Drone roof and site inspections
Inspect roofs, towers and building sites by drone for roofers, insurers and contractors.
- $3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
5,021 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.8% in a year
NAICS 541922 “Commercial photography”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
Using a drone with a good camera to inspect roofs, siding, solar panels, construction progress and other hard-to-reach areas, and delivering clear image sets and simple reports.
Your first three steps
- Pass the FAA Part 107 test and practice systematic flight patterns that cover a whole roof or site
- Create a sample inspection report from a few local buildings, showing images and notes
- Contact local roofers, home inspectors and independent adjusters and offer a trial inspection
Who pays
Roofing companies, home inspectors, insurance adjusters, property managers, solar installers and construction firms.
How it makes money
Per inspection or per site visit, with monthly progress-photo contracts for builders. Faster, safer inspections let clients pay for the time saved.
Skills that help
- Precise and safe drone flying
- Basic knowledge of roofs or buildings
- Clear report writing and image organizing
- Working with contractors and adjusters
Watch out for
- FAA Part 107 certification is generally needed for paid work; check current FAA rules
- Check airspace restrictions and any rules for flying over people or near active work sites
- General liability insurance with drone coverage; check whether professional liability is also worth having for reports
- Some inspection work, such as engineering reports, may need a licensed professional; check your state's rules on what you can certify
- Clients may want thermal or specialist cameras, which cost more
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: drone roof and site inspections
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a drone inspection business?
Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your drone, camera and software. Clients may want thermal or specialist cameras, which cost more. Treat these as estimates and price your own kit.
How much can a drone inspector earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on the number of contractor and insurer clients you win and your rates. Your results will vary with how consistently you can find work.
What rules should I check before offering drone inspections?
Check current FAA rules, as Part 107 certification is generally needed for paid work. Also check airspace limits and rules for flying over people or near active work sites, insurance, and your state's rules on what you can certify, since some reports may need a licensed professional.
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