Looking to move from fun to business. Some mapping, and inspections, whatever else I can find along those lines.
I am wondering what types fo classes or certifications are worthwhile and not gimmicks to make a quick buck. I have been looking at colleges, SDI, Pilot institue etc. Are there any that stand out in the industry?
Classes and certifications are of little value to clients, other than as proof of training. What they are really interested in is a portfolio of work and references from existing happy clients.
I would
first very carefully research your local market for the existing competition for those types of jobs, and see if there is currently any unmet demand. Otherwise, you will just be trying to cannibalize their jobs where the only thing you can offer is inexperience at a much lower price, which usually won't be profitable.
Perhaps you can get on the job training with one of the local pilots currently doing such jobs, as an assistant or co-pilot. If they are good at marketing, they may be able to double book time slots for another pilot to shoot the job for them, much like a wedding photographer, who can book multiple weddings on the same Saturdays by simply contracting out the shooting to a gun for hire, who only wants to shoot, but not deal with all the hassles of running a wedding photography business.
If you have a very clear business plan, run it by an SBA loan officer and see if they will finance your venture. They'll be quick to debunk your optimism with reality.
In any event, converting fun into business means doing only what others are willing to pay you for, which usually won't be fun anymore.
Successful drone businesses are 90% sales and marketing to find clients willing to hire you, with less than 10% of your business time devoted to flying. Editing and creating deliverables and collecting payment are also part of the business. Some clients just won’t pay. Now you are in the debt collection business, too.
Good luck, but it certainly isn’t all rainbows and unicorns!
