Pricing

[Jeffcdsg]

Hello fellow drone pilots,

I'm in the process of launching an app that will feature drone footage of golf courses, and I’m looking for insights on standard pricing across different states. The project would involve filming all 18 holes of a golf course, with a maximum of 2 days on-site per course.

Here’s a quick example of my workflow: I use a Mini 4 Pro and plan flight paths from tee to green. I mark the flag on each green as a point of interest and capture orbiting footage around it. This footage is then integrated into the app.

I’d really appreciate your feedback on a couple of things:

1. Would you charge a daily or hourly rate for this type of shoot? What would your typical rate be?
2. How many days do you estimate it would take to capture footage for all 18 holes, using this style?

We’re starting to build our library here in Arizona and would be happy to share an example if you’re interested. Your input will help us develop fair and competitive pricing for pilots nationwide, as we're close to finalizing a large account that will expand this project across multiple states.

Thanks in advance for your feedback—I'm new to this forum and excited to hear your thoughts!

 

[LoudThunder]

I'm new to this forum and excited to hear your thoughts!

It sounds like you are a drone hobbyist with a side business dealing with golf courses in some manner…

First off, you do not have the equipment (you Mini 4 Pro) to do the job properly. And from your questions it sounds like you are not Part 107 Certified either (FAA Required UAS Certification to perform a commercialized video).

Even if you feel your Mini 4 Pro is up to the task, then if you intend to charge by the hour or day, do you have sufficient batteries (approximately 25-30 minutes flying time per battery) to fly for 4 to 8 hours, and then your controller probably would only last at most 4-hours… So, to fly for 4-hours (just the morning or afternoon), you would need at least 8-batteries. And if you plan on working all day (8-hours) you would need at least 16-batteries and two controllers…

So, let's assume you do intend to do this, You should go to your local golf course and volunteer to do this gratis. They should not have to pay for you to learn how to fly in the confined area of a course (close ups of the t-box, the tree lined fairway, possible power lines overhead, and an orbit of the green, etc…) and then edit and produce an acceptable product for the customer… You do not simply turn over a DVD of random videos, but a completed product. Which might include a tour of the entire course video and individual videos of each hole…

If you intend to shoot the whole golf course, then you price it for the whole course. Any possible issues, access weather, size, location, etc… that you have to deal with will establish the price. Small courses would of course cost less that a major course…

You and your associates in Arizona need to put more thoughts into this establish a business plan with a list of projects to be offered to your customers.

1. Maybe just a short brief overview of the course with overflights from on high for addition to a web page.

2. A full length tour of the course with an explanation of the features (consisting of yardage from the tee box to cup, the fairway, the rough, other hazards, and the green), this video could also offer scenes from the club house (with each feature determine the price)…

3. Finally, maybe a hybrid version of all the above in a mid-length video…

And I am not even going to charge you my hourly rate, but extend this to you as at the "DronePilots Member Price -- FREE"…

Now that you have heard my thoughts, are you still excited to hear them?

"LoudThunder" will be heard… L L . . .

 

[Jeffcdsg]

I am Part 107 certified, but fairly new to the drone industry. I am also PPL certified, and I obtained the 107 certification primarily because I'm developing an app that involves drone footage. While I don't plan to fly the drones myself, I wanted to understand the legal requirements and framework.

The business side of this project has been well thought out, and we're currently in the process of finalizing a deal with a national company. At this stage, I’m looking to gather fair and realistic pricing specifically for filming golf course fairways—from tee to green only. I’m building this into the budget to ensure that drone operators are compensated appropriately.

To be clear, I'm not looking to start a drone business or become a hobbyist. In fact, I don’t particularly enjoy flying drones. My role is about creating opportunities and forming partnerships that make sense for all parties involved.

For context, I personally filmed the front 9 of my local course using 4 batteries over 8 hours. It was a straightforward flyover using pre-set waypoints. I have a production team in place to handle editing, voiceovers, and post-production—what I need from drone operators is just the raw footage.

The app will eventually include other features and points of interest on and around golf courses, but for now, I'm focused on this specific deliverable. I'm aware there are platforms connecting drone operators to work, but I also hear they often underpay. I want to avoid that. I'm not trying to make anyone rich off one job, but I do want operators who are looking for fair, reliable work that pays well for a couple days’ effort.

So the question is: What would be a fair rate for a drone operator to film just the fairways of a golf course, delivering only raw footage? I am not setting a standard for drone types or anything like that, If you have better ideas on how to approach this I am all open to the ideas.

 

[LoudThunder]

If you have better ideas on how to approach this I am all open to the ideas.

So, all of my previous suggestions were unilaterally rejected…

You've missed the whole point of a business plan, you control all of the factors involved in creating these videos, you know the cost of the pilots (or what you will offer…) if you have also taken in to consideration the cost of the equipment (fun drone like your Mini 4 Pro verses a professional quality drone like like a Mavic Air 3), the cost of the App creation (programmers salaries) Office staff, etc… and the only factor yu do not know is what the courses might be willing or even capable of paying for a product that most courses could not use as in your Raw Footage as the golf course might only have one person on staff who manages their web page or they even outsource it…

For instance your community of Anthem on the North end of Maricopa County only has one small golf course. I cannot imagine that they have much of an advertising budget as very well might be true of most golf courses… Here is Virginia I cannot remember ever seeing even one golf course commercial even when a golf tournament is on the television…

Like I wrote you need a business plan and if your "Plan" is to deliver only raw footage, then why do you have a production team in place to handle editing, voiceovers, and post-production?

You plan sounds like it came out of a committee…

 

[Jeffcdsg]

Let me say it like this.
I’m looking for drone operators to capture raw video footage of an 18-hole golf course. My team will handle all post-production and creative direction. The footage just needs to be clear and high-quality — the equipment you use is up to you. I've already shot footage myself that meets our quality needs, so this type of capture is straightforward and familiar to me.

About My Company:

We work with Fortune 500 companies, supporting them across marketing, sales, operations, and scaling. We help our clients grow 5–10X by launching and executing high-impact strategies. We develop products, craft campaigns, and deliver results. This golf project has been extensively planned and is backed by a major national resort brand you likely know.

What I'm Asking For:

I’m simply looking for pricing from drone operators who can deliver raw footage only. That’s it.
There are no restrictions on equipment, as long as the video quality is solid. Operators I've already spoken with have quoted daily rates or flat fees — I’m collecting this data to compare what pricing looks like in different regions of the country.

There’s no committee, no red tape — just a direct request:
If you can fly and upload the footage, I’m interested. That’s all that’s needed.

Scope:

• Raw footage only
• 18 holes per location

Compensation (please provide your rate):

• Hourly: $__________
• Daily: $__________
• Flat Rate: $__________

These numbers are just for reference — they won’t lock you into anything.

I do have the option of staffing a full-time operator and flying them around the country myself (yes, I own a plane), which might be more cost-effective. But my goal here is to create opportunity for skilled drone operators across the country — and to price this project fairly and sustainably for all involved.