Starting off in a new industry is always going to be a lot of work if you want success. When entering the drone industry, it may be wise to make some of your services free for early clients. As tough a pill as that is to swallow, it can pay real dividends for a fledgling business, as long as you know when to start charging.
The two problems every new pilot faces
On leaving my previous job to concentrate on drones, I was presented with two problems: experience and a portfolio. It is all well and good to set up the website, social media and business cards, but when your business is fresh there is no material to market it with. You could hold out for a paid gig, but you would arrive cold, without experience handling the unforeseen variables that drone work always throws up.
Why free work beats practice flights
You might ask: why not just go and film things you like for yourself? That is fun, but client work gives your portfolio context. Doing a real job teaches you to work to deadlines and to see a client’s vision, not just your own.
How it played out
Real estate was the easy way in, as agents are always happy to trial someone for a free set of photos. In construction, I called at least ten quarries offering to trial drone mapping software, and only one was interested. That one saw the value in the data and put me on the books. Topped up with more free work along the way, the portfolio and confidence grew together.
What you gain from the free period
- Business contacts from being out on the road
- A body of work with real-world examples
- A feel for how long jobs take, so you can price them accurately
- Experience handling on-the-job problems and different client personalities
When is enough enough?
It is a case-by-case call. It took me six months to start invoicing. I knew it was time because I was confident delivering on time and to client expectations, all polished during the free work. Be warned: someone will try to take advantage of you. Learn to sniff that out quickly. It is all part of evolving your business.
The other prerequisite for paid drone work is being properly licensed. Our CASA-approved RePL courses are the fastest way to get there.