How to Start a 3D Tour Business in 2026: Full Guide, Tools, Costs and Workflow
- Louis Pont
- Nov 28
- 5 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
The 3D capture industry is expanding at an impressive pace. What used to be a niche real estate add-on has now become essential across construction, tourism, architecture, hospitality, conservation, interior design and asset management. Builders expect pre-plaster 3D records. Hotels rely on virtual walkthroughs to increase bookings. Councils want digital archives for their assets. Designers want spatial context they can rely on.
Starting a 3D tour business in 2026 is a genuinely viable opportunity — and with modern tools, far easier than most people think. This guide walks you through the equipment, software, insurance, workflows and business systems you need to set yourself up professionally from day one.
Why 3D Tours Are in High Demand
Before jumping into the setup, it’s helpful to understand the industries driving growth:
Construction and AEC
• pre-slab, pre-plaster and as-built documentation
• reduced rework
• fewer RFIs
• better coordination
• long-term asset records
Real estate
• immersive property tours
• interstate and overseas buyers
• premium marketing
Hospitality & tourism
• hotels
• boutique accommodation
• venues
• tourist attractions
Conservation & environmental work
• documenting wildlife hospitals
• visitor centres
• heritage sites
• restoration tracking
Commercial & retail
• shops
• showrooms
• event spaces
The market is wide, and you can niche down later — construction alone is a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for 3D documentation.
Step 1: Choose the Right 3D Capture Camera
Your primary capture device determines the quality, accuracy and speed of your work.
There are many cameras on the market, but for starting a new business, you want three things:
Fast capture speed
Strong accuracy
Affordable operational costs
This is why the Realsee Galois M2 is one of the best entry-to-pro options available today.
Why the Galois M2 is ideal for new operators
Portable, lightweight, easy to carry all day
High-quality LiDAR indoor capture
Outdoor capability
RAW image downloads
Multiple output formats:
• E57
• OBJ
• Floor plans
• RAW stills
• 134MP panoramas
Hybrid workflow (use a 360 camera or mobile LiDAR alongside it)
Affordable hosting and credits
Constant software improvements
If you’re starting now, this is the best value available:
Realsee Galois Black Friday Bundle:
It includes credits, hosting, RAW downloads, an extra battery, and a charger — a very complete starter kit.
Step 2: Essential Gear Checklist
Once you have your camera, you’ll need a small, reliable kit that keeps you efficient on site. You don’t need a huge setup — just well-chosen essentials.
Core gear
Tripod (included in bundle or buy a carbon fibre version for mobility)
Quick-release plate
Lighting for dark spaces (optional but helpful)
Spare batteries
Power bank
High-speed SD card (if using complementary 360 cameras)
Hard case or backpack for transport
Laptop capable of handling point clouds
Mobile phone or tablet for on-site control
Optional gear to expand services
Drone (Mavic 3 Pro / Air 3 / Mini 4 Pro for aerial mapping and marketing)
GoPro MAX or Insta360 for outdoor transitions
High-CRI torch for poorly lit construction sites
Measuring tools (laser distance sensor / tape)
This setup allows you to handle any project: construction, hospitality, real estate, or environmental capture.
Step 3: Choose Your Software Ecosystem
Your software choices will determine how efficiently you deliver projects.
1. Capture & Processing: Realsee
You’ll use Realsee to:
scan spaces
upload data
generate tours
export RAW photos
export E57 and OBJ
create floor plans
generate marketing content
One of Realsee’s strengths is simplicity — scanning to final tour is fast and reliable.
2. Client Management: Bloom.io
Running a 3D tour business involves far more admin than most people realise — quotes, emails, contracts, follow-ups, deposits, scheduling, invoices, reminders. Bloom.io simplifies everything by placing your entire client workflow into one clean system.
With Bloom, you can:
automate enquiry responses
send branded proposals and contracts
collect deposits and payments online
let clients book their own time slots
deliver files in a secure client portal
manage ongoing hosting or retainer billing
It removes 80 percent of the admin burden and makes you look polished and trustworthy from the first contact.
Try Bloom.io here: https://bloom.cello.so/isyBd7fRc8n
3. Optional Tools
Depending on your niche:
CloudCompare — advanced point cloud editing
QGIS — mapping
Photoshop / Lightroom — image editing
Wix / Squarespace / Webflow — your website
Bloom / Notion — project tracking
Revit / ArchiCAD — BIM workflow
Step 4: Setting Up Your Business Structure and Insurance
Starting a 3D capture business isn’t only about the technical side. You need solid foundations to operate safely and professionally.
Most operators begin as:
sole traders/sole proprietorship for simplicity
companies once they scale or want extra protection
Insurance is essential — especially if you work around construction sites, commercial properties or public assets. The main policies you’ll need are:
public liability insurance
professional indemnity (very important for construction documentation)
equipment insurance
drone insurance if you add aerial capture
With these in place, you’re ready to work on larger commercial and AEC projects without risk.
Defining Your Services and Pricing
One of the strengths of a 3D tour business is the range of services you can offer with a single camera. Most new operators build their offerings around:
3D tours for marketing
real estate
hotels and resorts
tourism venues
restaurants and retail spaces
Construction and AEC documentation
pre-slab
pre-plaster
as-built
services capture
defects documentation
handover scans
Technical deliverables
E57 point clouds
OBJs
RAW images
floor plans
offline files
Optional add-ons
aerial photography or mapping
vertical video walkthroughs
still photography
CGI or design collaboration
Pricing varies widely, but in most regions you can expect:
$250–$650 for real estate
$700–$5,000 for construction stages
$1,500–$10,000+ for commercial spaces
$5,000–$100,000+ for large or multi-day projects
Once clients see the value, repeat work comes naturally.
Step 5: Creating an Efficient Workflow
A successful 3D capture business depends on efficiency. You need clear processes so each job follows the same smooth path regardless of client or industry.
A typical workflow looks like:
Enquiry comes through your website and is captured by Bloom
Bloom sends an automatic intro email and collects initial information
You send a branded proposal with scope and price
Client signs digitally and pays deposit
Client books the site visit directly in your Bloom calendar
You complete the scan using the Galois M2
Upload to Realsee and generate the tour and exports
Deliver via Bloom’s client portal
Final invoice is paid automatically
Client returns for future scans
This process allows you to run your business with far less friction and far fewer manual emails.
Step 6: Building Your Website and Portfolio
Your website is your storefront. Clients want to see what you can deliver — 3D tours, before/after examples, construction documentation samples, aerial views, point cloud exports.
A strong website includes:
real projects you’ve captured
clear service descriptions
a simple contact form connected to Bloom
sample virtual tours
pricing guidance
a clean, modern layout
mobile-optimised pages
If you already have a few demo scans, showcase them immediately. Even one impressive project can secure your first clients.
Step 7: Finding Clients and Growing Your Business
There are many ways to build your client base. The simplest and most effective include:
visiting construction sites and offering sample scans
approaching boutique real estate agencies
connecting with hotels and accommodation managers
contacting architects and designers
joining local business groups
registering on VendorPanel for council work
showcasing your work on LinkedIn and Instagram
The more people see your capabilities, the more naturally your business grows. 3D capture is still new to many industries, and your expertise quickly becomes valuable.
Final Thoughts: You’re Ready to Start
Starting a 3D tour business in 2026 is a genuinely exciting opportunity. With the right equipment, clean workflows and strong client management, you can build a profitable business serving industries that truly benefit from accurate, immersive documentation.
To recap, the two most important tools to simplify your journey are:
The Realsee Galois M2 for capture:
Bloom.io for client and business management:
Together, they give you everything you need to start strong, operate professionally and scale when you’re ready.
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