What’s inside
- 01 Formation and compliancePlus drone certificate, location and venue permit checklist, and sales tax on photography where it applies.
- 02 Financial workbookPackage pricing from shoot hours, editing hours, travel and gear wear; break-even in bookings per month.
- 03 Service menuSessions, events, product and real estate shoots, add-ons and delivery times.
- 04 Shoot-day checklistsGear, batteries and cards, shot list, location scout and drone pre-flight.
- 05 Workflow proceduresBackup rule for every card, editing and culling standard, gallery delivery and file retention.
- 06 Rights and releasesModel and property release starting drafts and a usage license summary.
- 07 Customer documentsBooking agreement outline, retainer and balance terms, reschedule policy, invoice.
- 08 Launch setupGoogle profile, portfolio page checklist, inquiry script and follow-ups.
- 09 First hire or second shooterContractor vs. employee, second-shooter agreement points, image ownership.
- 10 90-day trackerInquiries, bookings, average package and revenue per shoot hour.
What this business requires
- An FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate for any commercial drone work: about a $175 knowledge test, then free online recurrent training every 24 months.
- Written model releases and a contract that states who owns the images and how the client may use them.
- Equipment coverage: inland marine insurance runs about $43 a month at the median (Insureon).
Typical insurance
- General liability$29 a month
- Professional liability$34 a month
- Equipment (inland marine)$43 a month
Median premiums for this profession from Insureon customer data. Yours depend on your state, limits and history.
Built for your area
Business license, sales tax rules for photography sessions and prints in your state, city film or location permits, and workers' comp. Your Groundwork adviser checks these against official sources and sends your State Page the same business day.
The numbers
Startup cost: about $6,000 for event media services (GOBankingRates). Priced per session, per event, day rates and packages. About 46.3% of new businesses in this sector are still open after five years (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What it doesn’t do
The kit doesn’t judge your specific idea, market or competitors. That is the Groundwork Business Blueprint, and your kit price counts toward a Blueprint ordered within 30 days.
Secure checkout by Stripe. After payment you’ll tell us your city and state, and your Groundwork adviser emails your kit and completed State Page the same business day. General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice; agreements are starting drafts to review with an attorney in your state.
