How does drone equipment financing work for a business?
A working drone can cost about $7,000 for a thermal inspection aircraft or more than $75,000 for a cleaning drone with its power tether and a cleaning payload. If you’re working out how to finance a drone for a business, this guide covers what each kind costs, what can go on one agreement, the paperwork we ask for and what the payments look like.
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How much does a commercial drone cost?
Listed prices run from about $7,000 for a thermal inspection drone to about $40,000 or more for a large spray drone or a cleaning drone package. These are current listings for the four main kinds of work:
| Type of work | Example equipment | New, listed asking price |
|---|---|---|
| Window washing, pressure washing and soft washing | ABZ Innovation C10 ready-to-fly kit (drone, charger, 4 batteries); Lucid Bots Sherpa | $21,507 for the C10 kit. The Sherpa is reported at $45,750; one dealer’s package with 8 batteries, chargers and training is $50,325. |
| Agricultural spraying | DJI Agras T50 complete bundle; Agras T100 ready-to-fly kit with remote, 3 batteries and charger | $28,693 for the T50 bundle; $39,999 for the T100 kit |
| Mapping, LiDAR and survey | DJI Matrice 400 with a Zenmuse L3 LiDAR unit | About $27,850 for the airframe and L3, plus TB100 flight batteries ($1,892 each, sold separately) and a BS100 battery station ($1,925) |
| Thermal and inspection | DJI Matrice 4T; Matrice 400 with a Zenmuse H30T; Dock 3 with a Matrice 4TD | $7,099 for the 4T alone ($7,880 with 2 batteries and a hub); about $22,060 for the Matrice 400 and H30T, before flight batteries; $25,618.99 for a Dock 3 and Matrice 4TD bundle |
Listed asking prices checked October 2026, not appraisals or offers; the Sherpa price is as reported by The Drone Girl. Combined figures add listed prices. Five West isn’t affiliated with these makers or sellers. Sources are at the end of this post.
Thermal drone financing is where the minimum comes up most. A single thermal drone often lands below $15,000 on its own, and the programs we place these deals with are built for business equipment from about that amount. So it usually goes on one agreement with payloads, batteries, a dock or a second aircraft. Spray, mapping and thermal drones are financed the same way, and our commercial drone financing page lays out the program.
What drone equipment can you finance on one agreement?
Everything the drone needs to do the job, as long as it’s on the dealer’s quote:
- The aircraft, whether it’s one drone or a fleet package.
- Payloads and sensors: LiDAR units, thermal and zoom cameras, mapping cameras, spray systems and cleaning payloads.
- Batteries and charging: spare packs, chargers and battery stations.
- Ground gear: controllers, ground stations, docks, power tethers, and the trailer or ground rig a cleaning drone works from.
- Software licenses for mapping or fleet management.
Several smaller items can also go on one contract to reach the usual minimum of about $15,000. For example, two $7,880 Matrice 4T kits on one agreement come to $15,760.
How does cleaning drone financing work for a pressure washing or window cleaning business?
It works like any other drone deal, with more pieces on the quote. A cleaning drone sprays through a hose fed by equipment on the ground, so the quote should cover that drone pressure washing equipment as well as the aircraft. Lucid Bots’ own shop lists these add-ons for the Sherpa:
- Sherpa Power Tether: $19,800. It needs a 10 kW generator and a NEMA 14-50 cable, which aren’t included, so price those too.
- Payloads: $11,500 for the Window Washing Payload and $14,999.99 for the Sherpa Shield Payload.
- Sherpa Battery Plus Kit: $4,000.
A trailer or ground rig can go on the agreement as well. A lower-cost option is the ABZ Innovation C10: its kit lists at $21,507, and the drone is rated for up to 200 bar, about 2,900 PSI.
For an established pressure washing or window cleaning company at an assumed 9%, a Sherpa with the power tether and window washing payload, $77,050 in all, comes to about $1,917 a month over 48 months. That’s the last row of the payment table below, which also has the Sherpa and the C10 on their own.
Lucid also offers its drones by subscription. The Drone Girl reported Lucid Refresh tiers of $2,950, $3,500 and $4,600 a month in 2026, with maintenance and support folded in. With financing you own the drone and handle the upkeep yourself, and a drone on an equipment finance agreement or $1 buyout lease may qualify for Section 179.
If you already run a cleaning company, the drone is one more piece of equipment, and it’s underwritten that way.
How does agriculture spray drone financing work?
Spray drone financing works like any other drone deal, but timing matters more. Spray drones bought for a single season are often financed with the first payment deferred until the season starts, so if you’re buying for spring spraying, applying in late winter is routine. An Agras T50 bundle lists at $28,693 and a T100 kit at $39,999, and spare batteries, chargers and a spreader kit can go on the same agreement.
I’d quote spare batteries with the aircraft, too. A DB2160 battery for the Agras T100 lists at $4,088 and carries DJI’s 1,500-cycle warranty. That’s easier to finance up front than to pay for in cash mid-season.
Spray work adds FAA rules. Spraying or spreading pesticides, fertilizer or seed falls under Part 137, which means a Part 137 certificate and FAA exemptions. A spray drone of 55 pounds or more, payload included, flies under Parts 91 and 137 and needs an N-number. Big spray drones are well past that line: DJI lists the Agras T100 at 75 kg empty, about 165 pounds. Don’t leave that paperwork until the season starts.
What does a monthly drone payment look like?
For an established business at an assumed 9%, every $10,000 financed is about $318 a month over 36 months or $249 over 48:
| Example | Price | 36 months | 48 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABZ Innovation C10 ready-to-fly kit | $21,507 | About $684 | About $535 |
| Matrice 400 with Zenmuse H30T thermal (batteries extra) | $22,060 | About $702 | About $549 |
| Matrice 400 with Zenmuse L3 LiDAR (batteries extra) | $27,850 | About $886 | About $693 |
| Agras T50 complete bundle | $28,693 | About $912 | About $714 |
| Agras T100 ready-to-fly kit | $39,999 | About $1,272 | About $995 |
| Lucid Bots Sherpa | $45,750 | About $1,455 | About $1,138 |
| Sherpa with power tether and window washing payload | $77,050 | About $2,450 | About $1,917 |
Example payments for established businesses at an assumed 9%, with no money down and payments in arrears. Startups and businesses under two years are priced separately. Illustrative, not a quote or an offer.
Should you lease or finance a drone?
Finance it, or use a $1 buyout lease, if you’ll fly it until it wears out. Drone leasing at fair market value (FMV) fits better when you’d rather upgrade in a few years. If you’re after a drone business loan, the closest match is an equipment finance agreement (EFA), a loan secured by the drone.
| Equipment finance agreement | $1 buyout lease | FMV lease | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns the drone | You, from day one. The lender holds a lien. | The lessor, until you pay $1 at the end | The lessor |
| Terms at Five West | 24 to 84 months | 24 to 60 months | 24 to 60 months |
| End of the term | Lien released | Pay $1 and title transfers | Buy at fair market value, return it, or renew |
| Section 179 | Generally yours | Generally yours | Generally the lessor’s. You deduct the payments as rent. |
| Fits a drone you | Plan to fly until it wears out | Same as an EFA, in lease paperwork | Expect to upgrade in a few years |
Want to lease to own a drone? That’s an EFA or a $1 buyout lease. Our breakdown of $1 buyout vs. FMV leases shows how to tell which one you’re signing.
Watch the term, too. Aircraft and sensors improve quickly, so I’d keep most drones on 36 or 48 months, or an FMV lease with an upgrade path.
On taxes, a drone on an EFA or $1 buyout lease is generally deducted like a cash purchase if it’s placed in service by December 31. The 2026 Section 179 limit is $2,560,000, reduced dollar for dollar above $4,090,000 of equipment placed in service. Our Section 179 guide covers the rules, and your tax advisor should confirm the treatment.
What do you need to apply for drone equipment financing?
A copy of the operator’s FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, an itemized quote and a short application. The full list:
- The Part 107 certificate copy.
- An itemized dealer quote listing the aircraft, payloads, batteries, chargers and any tether, trailer or software separately.
- A short application. Qualifying deals up to $500,000 can be decided on the application alone, with no tax returns or financial statements. Above that, expect a full financial package.
- Flight hours, battery cycle counts and seller details on a used or private-party drone.
No certificate yet? To get one, the pilot has to be at least 16, able to read, speak, write and understand English, and fit to fly safely. The pilot then passes the Unmanned Aircraft General - Small (UAG) knowledge test, applies through IACRA and clears a TSA background check. Each drone under 55 pounds also needs FAA registration, which costs $5 and lasts three years.
The application starts with a soft credit inquiry that doesn’t affect your score, and many established-business programs start around a 600 FICO. Most files get a first response within 1 to 2 business hours.
Can a new drone business get equipment financing?
Yes, though the bar is higher than for an established company. There’s no business history to review yet, so the underwriter looks at the owner. A new drone business has a stronger file with:
- Personal credit around 700 or better.
- Experience you can document in the work the drone will do, like spraying, surveying, inspection, public safety or exterior cleaning.
- A down payment and cash left in the business after the purchase.
- Signed or pending contracts, such as a spraying season or cleaning jobs already lined up.
- A recognized brand with dealer support and a real resale market.
As on every drone deal, we’ll also need a copy of the operator’s Part 107 certificate. The payment examples in this post are for established businesses only. Our startup equipment financing guide covers what startup programs look for and how to build a stronger file.
Can you finance a used commercial drone?
Yes. Used and refurbished drones, spray drones included, can be financed from dealers, auctions and private sellers. On one U.S. marketplace in October 2026, Agras spray drone listings include a used 2023 T40 at $14,500 and a 2025 T50 dealer demo with under an hour on it at $25,950. Those are listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers.
Used aircraft are underwritten on flight hours, battery cycles and whether the manufacturer still supports the platform, and the term can’t outrun the drone’s remaining useful life. Expect 10% to 15% down from a dealer and 15% to 25% on a private-party sale. A private-party purchase also adds a lien search, an inspection or appraisal on larger items, and payment straight to the seller. That $14,500 T40 sits just under the usual minimum, so you’d pair it with spare batteries on the same agreement.
There’s one more check on any drone, new or used. Since December 22, 2025, most new foreign-made drone models can’t get FCC authorization. Models the FCC already authorized can still be sold and used, though in July 2026 the FCC proposed limits on some of them. Ask the dealer to confirm the model is FCC-authorized and supported before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a Part 107 certificate to finance a drone?
Yes. Five West needs a copy of the operator’s FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate on drone deals. To earn one, the FAA requires the pilot to be at least 16 and pass the Unmanned Aircraft General - Small knowledge test, and certificate holders complete free online recurrent training every 24 calendar months.
Can you finance a drone for a pressure washing or window cleaning business?
Yes. Cleaning drones such as the Lucid Bots Sherpa and the ABZ Innovation C10 can be financed, and the power tether, cleaning payloads, batteries and trailer or ground rig can go on the same agreement. An established cleaning company is underwritten like any other equipment purchase. For a new cleaning business, 700+ personal credit, documented cleaning experience, a down payment and jobs already lined up make the file stronger.
Can you finance an agricultural spray drone?
Yes. Spray drones such as the DJI Agras T50 and T100 can be financed, with spare batteries, chargers and a spreader kit on the same agreement. Spray drones bought for one season are often financed with the first payment deferred until the season starts. Spraying work also needs an FAA Part 137 certificate and exemptions, so start that paperwork early.
Can you lease to own a drone?
Yes. A $1 buyout lease or an equipment finance agreement ends with you owning the drone. A fair market value lease has a lower payment, and at the end you can buy the drone at market value, return it or renew, which suits aircraft and sensors you expect to upgrade.
Can you finance a drone that costs less than $15,000?
Usually as part of a larger package. The programs we place these deals with are built for business equipment from about $15,000, so a single smaller drone is paired with other gear. Payloads, spare batteries, a dock or a second aircraft on the same agreement can bring the total to that level.
Does Section 179 apply to drones?
Usually, yes. For 2026 the Section 179 limit is $2,560,000, reduced dollar for dollar once more than $4,090,000 of equipment is placed in service in the year. A drone on an equipment finance agreement or $1 buyout lease is generally deducted the same as a cash purchase if it’s placed in service by December 31. On a fair market value lease you deduct the payments as rent instead. Confirm with your tax advisor.
How fast can drone financing be approved?
Most applications get a first response within 1 to 2 business hours, and clean application-only files can be approved in as little as 30 minutes. Funding follows in as little as 24 to 48 hours once documents are signed. Application-only decisions are available up to $500,000 on qualifying files.
See the payment on your drone setup.
Enter the dealer’s quote, a term, a down payment and a structure in the Quote Builder and get an estimated payment, with no credit pull. When the numbers work, one short application matches you with a dedicated funding professional who handles the deal through funding.
This article is general information about financing commercial drones and drone equipment. It is not tax, legal, or accounting advice, or a commitment to finance. Prices shown are listed or reported asking prices, not appraisals or offers. FAA and FCC rules change, so check the agencies’ current guidance before you buy or fly. Tax and accounting treatment depends on your contract and your business; confirm with your CPA. All financing is subject to credit approval and underwriting.