Reflecting on Progress, Partnerships, and Purpose at Aerial Inspections, LLC
As 2025 comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on how far both our company and our industry have come. What started as a safer way to capture property data has evolved into a full-scale operational advantage for our clients — helping businesses reduce risk, save on taxes, and document their assets with precision that was once impossible.
This year, our mission came into sharper focus: helping businesses protect what they’ve built while keeping people safely on the ground.
🧱 Safety First: “No Ladder. No Liability.”
We’ve seen firsthand that every ladder you don’t climb is an accident that can’t happen. According to the National Safety Council, ladder-related injuries cost U.S. businesses around $24 billion each year in medical expenses, lost productivity, and legal claims.
By using drones, our clients have cut workplace fall risks by over 90%, joining a growing movement across construction, facilities, and property management sectors to modernize inspections safely.
Under FAA Part 107, drone operations have maintained an exceptional safety record — with just 187 minor incident reports across all commercial flights since 2019.
That’s not just a statistic — it’s proof that technology can replace risk with reliability.
💼 Smarter Finances: Retainers as a Tax-Timing Advantage
Many Ohio businesses discovered this year that aerial inspections aren’t just deductible — they’re strategic.
Our CPA partners and documentation team helped clients use year-end retainers as a way to accelerate deductions under the IRS’s 12-Month Rule (Treas. Reg. §1.263(a)-4(f)).
That means a December payment for 2026 inspections can be fully deducted in 2025, reducing taxable income now while locking in service for next year.
In simple terms: when structured properly, a $2,000 retainer saves $440 in taxes immediately for a business in the 22% bracket.
That’s smart tax planning — and peace of mind for next year’s maintenance schedule.
🏠 Supporting Ohio’s Businesses and Property Owners
Closer to home, 2025 brought new clarity for Ohio’s tax and insurance landscape.
Drone inspections are officially recognized as ordinary deductible operating expenses for both small businesses and landlords.
They not only help keep properties in top condition but also reduce taxable net income — potentially helping more Ohio entrepreneurs qualify for the $250,000 Business Income Deduction.
And when storms hit Northeast Ohio, our clients were prepared.
Many used our “before and after” documentation to support insurance claims and property tax reassessments — turning high-resolution drone data into tangible savings and faster recoveries.
🧩 Real ROI Across Every Industry
This year’s data confirmed what we already believed: drones aren’t just cool tech — they’re high-ROI tools.
- Construction & Facilities: Sites using drones saw 25–35% lower inspection costs and up to 55% better safety performance.
- Real Estate: Listings featuring aerial images sold 68% faster, while proactive roof inspections reduced storm-damage claims.
- Insurance & Risk Management: Companies using drone data processed claims 30–40% faster and reduced loss-adjustment expenses by 30%.
- Infrastructure: State and federal agencies reported 5× faster inspections and improved safety when deploying drones for bridge and disaster assessments.
Every industry that embraced aerial documentation saw the same pattern: safer workers, stronger records, smarter financials.
🌤️ Looking Ahead
In 2026, we’re not just continuing — we’re accelerating.
- Expanded Retainer Programs: We’ll help more Ohio businesses capture year-end deductions while securing guaranteed service for next year.
- Group & HOA Discounts: To make safety and savings more accessible, we’re expanding our group inspection packages — cutting costs by up to 50% for neighborhoods and business parks.
- Enhanced Data Services: Expect smarter 3D modeling, AI-powered damage detection, and secure cloud archives for long-term asset tracking.
Our goal is simple: to make aerial intelligence the new standard for responsible ownership.
✈️ Gratitude & Growth
To our clients, partners, and community — thank you.
You’ve trusted us to protect what matters most, and together we’ve proven that innovation, safety, and stewardship belong on the same flight path.
As we look toward 2026, we’re more energized than ever to help you see your business from a higher perspective — literally and financially.
Here’s to higher ground, safer operations, and smarter strategies in the year ahead.
— The Aerial Inspections, LLC Team