so ive been flying for about two years now, got my part 107 last spring and been doing a few small jobs here and there — some real estate stuff, a couple wedding videos for friends of friends. nothing that would pay rent on its own but enough to make me think maybe there's something here.

my day job is fine but its not like im passionate about it and i keep reading these articles saying the commercial drone industry is exploding and blah blah blah. but then i talk to guys on here and it sounds like its actually pretty competitive and hard to make consistent money. so whats the reality? like is anyone here actually doing this full time and paying their bills with it, or is it mostly a side hustle situation for most people?

also curious what types of work actually pay well. real estate seems pretty saturated from what i can tell, at least in my area. someone mentioned inspection work to me but i have no idea how you even get into that. would appreciate any honest takes from people who are actually in it.

honest answer? it depends a lot on where you live and what niche you go after. real estate is def saturated in most markets youre right about that. i did it for about a year and was constantly racing to the bottom on pricing with other guys who had cheaper gear and less experience but clients couldnt tell the difference.

inspection work is where ive found the real money — utilities, cell towers, roofing for insurance companies. but you need more than just a 107 for a lot of that, some clients want specific certifications or want you to have liability insurance at certain levels which can be expensive upfront. the work itself is less glamorous than filming a wedding obviously but the day rates are genuinely solid and the clients are usually companies with actual budgets rather than someone who wants 4K video for $150.

i made the jump to full time about 18 months ago. it took maybe 6 months before i felt like the income was actually stable. i wouldnt say it was easy but im glad i did it. keep your day job while you build the client base if you can, dont make a dramatic leap.

im kind of in the same boat as you actually, part 107 and doing side stuff but wondering if full time is realistic. following this thread for sure. the inspection angle is interesting i hadnt really thought about that route