. I hope that helps and thanks a lot for the kind words on the clips. Rick
Thank you Rick. Much appreciated.
How do you charge? Per hour or Per job? What drones do you use?
Where can we watch your flight footage and edits? Been watching your videos for a while now (very informative!) and would love to see some of your work
I have a lot of footage that I will be posting soon. I have been so busy working on these other reviews and tutorials that it's starting to cut into my flying time. It's hard to balance the two but I'll pop a clip up this week with some of my recent flights. Thanks for posting and I hope you sub the channel. Rick
Already subbed! Great info - Thank you for taking the time sir! Happy flying!
Hi Rick, great video, Thanks! Just one question, do you have any recommendations on a provider of Drone insurance as you mentioned? I am having trouble finding a provider... Thanks so much...
Dan, thanks for the post and be sure to sub the channel so you don't miss any updates in this series. The drone insurance game shifted slightly a few weeks back when the FAA published the final draft of Part 107. Up until that point, there were a few national insurers that offered plans to hobbyists flying drones. After that was published many of these companies pulled back from writing new policies until you pass Part 107. It seems that they want to make sure you're serious about flying and only want to insure licensed pilots. This may change but it seems like a new criteria for reasonably priced policies. Stay tuned as this may all change in a few weeks when Part 107 goes live.
Thank you for your quick response! Again I want to tell you that you do an outstanding job with your videos! And I have been watching many of them. The Part 107 final draft maybe exactly why I am receiving a little ambiguity talking with insurance companies, I just started calling around about a week ago and having a difficult time locating one that will wright a policy. I wish the AMA would offer commercial Drone coverage. I have been in the RC hobby and a member of the AMA since 72, but found I am not covered when flying commercial by them.
Value .... yeah please link me to the other is there are any. I have only been able to watch the two make a bundle so far.
Just a thought, possibly you have a different title for the series?
I appreciate the help thanks
So is the market flooded yet with professional drone pilots contacting realtors?
👍 ✌
Thanks for stopping by and for the comment.
Subbed