Happy Tuesday!
Before I get into the meat of this absolute goldmine- I want to take a second to share a business my friend and partner Kamal and I are working on that will change the game for your online presence. It’s called Creator Impact Lab and it’s a consulting project to help you master both long-form short-form video growth. Combined, we went from 0-4.5 million followers and we can help you do the same.
Okay, now let’s get into it.
Pretty much every day, someone asks me: "Chris, what business should I start?" And I always see the same pattern. People want sexy. They want AI-powered-blockchain-crypto-whatever. They want the thing that sounds impressive at dinner parties.
Know what I almost never hear? "Chris, I want a boring business that prints money."
Most people confuse interesting with profitable.
So today, I'm sharing something that is not sexy. It won't win awards. But the numbers are absolutely stupid.
I'm talking about drone roof inspections. I know… But seriosuly. Stick with me. And if this newsletter speaks to you and you want to see the full breakdown, check out the full video/ pod: YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Why it has potential:
Right now, drone roof inspection is a $350 million market. And it's projected to hit $3.5 billion by 2035. That's a 10x in a decade. A 15% compound annual growth rate.
For context, when GDP grows at 3%, economists throw a party. This market is growing five times faster than the entire economy.
This is because three massive forces are colliding at once:
Half the insurance workforce is retiring in the next 15 years. These are the people who climb on roofs. The 63-year-old adjusters with bad knees who look at a ladder and think "absolutely not." Less than 25% of the current workforce is under 35.
Our infrastructure is aging. Houses are getting older. Commercial buildings need more inspections. And here's the kicker: many of these inspections are legally required. OSHA mandates them. Insurance companies demand them. This isn't optional work that dries up in a recession.
Worker's comp in roofing is INSANE. 25% of every payroll dollar goes to worker's comp insurance. Not total payroll taxes. Just worker's comp.
So you've got shrinking supply, growing demand, and massive liability costs. Technology has to step in. This isn't some Silicon Valley disruption fantasy. This is math.
The Business Model Prints Money
You can get into this business for under $10,000. A solid DJI Mavic 3 runs $1,200 to $3,500. Add in your FAA Part 107 license (about 40 hours of study, $170 test), some insurance, and basic software. That's it.
Your margins? Gross profit between 50-70%. Net profit between 20-50% depending on how efficient you run.
A standard residential inspection runs $200-400. Throw in thermal imaging, that's another $100-300. Commercial jobs? $300-700. High-rise and industrial work can hit $1,500 per job.
But here's the thing nobody talks about: This is the PERFECT side hustle. You don't quit your job. You start taking jobs on weekends. You build relationships, get good and then you scale.
And I have to mention here: You know what separates a guy with a drone from an actual business? Systems.
When you're doing two inspections a month, you can wing it. When you're doing ten a week across three verticals? You need automation.
HighLevel can handle the entire backend. Lead comes in from a roofing company, gets automatically added to your pipeline. Client gets confirmation. You schedule the inspection. After the job, they automatically get offered social media content or inventory documentation. Storm hits? Automated outreach to every client in the affected area.
This is how you scale from side hustle to six figures without hiring a team. Check out HighLevel for 30 days free at gohighlevel.com/tkopod. One platform for lead capture, scheduling, client communication, and upsells.
I found this guy Tom who, years ago, was an in person, typical roof inspector. He fell off a roof, had that "what am I doing with my life" moment, and bought a drone. Four years later? Seven figures annually. He spends 15 minutes per inspection, takes 50-60 photos, and can knock out two inspections on one battery. And he doesn’t have to get on the roof at all.
His secret? Storms. Every time there's a major storm, he makes $15,000-30,000 in inspections. Same homes on the same street all need work. Super efficient.
How You'd Actually Do This:
The barrier to entry is real but manageable. You need the FAA license. You need to understand how to identify roof damage. You need insurance.
That's GOOD. That's your moat. If it was too easy, everyone would do it and margins would compress to zero.
But here's what makes this business special: customer acquisition is built on relationships, not paid ads. You're not fighting for clicks. You're building partnerships.
Sit down right now and write out names. Who do you know in real estate? Construction? Property management? Insurance? Roofing? Solar? Even if you know ONE person in any of these industries, you have a starting point.
That's your competitive advantage. Not your drone. Not your website. Your relationships. And again- then HighLevel can easily take these relationships and automate the backend.
One roofing company can give you consistent work for months. One property management firm has dozens of buildings. One construction company has ongoing projects. This is one-to-many leverage.
And then you can expand. You're already on site doing inspections. A business wants social media content for an event they are having? That's an extra $100-$500. Need inventory documentation for the construction site? Another upsell. Storm damage assessment? Premium pricing.
The Part You Don’t Want to Hear
This isn't a course. I'm not selling you anything. I'm showing you a legitimate opportunity that requires actual work.
You have to study for the license. You have to learn the software. You have to show up early, do the prep work, deliver quality results, and ask for reviews. It's not passive income. It's not "four hours a week." It's real work that generates real money.
But here's what I love: It's POSSIBLE. You can start this next month. You can validate demand before you quit your job. You can build something valuable while keeping your safety net.
The market is growing whether you participate or not. The insurance adjusters are retiring whether you're ready or not. The infrastructure is aging whether you care or not.
Your Move
I'm not saying everyone should start a drone inspection business. I'm saying if you've been looking for a real opportunity with structural tailwinds, manageable startup costs, and actual profit margins, this deserves 30 minutes of research.
Google "drone roof inspection" in your city right now. See who's doing it. See what they charge. Call a roofing company and ask if they use drone services.
Do the work. Get the data. Make a decision.
P.S. And again. If this speaks to you and you want to see the full breakdown on exactly how you can dive into this business check out the full video/ pod: YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Get out there and take action. Everything is figureoutable.
Have a great week!
Chris
P.S. I share deep dives on business ideas and complete playbooks three times a week on YouTube and every podcast platform.
