EDL 013: How to Start a Drone Business and Go Full-Time: Keson Drayton’s Success Story

Want to start a drone business in 2025 and get paid to fly? This episode reveals how Keson Drayton turned a career layoff into a profitable freelance drone business—using hustle, mindset, and the “Costco effect” to win clients. From picking up a Phantom 4 to building D Flight Productions into a recognizable name across Denver, Keson shares how he went from zero bookings to full-time drone pilot, without outside funding, gear obsession, or shortcuts. Whether you're learning real estate drone photography, looking to land your first FAA Part 107 gig, or just tired of waiting for the “perfect time,” this is the roadmap you’ve been waiting for. In this episode, Keson explains: How he started a full-time drone pilot business from scartch Why real estate drone photography is still the best entry market How to find drone jobs using Zillow, outreach, and local leads What the Costco Effect means—and how it grows your business Why learning to edit your own footage is a superpower How to handle slow months and stay in the game The mindset required to build a brand and keep moving forward ? Want to Make Money Flying Drones? DroneU gives you the blueprint to start and grow a real drone business: ?? FAA Part 107 prep ?? 40+ courses on flight skills, real estate, mapping, and business ?? Pricing guides, client acquisition, and weekly coaching ?? Supportive community of top-tier drone pros ? Start here ? https://www.thedroneu.com ? Know someone ready to take the leap? Share this episode with them—they need to hear Keson’s story. Timestamps 00:00 – Meet Keson Drayton: engineer turned drone entrepreneur 07:00 – First drone (Phantom 4) + FAA airspace mistake ? early learning moment 16:00 – Laid off from corporate ? launched full-time drone career 25:00 – Launching D Flight Productions + getting FAA Part 107 certified 35:00 – How to get real estate drone clients using Zillow and direct outreach 43:00 – The “Costco Effect” for building brand awareness 50:00 – Mental health, motivation & staying focused as a solo drone pilot 55:00 – Daily growth habits: client follow-up, skill sharpening, FAA compliance 01:01:00 – Where to connect with Keson + booking drone jobs in Colorado ?Resources & Links Connect with Keson: ? Instagram – @dflightproductions ? TikTok – @DPKey (Drone Pilot Key) ? LinkedIn – Keson Drayton ? Book Drone Services – 720-477-0513 Stuck between a safe job and chasing your drone dream? ? Download our FREE Drone Pilot Starter Kit Includes: FAA checklist, pricing template, and plug-and-play proposal to help you land your first client with confidence. ??https://learn.thedroneu.com/bundles/drone-pilot-starter-kit ? Keep Watching ? More drone pilot success stories: Jason Flakes on storytelling and government gigs ? [insert link] Stay Connected ? Hit Like if you learned something new ? Subscribe and turn on notifications ? Share this with a pilot or creative stuck at a crossroads