If you make a profit derived from aviation activity in the U.S. you have to have a commercial pilot certificate. It's been this way for decades. The FAA has proposed a reduced burden certification for drones that merely involves passing a test.
A certified private pilot can't even break even when sharing expenses. It's operating cost divided by number of occupants, and since the pilot is an occupant he must pay a fair share or it's a violation of his certification.
A certified commercial pilot can't even arrange the aircraft, or it's considered a charter operation, which operates under different regulations (FAR 135). So the commercial pilot has to be hired separately from the aircraft to engage in a general aviation for profit flight. Again, it's been this way for decades.
A certified private pilot can't even break even when sharing expenses. It's operating cost divided by number of occupants, and since the pilot is an occupant he must pay a fair share or it's a violation of his certification.
A certified commercial pilot can't even arrange the aircraft, or it's considered a charter operation, which operates under different regulations (FAR 135). So the commercial pilot has to be hired separately from the aircraft to engage in a general aviation for profit flight. Again, it's been this way for decades.