The honest part
Many roofers now fly their own drones, so your best customers are the ones who don't want to: busy roofing crews, public adjusters and homeowners. The work is repeatable, but you need steady, careful flying close to houses, clear photos of damage, and a quick report. Storm season brings bursts of work, then quiet stretches.
What this work pays
- $175 to $275 per residential roof mission on a gig platformTypical ranges people report: Fonzi.ai review of Zeitview mission pay (third-party blog), 2026-03-16, low confidence
- $150 to $400 per roof, from one pilot's rate cardTypical ranges people report: One practitioner's rate card, r/Part107 (May 2026), 2026-05, low confidence
First three moves
- Practice a full roof pass on your own house: overview, each slope, close-ups.
- Build a one-page sample report with labeled photos.
- Call three local roofers and ask if they ever turn down inspections because they are too busy.
Liftoff gets you licensed and includes a full guide to this kind of work, with portfolio shot lists, pricing sheets and first messages to send.