$3k Start. $13,500 Published Context.

Model the same building both ways.

SkyPSI Operator starts at $3k a month. A cleaning-drone manufacturer reported a $13,500 average across 189 commercial jobs in Q3 2025. Use that as market context, then model your own building and costs below.

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Apellix cleaning drone working on a commercial building — $13,500Manufacturer-published average job

$3K

Monthly starting point

Commercial-grade aircraft, training and support without a down payment.

$13,500

Published market context

A manufacturer's Q3 2025 average across 189 reported commercial jobs, not Operator earnings.

YOUR INPUTS

Your actual building

Job value is not profit, payback, utilization, or guaranteed compensation.

Sources: Manufacturer-published Q3 2025 commercial job-value report; OSHA aerial-lift requirements; OSHA rope-descent systems.

Same Job Cost Model

Use your building. Use your costs.

Compare the same building, scope, finish, and contract revenue. This model runs in your browser and submits nothing. It calculates direct job contribution, not profit, income, tax, financing, utilization, or payback.

Shared contract revenue

Traditional method

Crew laborLift, scaffold, or rope access plus delivery and setupWater, chemistry, recovery, transport, insurance, and rework

Drone method

Pilot and ground-crew laborSurvey, airspace, exclusion zone, equipment, or subscription allocationWater, chemistry, recovery, transport, insurance, and rework

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Traditional direct cost

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Traditional contribution

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Drone direct cost

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Drone contribution

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Direct-cost difference

Complete every field. Enter 0 when a cost does not apply.

Formula: direct cost is the sum of method inputs. Direct contribution is contract revenue minus direct cost. Direct-cost difference is traditional cost minus drone cost.

The Real Comparison

Access can dominate the cost stack.

Traditional elevated work can require lift rental and delivery, setup, trained operators, fall protection, or a separate rope-descent system with certified anchorages, inspections, independent fall arrest, and rescue capability. On suitable work, a drone can reduce or eliminate that access cost for the drone-performed portion. It does not make every job cheaper.

The Costs That Remain

Drones shift costs. They do not erase them.

Plan for at least a pilot in command and ground technician, plus the ground rig, vehicle or trailer, water and pumping, chemistry, consumables, insurance, permits, travel, site control, maintenance, rework, and ordinary overhead. Compare equivalent scope and finish, then use completed-job records to decide which method earns better direct contribution.

Supporting Research

Research note

Why Hardware Is Not Enough

Research note

Why Battery Life Matters

Your Move

Build the business. Do the work.

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