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7 Best Drone Franchises [Cost, Fees]

Do you want to start a drone business by buying a franchise? If YES, here are 7 best profitable drone franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. Drone technology is rapidly gaining prominence in the globe beyond the military circuit.

Drones are unmanned but controlled aircraft (aerial vehicle or unpiloted vehicle) used in the military during war to attack an enemy’s camp and are also used by the military for surveillance and to gather intelligence. Drones are also used by the military to deliver food to front line troops during war. Drones come in handy when the risk and difficulty involved in any military operation is high and unsafe for soldiers.

In recent time, the civilian community has started developing and making use of drones to carry out tasks such as surveying of vast farm lands (plantation), for delivery of parcels, to monitor and count wildlife and livestock, for geographical mapping, for search and rescue operations, for monitoring pipelines, for road patrol, for general commercial photography and motion picture filmmaking.

The commercial segment of the industry only represents an estimated 3.5 percent of industry revenue and relies mostly on the recreational use of small UAVs. Statistics shows that drone sales and the drone industry in general is projected to be a $100 Billion industry by 2022.

You might be tempted, as a short cut to owning a business in this industry, to take up the franchise currently being offered by some registered operators. You must however remember that as a franchisee, you will be the one that makes the business work, not the franchisor.

The bottom line is that franchising gives you the best of both worlds: the freedom to be your own boss, with the back-end systems and support of a trusted brand to set you up for success. So, if you are looking towards starting a drone related business, here are some of the best drone franchises to buy in the United States of America.

7 Best Drone Business Franchise Opportunities for Sale and Their Cost

  1. BirdsiVideo

BirdsiVideo is one of the leading commercial drone service companies in the United States of America who are into franchising. As a BirdsiVideo franchise owner, you will not only receive focused start-up support, but valuable ongoing support as well.

Comprehensive training includes UAS (“drone”) systems, flight training, marketing and business development, FAA federal regulations, FAA Part 107 exam training, and application of new research and development techniques. The company will also help you locate and hire drone pilots/operators as well. Their team recognizes the immense opportunities that lie ahead for the drone industry, and they want you to share in that excitement.

BirdsiVideo was founded in 2014 and they have been franchising since 2016, about 3 years ago. BirdsiVideo has her corporate head office at 420 W. Main St Carmel, IN 46032 and the current CEO of the company is Mr. Josh Kneifel.

The company has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover 
franchise fee, startup costs, and equipment. The Parent Company of BirdsiVideo is Birdseye Video Franchising LLC and they are seeking new franchise units from all across the United States of America and across the world.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment – $55,325 – $94,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $45,000 – $45,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 8%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
  • Veteran Incentives – 20% off franchise fee
  1. Drone Nerds

Drone Nerds is one of the leading drone related businesses in the United States of America that are into drone sales, repairs, and flying lessons. The company was founded in 2014 and they have been franchising since 2016, about 3 years ago.

Drone Nerds has her corporate head office at 320 N.E. 1st. Ave. Hallandale, FL 33009 and the current CEO of the company is Mr. Jeremy Schniederman. The company has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, and payroll.

Drone Nerds is seeking new franchise units from all across the United States of America and also from all across the world.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment – $162,900 – $271,900
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $24,900 – $24,900
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 3%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 1%
  1. Expert Drones

Expert Drones has a proven business model that can help you get involved in the drone industry by selling the hottest drones on the consumer market. Their design team and world renowned group of drone sales and unmanned aerial vehicle experts provide you with the necessary materials and personnel to start your very own drone business.

Expert Drones coordinate with mall or retail leasing representatives for design approvals, and provide necessary marketing materials during initial set-up phase. This includes being added on their website to their retail locations, and a Google Ad Words package that their team setup to direct local/regional consumer traffic to your mall location.

If you are interested in buying this franchise, please visit their website and make use of their contact form to request for additional information.

  1. DronePartners’

DronePartners are specialists in the application of RPAS technology. They can help you gain a PFCO to train you to complete a complex inspection. DronePartners is the training division of Droneflight, a leading drone operator in the uk but looking towards spreading to the United States of America via franchising.

DronePartners’ experience of the drone industry franchise opportunities available today is one of concern. Industry entrants are buying into a brand and a logo that’s not strong with no guaranteed leads or start up business opportunities. They are taking all the risk. So, if you are still thinking this is a good idea, talk to DronePartners first. They will gladly give you an honest and independent opinion of the package on offer.

  1. Recon Aerial Media

Recon Aerial Media believes that drone services can benefit and even thrive within a highly regulated environment. Drone franchise services is perfectly suited to this environment and can provide a structured approach to safety, flight operations, regulatory compliance, training, client services and marketing.

They are well on their way to creating a drone franchise model that allows the franchisee to quickly adopt and take charge of a ready to fly drone franchise business. Your drone franchise will broadly serve companies and clients who need aerial inspections, assessments and multimedia imaging.

Their franchise model will provide you with the tools, support, backbone and partners network to give you a significant head start. You choose your “specialization” like photography, mapping, precision agriculture, etc and together they will turn your drone business dream into reality. They can work together to target your niche market while maintaining the flexibility to respond to new market opportunities as they present themselves.

Recon Aerial Media’s goal is to create drone franchise opportunities that offer a practical solution, and offer the franchisee choices and that will simplify business startups. Your focus will be on marketing and creating opportunity rather than toiling in administration, research and the drudgery of setting up a business.

Financial Requirements and Info

  • Core Franchise Business Costs – $7 to $15K,
  • Royalties – 5% of gross
  • Advertising fee – $199 per month
  • Drone Package – (varies $2K- $80K)
  1. Measure, the Drone as a Service® Company

Measure, the Drone as a Service® company cofounded by well-known Wall Street investor Robert Wolf, has announced a nationwide drone franchise operation, Measure Nationwide™.

Measure has been at the forefront of creative drone business models since their inception.  The company received FAA authorization last September to operate a fleet of 300 different types of drones for their Drone as a Service® offering – Measure provides drones and pilots to a variety of industries including agriculture, emergency services, and energy.

Given current regulatory requirements and the high cost of commercial drones, the model makes sense for many industries requiring drone services for individual projects.

Measure Nationwide™, hopes “to convert existing commercial drone operators around the country into Measure franchisees.”  The franchise hopes to bring qualified drone operators – all holding pilot’s licenses per FAA regulations- into the Measure family, providing commercial customers with insured flights, as well as with standardized data products for different industries.

In return, the company promises protected territories and a full range of support services through Measure’s powerful lobby in Washington, training, software, and account leads. If you are interested in buying this franchise, please visit their website and make use their contact form to request for additional information.

  1. DJI Chinese Technology Company

DJI is a Chinese technology company, located in Shenzhen, Guangdong but open to interested investors from the United States of America. They are recognized for manufacturing sophisticated equipment known as UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) or drone.

Their goal is to allow you to photograph or record videos that were once out of reach. DJI also designs and manufactures camera gimbals, flight platforms, cameras, propulsion systems, camera stabilizers, and flight control systems.

Financial Requirements

  • Cash Assets – $75,000
  • Net Worth – $100,000