so ive been flying for about two years now mostly just for fun, got my part 107 last spring and ive been doing a few small jobs here and there for friends and family. shot some footage for my cousins wedding, did a roof inspection for a neighbor, that kind of thing. people keep telling me i should just do this for real and honestly the thought has been in my head for a while now.

the problem is i have no idea how to actually set it up as a legitimate business. like do i need an LLC right away or can i just operate as a sole proprietor to start? and insurance ? ive heard you absolutely need it but i dont even know what kind or how much coverage. i found a few options online but the pricing varies so wildly i dont know whats normal.

also the whole pricing thing is stressing me out. i genuinely dont know what to charge. i dont want to be the guy who undercuts everyone and ruins it for other pilots but i also dont have a huge portfolio yet so i feel like i cant charge top dollar. anyone been through this whole process and have any thoughts on where to start?

went through this exact thing about three years ago. honestly the LLC question depends on your state but for most people starting out sole proprietor is fine at first, just means your personal assets are more exposed if something goes sideways. once you start getting real clients and real money coming in, the LLC is worth it just for peace of mind, usually only costs like $50-150 to file depending on where you are.

for insurance i use Thimble and have been pretty happy, you can do it by the job or monthly. some guys swear by SkyWatch. the main thing is making sure you have at least a million in liability coverage because a lot of commercial clients wont even talk to you without it. i learned that the hard way when a property management company asked for my certificate of insurance and i had nothing to send them.

on pricing ? just do some research on what people in your area are charging. Craigslist, local Facebook groups, even just googling drone photography [your city] and looking at other peoples websites. you dont have to be the cheapest, you just have to be able to explain the value. i started around $150 for basic real estate and slowly worked up from there as my portfolio grew. dont sell yourself too short though, it devalues the whole market and you end up with the worst clients anyway.

im kind of in the same boat as you so take this for what its worth but one thing i heard that stuck with me ? get the insurance before you do anything else, even before you register the business. like if something happens on a job while youre still figuring out the paperwork side, at least the insurance is there. someone on another forum mentioned they had a close call on a shoot before they were fully set up and it scared them straight lol