How to Start an Agricultural Drone Business in New Zealand

Spray drones are changing the face of farming in New Zealand. They make product application faster, more precise, and cost-effective, and they create a real opportunity for anyone willing to start a drone business. Most beginners dive straight into researching drones, but the first question is simpler: can this actually make money? The answer is yes, and this guide shows you how operators got there.

With years of experience in the industry, we’ve helped hundreds of drone operators get their businesses started. We’ve seen the ups and the downs and have the knowledge to help you avoid the pitfalls and stay on the path to building a successful operation. 

How do the numbers stack up?

Internationally, drone operators have the luxury to spray large-scale broadacre farms, but our New Zealand landscape provides many other lucrative spraying opportunities. Forget chasing the big hectares. In New Zealand, the smaller, diverse jobs are often where the money is. Pasture spraying, spot spraying weeds like gorse or ragwort, and managing small horticulture blocks or lifestyle properties are all opportunities waiting for drone operators. Kiwi drone operators need to be crafty and provide the services that are suited to themselves as operators and the surrounding region. 

Scenario 1: Broadacre work

If you're doing paddock spraying or crops, you’ll often be charging per hectare.
•    Typical rate: $65–95 per hectare
•    Daily output: 40–60 hectares (depending on terrain, paddock layout, and your setup)
•    Daily revenue: $1700–$2,500+
•    Seasonal potential: $80,000–$120,000 over a 18–22 week spray season

Once you’re up and running, costs are relatively low. Most operators use chemicals supplied by the farm and have easy access to water, while the sites themselves are usually well-accessed and simple to map for automated flights. This setup allows the drone to operate at peak efficiency, keeping work fast and cost-effective.

Scenario 2: Targeted work (high-margin)

This is where New Zealand is more unique. Many jobs aren't about acreage, they’re more about access and accuracy. 
•    Jobs: Spraying on hillsides, targeted weed patches, inaccessible gullies, wet areas
•    Typical rate: $450–$650 per hour, often with a minimum callout or gate to gate
•    Output: 3–10 hectares/hour depending on conditions, often including ferrying between small sites
•    Clients: Farmers, lifestyle block owners, orchardists, regional councils, DOC contractors

These jobs are fast, high-margin, and often underserviced. The ability to treat steep, sensitive, or isolated areas with zero ground impact gives drone operators a clear advantage over boom sprayers or helicopters.

Startup costs and what you’ll need

A typical entry-level setup includes:

•    Drone: DJI Agras T50 or similar — $35,000–$55,000 depending on config
•    Transport/trailer/tank/pump: $5,000-$25,000 depending on what you already own
•    CAA certification & training: $9,000-$12,000 (if using DroneTrust or similar)

Total investment: around $65,000–$85,000, depending on how turnkey you want to be from day one. Many operators recover this in their first spray season, especially if they combine both broadacre and targeted work.

How much do you make? 

Based on the above scenarios most of our members bill $100,000 - $150,000 first year and it increases each years to more like $250,000. If you amortise the startup over 3 yrs to $30,000 and then include overheads of 40-50% you end up with a reasonable return in the $100,000+ region. This takes a lot of hard work though.

Who’s this business suited to?

If you’re one or more of the following, you’re in a great position to succeed:
•    A farmer or contractor already working on the land, looking to expand services
•    A weed spraying contractor wanting a safer and more efficient alternative to foot or heli-based spraying
•    A young entrepreneur looking for a niche with relatively low capital and high reward
•    A tech-minded worker (even with no ag background) willing to learn spray patterns, client needs, and farm timing

You don’t need to have years of Ag experience — but you do need a good attitude, attention to detail, willingness to work hard, and the ability to build trust with clients.

How to build the business (and not just fly the drone)

Starting a drone spraying business is more than just buying a drone and showing up. Here’s what we see that sets the successful operators apart:

1. Learn the spray craft

What You'll Need to Learn to Be a Good Spray Operator

You’ll need to get good at:

 

• Calibration and flow control
  Learn how to choose the right height, speed, and pump rate for optimal coverage, while understanding how tank mix and product type affect your spray pattern.
  
• Drift management
  Factors like wind, droplet size, altitude, and flight speed determine where your spray actually lands. You’ll need to minimise drift and operate within safe, effective conditions.
  
• Spray coverage and overlap
  Uniform coverage is key. Plan your swaths and overlaps carefully to avoid leaving stripes or double-dosing edges, especially on uneven ground or crops of varying height.
  
• Product mixing and handling
  Accurate mixing, safe chemical handling, and following best practices for different formulations are essential. Clean, compliant work is expected at all times.
  
• Chemical handling and labels
  Understand which chemicals deliver the best results and the correct methods for applying them safely and effectively.
  
• Flight planning for application
  Tailor each job to the field, crop, and conditions. Set the correct speed, altitude, and flow rate, and be prepared to adjust if conditions change mid-job.

These skills take practice and they’re what separates the high level operators from the rest of the pack.

2. Get certified

You’ll need to meet several regulatory and quality standards before starting to charge for spray jobs in NZ. Here’s what that involves:

1.    Operator Certificate (UAOC)
You’ll need to obtain Part 102 Certification (Unmanned Aircraft Operators Certificate) from the CAA. This will allow you to fly with certain exemptions from Part 101 rules. These exemptions include things like flying drone >25kg and spraying chem. Part of this application includes an Exposition (your safety documentation and standard operating procedures). It will also outline the pathway needed to become an Ag rated pilot.

2.    Pilot Competency

Any person flying under your UAOC must hold:
o    A Part 102 RPAS Pilot Certificate
o    A Chemical Handling Qualification
o    An Agricultural UAV Rating
o    And successfully complete an Operational Competency Assessment (OCA) aligned with your exposition

The Agricultural Drone Association offers exposition writing services.  Drone Trust offers online training and support to get certified and compliant quickly.

3. Get your trailer and systems sorted

The most profitable operators are fast and professional. That means:
•    Refilling in under 2 minutes
•    Batteries always ready
•    Clear signage, PPE, SDS folder, safety cones, and procedures

A reliable setup gives farmers confidence, keeps operations running smoothly, and makes you more likely to get referrals. To achieve this, your rig should be equipped for carrying water and pre-mixing chemicals. From our experience, it’s best not to overcomplicate your setup at the start. Wait until you’ve been operating for a while and have a clear idea of the types of jobs you do most often.

4. Market like a contractor, not a tech company

You don’t need a flashy drone website. You need:

•    A Facebook page with photos of you spraying
•    A Google My Business listing that says “Drone spraying services – [Your Region]”
•    Relationships with rural supply stores, agronomists, and contractors
•    A few satisfied clients to tell their neighbours about you

This is a reputation game. Be reliable, be on time, and solve the farmer’s problem — they’ll spread the word.

Final thoughts

Starting a spray drone business in New Zealand isn’t a shortcut to easy money, but with the right equipment, good systems, and a strong work ethic, you can build a business that’s both profitable and flexible, one that fits your lifestyle and grows at your own pace.

The potential is real. New Zealand’s varied terrain, unpredictable weather, and diverse land use create the perfect environment for drone spraying to outperform tractors, trucks, and aircraft in more and more situations.

If you’re serious, submit your Exposition, complete your training, get certified, and invest in the right drone. There’s a solid business opportunity waiting for you, and the sooner you take off, the sooner you’ll be ahead of the pack.