Business · Survey drones

Making money with survey drones

Two survey services where a drone replaces days of ground work. Each has a monthly model you can edit.

Uses 2
Calculators 2
Price free teaser

Please read: These are simplified teaching models with assumptions you can change. Real results depend on your market, labor laws, insurance and taxes. Nothing on this page is investment, legal or tax advice.

Robot prices, where shown, are store prices from our guide. Everything else is an editable assumption.

01Now

Drone topographic survey service

The opportunityFly topographic and site surveys for engineers, developers and contractors, delivering surface models and contours under a licensed surveyor’s control.

Who pays

Civil engineers, developers, contractors and municipalities, per project.

Key risks

Licensing rules for survey work
Airspace and NDAA rules for some clients
Weather and processing delays

Simplified modelRevenue = price per project × projects. Variable cost = field and processing hours × rate. The drone kit is up-front.

Try the numbers (per month)

Price per project ($)Editable assumptionProjects per monthEditable assumptionField + processing hours per project (h)Editable assumptionCost per hour ($/h)Editable assumptionFixed costs per month ($)Editable assumption (software, insurance, vehicle)Up-front drone kit ($)Editable assumption (dealer-quoted; no public list price)

Revenue / month: –
Costs / month: –
Profit / month: –
Margin: –
Break-even: – projects per month
Payback on up-front cost: –

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02Now

Recurring stockpile-volume contracts

The opportunityMeasure aggregate, mulch or coal stockpiles on a monthly schedule for inventory and audits.

Who pays

Quarries, aggregate yards, ports and recycling sites, on a monthly contract.

Key risks

Clients may buy their own drone
Accuracy depends on ground control and processing
Site safety training and access

Simplified modelRevenue = monthly fee × sites. Variable cost = hours per site × rate. Equipment is up-front.

Try the numbers (per month)

Monthly fee per site ($)Editable assumptionSites under contractEditable assumptionHours per site per month (h)Editable assumptionCost per hour ($/h)Editable assumptionFixed costs per month ($)Editable assumptionUp-front drone kit ($)Editable assumption

Revenue / month: –
Costs / month: –
Profit / month: –
Margin: –
Break-even: – sites
Payback on up-front cost: –

These are simplified teaching models with assumptions you can change. Real results depend on your market, labor laws, insurance and taxes. Nothing on this page is investment, legal or tax advice.