Commercial drone financing lets your business put UAV technology to work without paying the full cost upfront. BNC Finance has financed commercial drones nationwide since the early days of the commercial UAV industry — for solo drone service providers, growing operations adding aircraft and sensors, and established companies bringing drone programs in-house. Finance or lease the aircraft, sensors, software, and support your operation needs, on approved credit, with one application that can bundle equipment from multiple vendors.
How Commercial Drone Financing Works
The process is built around how drone businesses actually buy equipment — often from several vendors at once, with software and training in the mix:
- Pick your equipment. Choose the drone platform, payloads, and software from any vendor or combination of vendors. New and used equipment can both qualify.
- Apply once. A single application covers everything — you don’t need separate financing for the aircraft, the sensor, and the software.
- Review and decision. The lender reviews your business profile. Time in business, revenue, and credit history all factor in, and there are programs for startups and newer operations as well as established companies.
- Vendors get paid, you fly. Once approved and documents are signed, your vendors are paid directly and the equipment is yours to put to work.
All financing is subject to credit approval and offered at the lender’s discretion. Terms and availability vary.
Drone Financing & Leasing Programs at a Glance
Commercial Drone & UAV Financing Program
- Application-only financing from $500 up to $350,000
- Larger transactions up to $2,000,000 with full financial package
- Terms from 12 up to 84 months
- Seasonal and quarterly payment structures available
- Bundle equipment from multiple vendors on one agreement
Commercial Drone & UAV Leasing Program
- Application-only leasing from $500 up to $250,000
- Multiple lease structure options, terms from 12 to 60 months
- Master lease line: acquire several pieces of drone and UAV equipment and wrap them into one lease
Startup Business Drone Financing
- Application-only programs up to $75,000 for startup and new drone businesses — see startup business drone financing
All financing is subject to credit approval and offered at the lender’s discretion. Terms and availability vary.
What You Can Finance
- Aircraft — multirotor, fixed-wing, and VTOL platforms, including spray drones and heavy-lift systems, new or used.
- Sensors and payloads — LiDAR sensors, multispectral and hyperspectral cameras, thermal imaging, RTK/PPK modules, gimbals, and photogrammetry rigs.
- Software and data processing — mapping and modeling software, subscriptions, and the workstations that process your flight data.
- Support equipment — batteries, charging stations, ground control, cases, and trailers.
- Soft costs — training, certification, shipping, and maintenance agreements can often be wrapped into the same financing.
Financing vs. Leasing a Commercial Drone
Financing points toward ownership: you build equity in the equipment and, for qualifying purchases, may be able to take the Section 179 deduction in the year the equipment goes into service — see our guide to Section 179 for drone service providers. It fits aircraft and sensors you expect to run for years.
Leasing points toward flexibility: lower upfront commitment and a natural upgrade path at end of term — worth considering in a technology cycle where sensor and platform generations move quickly. Many operators finance their core platform and lease the technology that turns over fastest. Not sure which fits? Talk it through with us before you apply.
Who Qualifies
Lenders look at time in business, revenue, and the credit profile of the business and its owners. Established operations typically have the most options, but a short operating history doesn’t rule you out — dedicated startup business drone financing programs exist for new drone service providers, subject to lender approval. Being turned down by a bank doesn’t mean your credit is bad — banks decline solid businesses for reasons that have nothing to do with creditworthiness, and specialty equipment lenders often see the same file differently.
Drone Financing by Industry
Every industry uses drones differently, and the equipment list follows the mission. Find your use case:
- Agriculture drone financing — spray drones, multispectral crop scouting, and precision-ag platforms.
- Construction drone financing — site mapping, progress documentation, and volumetrics.
- Survey drone financing — RTK/PPK platforms and photogrammetry payloads for mapping firms.
- Drone LiDAR sensor financing — high-value LiDAR payloads for surveying, forestry, and utilities.
- Inspection drone financing — thermal and zoom payloads for infrastructure, energy, and industrial inspection.
- Engineering drone financing — reality capture and modeling for engineering firms.
- Roofing drone financing — inspection drones that keep crews off ladders.
- Real estate drone financing — aerial photo and video platforms for agencies and media crews.
- Power wash drone financing — exterior-cleaning drone systems for washing businesses.
For Drone Dealers & Manufacturers
If you sell drones, offering financing at the quote closes more sales. Our drone vendor financing program gives dealers and manufacturers a financing option to present with every proposal, plus marketing support to put it to work.
Learn Before You Buy: Drone Guides
Choosing the right equipment is half the financing decision. Our UAV library covers the technology in depth:
- Hyperspectral vs. multispectral drones — which sensor fits your mission (and budget).
- Beginner’s guide to drone LiDAR — what LiDAR does and when it beats photogrammetry.
- Thermal imaging guide — thermal payloads for inspection work.
- Volumetric measurements with drones — stockpile and site volumetrics.
- Drone marketing guide — winning clients for your drone service business.
- Drone business and service ideas — where the commercial demand is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a startup get commercial drone financing?
Yes — there are financing programs designed for startup and new drone businesses, subject to lender approval. Time in business affects which programs are available, but a new business with a solid plan and reasonable credit profile has options. See startup business drone financing.
Can I include software, sensors, and training in the financing?
Usually, yes. Drone financing can bundle the aircraft, payloads like LiDAR or multispectral sensors, software, and soft costs such as training and shipping into a single agreement — even when the items come from different vendors.
Should I finance or lease my drone equipment?
Finance what you’ll keep; consider leasing what you’ll upgrade. Financing builds ownership and may open Section 179 treatment for qualifying purchases; leasing keeps upfront commitment lower and makes end-of-term upgrades simple. Many operations use both.
Can I finance a used commercial drone?
Yes, used commercial drone equipment can qualify for financing, on approved credit. Used high-value payloads like LiDAR sensors are commonly financed as well.
Does drone equipment qualify for Section 179?
Qualifying drone equipment placed in service during the tax year may be eligible for the Section 179 deduction. Read our Section 179 guide for drone service providers and confirm specifics with your tax professional.
What do lenders look at when I apply?
Primarily time in business, business revenue, and credit history. The equipment itself serves as collateral, which is part of why equipment financing can be more accessible than unsecured loans. All financing is subject to credit approval.
Apply for Commercial Drone Financing
One application covers your aircraft, sensors, software, and soft costs — from any combination of vendors. Apply now for drone financing, or explore all our equipment financing programs.
All financing is subject to credit approval and offered at the lender’s discretion. Terms and availability vary.