Blog & Resources

Practical guides, industry insights, and operational best practices for drone business owners.

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10 Mistakes Drone Operators Make (And How to Avoid Them)

Dec 15, 2024 � 8 min read

We analyzed 200+ drone operators and found recurring patterns that limit profitability. Learn the top 10 mistakes and exact fixes for each. Includes real data on cost per job by mistake type.

Operations Profitability

Drone Service Pricing Formula: From $150 to $2,000+ Per Job

Dec 10, 2024 � 12 min read

Underpricing is the #1 profit killer. This guide walks you through a proven pricing framework used by 50+ ColonyCore customers. Includes calculators for: flight time + equipment + markup.

Pricing Economics

Battery Management Economics: Extend Lifespan 30%, Save Thousands

Dec 5, 2024 � 10 min read

Batteries are your biggest consumable cost. We broke down the economics: proper storage saves $50 per battery per year. For a 10-drone fleet with 3 batteries each, that's $15K/year. Here's how.

Fleet Management Maintenance

Pilot Scheduling 101: How to Run Jobs Without Chaos

Nov 28, 2024 � 9 min read

Manual scheduling breaks at 5+ pilots. Learn the system used by successful teams: color-coding, buffer time, pilot specialization, and how to handle cancellations without customer frustration.

Operations Leadership

From 1 to 10 Pilots: The Growth Playbook

Nov 20, 2024 � 15 min read

Scaling past solo operation is hard. This playbook covers: hiring pilots, managing equipment, building processes, setting margins, and when to invest in software. Real timelines and budget from 3 companies.

Growth Operations

FAA Compliance for Drone Services: Everything You Need to Know

Nov 15, 2024 � 13 min read

Part 107 basics, record-keeping requirements, waiver applications, and audit readiness. Also covers: what happens if you get audited, how to keep flight logs, and how ColonyCore helps automate compliance.

Compliance Legal

Free Downloads & Tools

Drone Business ROI Calculator

Calculate your true cost per flight hour, profit margin by job type, and break-even timeline for equipment purchases.

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Pilot Scheduling & Job Management

Assign jobs, manage pilot availability, track equipment rotation, and handle schedule changes without chaos.

See Job Management

FAA Compliance Guide

Complete guide to Part 107 compliance: flight log requirements, maintenance records, crew qualifications, and waiver tracking.

Read the Guide

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