How Do Bail Bondsman Make Money?

A bail bondsman or an agency are businesses that lend money to people so they can be released from jail. Only after the bail has been set and someone is willing to secure and post the bail amount. The fee can vary depending on the state you live in. Usually, it is around 10% of the total bail amount. If not the defendant is responsible for the full amount of the bail before they can be released. Depending on the charge, the bail amount can usually be hard for most people to get together in a short amount of time.

The Fee

The bondsman or the agency takes a 10% fee and they guarantee that the defendant will show up to their court hearing. If that doesn’t happen they have 180 days to recover the person or else they are responsible for the full amount of the bail. If the defendants’ alleged crimes have a $10,000 bail amount. That means they or someone they know needs to either pay the full $10,000, or the 10% fee of $1,000. The bondsman takes a risk in exchange for their fee. While the defendants get a much more manageable amount to pay in exchange for release. Though out of the 10% there could local fees, surety fees, and also business expenses. So it doesn’t mean they get the full 10% as profit.

It all depends on the arresting charge(s) and the corresponding bail bond amount to those charge(s). Each state or municipality can set different amounts. Most amounts are based on the arrest. While some areas allow for a judge to set an amount they seem fit.

If someone skips court?

The bondsman or agency will work hard to recover someone who has skipped court. Sometimes it could an innocent thing where the forgot the court date, but they turn themselves in. Other times people go on the run. Thinking they can outlast their sentence. Most of the time they are caught by either a law enforcement officer or a recovery specialist, a.k.a “bounty hunter”