Drone Finance

Yes. Drones bought for business use can be financed like other income producing equipment, with the drone acting as security. Most files are written as a chattel mortgage over two to four years. Agricultural spray drones, inspection drones, mapping drones and cinema rigs can all be funded, along with the batteries, payloads and software that go with them.

Agricultural spray and spreading drones, enterprise inspection drones with zoom and thermal payloads, multirotor and fixed wing mapping drones, LiDAR and multispectral survey drones, and heavy lift cinema drones. New and ex demo drones from brands like DJI, XAG, Autel, Wingtra and Freefly are all common. Drones bought for personal or hobby use sit outside business drone finance.

As a rough guide, enterprise inspection drones with payloads run $15,000 to $60,000, agricultural spray drone kits run $30,000 to $80,000 once batteries, chargers and a generator are included, fixed wing mapping drones start around $50,000, and LiDAR setups can run $40,000 to $120,000. Cinema rigs generally sit between $20,000 and $60,000.

Yes, and it is the most common drone file we see. Spray drones from major brands carry the strongest lender appetite of any drone category because there is an active used market for them. The full kit, including spare batteries, rapid chargers, a generator, an RTK base station and spreader attachments, can usually be financed together in one facility.

Usually, yes, when they are bought with the drone. Batteries, chargers, generators, RTK base stations, extra payloads, cases and perpetual software licences can often be bundled into the same facility. Most lenders limit how much of the total can be soft costs such as software, and monthly subscriptions are generally paid as operating costs rather than financed.

Terms typically run from two to four years, and some lenders will go to five on higher value agricultural or mapping drones. Shorter terms are common because drone technology dates quickly. A balloon payment is optional where the lender allows one, and whether to use one is entirely your choice based on cash flow and your upgrade plans.

Not always, but it helps. A remote pilot licence (RePL) and a remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate (ReOC) show lenders the drone will be operated commercially and legally, which strengthens the file. Agricultural spray operators generally also need chemical application accreditation. We can advise what each lender looks for before you apply.

Yes. Ex demo and used drones bought through authorised dealers are straightforward, particularly with a tax invoice and clear serial numbers. Private sales are harder because lenders want to verify ownership and condition, and older models fall outside some lenders' age limits quickly. We match used purchases to lenders whose policy fits the drone.

Some lenders offer seasonal or structured repayments for farmers and spray contractors, with higher payments during harvest or spray season and lower payments in quieter months. This is not available from every lender, so it comes down to placing the file correctly. We can tell you upfront whether your situation suits a seasonal structure.

Yes. Operators buying several drones at once, or adding aircraft over time, can often have the purchase structured as a single approval rather than separate applications for each drone. Lenders look at your time in the industry, your client base or contracts, and how the existing fleet is being used. This saves time and paperwork as the business grows.

Yes. Lenders are tighter on new businesses for drones than for assets with deeper resale markets, but plenty of new operators get approved. Industry experience, your licences, work already lined up and your personal credit history all count in your favour. A deposit or property ownership widens the lender pool, but neither is always essential.

Yes, bad credit is workable. Prior defaults, judgments or a thin credit file narrow the lender pool rather than close it. Specialist non bank lenders assess the full picture, including what caused the issue and how the business is trading now. A clear explanation and recent bank statements go a long way.

For most files under $150,000 you need an ABN, GST registration, your driver's licence, recent business bank statements (typically three to six months) and the dealer quote or tax invoice. Copies of your RePL, ReOC or chemical accreditation are useful where they apply. Larger files usually need full financials. We tell you exactly what is needed before you provide anything.

It is worth comparing both. Some drone dealers offer their own finance plans, and some are genuinely competitive, but a low headline number can be offset by a higher price or conditions on the term. Ask the dealer for the cash price and compare the total cost of both options. If the dealer offer comes out ahead, take it.

Straightforward files with clean credit and a dealer quote are typically approved within 24 to 72 hours. New ABN files, private sales and larger fleet purchases take longer, usually up to one to two weeks, because they need a fuller credit narrative. Once documents are signed, settlement is paid directly to the dealer so the drone is released in time for the season.