so ive been flying for about 3 years now, got my part 107 last spring, and a few people have actually asked me to shoot stuff for them ? a real estate agent, someone who wanted aerial footage of their wedding venue, and a buddy who runs a landscaping company. I did the first two basically for free just to build a portfolio and now im wondering if i should actually try to turn this into a side business or maybe eventually full time.

the problem is i have no idea where to start with the actual business side of things. like do i need an LLC right away or can i just operate as a sole proprietor for a while? and insurance ? i know i need it but the options are kind of overwhelming. I looked at Skywatch and Thimble and a couple others but I dont really know whats adequate vs overkill for starting out doing mostly real estate and events.

also pricing. I genuinely have no clue what to charge. the real estate agent is already asking me what my rates are and I dont want to lowball myself but also dont want to scare her off. any of you been through this? would really appreciate hearing how you got started

went through basically the exact same thing about two years ago. honestly the LLC question depends on your state but for most people starting out, sole proprietor is fine at first ? the main thing the LLC gets you is liability separation, but your insurance is really doing that heavy lifting anyway. id say get the insurance sorted first, then worry about the business structure once you actually have a client or two paying you.

for insurance i ended up going with Skywatch on a pay-per-flight basis initially just to test the waters, then switched to a yearly policy through a broker once i was flying more consistently. the pay-per-flight stuff is fine when youre starting out but it adds up fast if youre doing more than a handful of jobs a month. make sure whatever you get covers hull damage on your equipment too, not just liability ? some of the cheap policies dont and you'd be surprised how often that matters.

on pricing for real estate ? in most markets a basic package with edited photos and maybe a short video clip runs somewhere between $150 and $300 depending on your area. dont go below that, seriously. the agents who want to pay $75 for aerial shots are the same ones who will ask for 47 revisions and text you at 11pm. charge what makes it worth your time and you'll end up with better clients anyway.

im kind of in the same boat so following this thread. one thing i heard from someone at a local flying club is that some real estate photographers actually lowkey resent drone guys undercutting them so if you can position yourself as adding to what they offer rather than competing, you might be able to get referrals from photographers who dont want to deal with the 107 cert stuff themselves. havent tried it personally but it sounded like a solid way to get clients without doing a ton of cold outreach