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Bail Bondsmen (Recession Proof)

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A bail bondsman is a person or firm that arranges payment for bail of a person accused of a crime. The bail bondsman usually charges 10 to 15 percent of the bail amount set by the judge, which is income to the bail bondsman. The bail bondsman may also ask for additional collateral to ensure the client shows up for court and does not flee.

  1. Decide if the career of a bail bondsman is right for you. Bail bondsmen are on call seven days a week and may be contacted in the middle of the night to post bail for someone in jail. The work can be unpredictable because if the client does not show up at a court hearing, the bail bondsman is obligated to pay the court the amount of the client’s bail. A licensed bail bondsman can also work as a bounty hunter and apprehend clients who flee on bail, which can be a risky and dangerous process.
  2. Obtain a license. Most states require bail bondsmen to be licensed to have authority to work as a bail bondsman in that states. States vary in their requirements but will generally require you to be 18 years of age and a United States citizen. Contact your state’s Department of Insurance for specific licensing requirements for your state as well as classes for a bail bond license or limited surety agent license.
  3. Attend classes for bail bond licensing or training. Many states offer pre-licensing courses for bail bondsmen in which you learn the laws and regulations involved in the bail process. Depending on the state, you may also be required to pass a written exam. Several states also offer continuing-education classes for bail bondsmen.
  4. Obtain bail bondsmen surety insurance. This insurance is required so you are protected financially if your client does not appear for a court hearing and you are ordered to pay the full amount of the bail. Review the contract with the insurance agency closely and make sure you understand the terms and conditions. If you have dependents, make sure they are also fully protected from the risks.
  5. Find a job. Once you have obtained the necessary licenses and insurance for a bail bondsman in your state, you can begin working. Consider joining a reputable bail bonding agency first. This will help you gain experience and establish credibility. The website of the Professional Bail Agents of the United States maintains a list of all licensed bail bondsmen in the country. After working for an agency for a few years, you may consider starting your own bail bonding company.
  6. How do you make money/or how are you compensated? – It’s commission. I make money on every bond that I write. For example, on a $1500 bond the bail is $150 plus other fees.  My commission split is 50/50 so I will make $75.
  7. How much money do you make as a bail bondsmen? – About $55,000.
Requirements to become a Bail Bondsmen:

Time Frame

  • The applicant must have no outstanding warrants. Any current litigation must be heard by a judge and taken care of before applying for the job bail bondsman, including all county court judgments. The applicant must have no convictions, felonies or misdemeanors in any state that would jeopardize his work efforts.

    • Identification

  • The minimum age to apply for a bail bondsman license is 21. Valid identification must be produced to prove your age and identity. You must be a United States citizen, or a permanent resident alien with a green card, living in the United States. Applicants must have earned a GED or have three years’ experience working with a bail bondsman, and they must pass the pre-licensing test.

    • Considerations

  • Submit between $500 and $700 in non-refundable fees with your completed application form. Monetary amounts will differ, depending on the requirements of your particular state. Attach a current set of fingerprints with your application package to enable government agencies to conduct a background check and ensure your name is clear.

    • Significance

  • You are required to divulge your juvenile criminal history, however trivial, as well as any adult convictions. The exceptions are driving offenses, driving under the influence and parking tickets, which do not need to be submitted.

    • Features

  • When you are notified to attend your exams at a driver’s licensing location, you have successfully passed your background and criminal checks and are on the last leg to becoming a bail bondsman. If you fail the exams, you are required to go through the entire process again.

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    2 Comments

    1. ed wrote:
      September 30, 2010 at 5:44 am

      I was a hick town to bail out someone I know and had to go to a “cell phone store” in the Black area of the hick town where the guy behind the counter was also a bail bondsman.

      This is actually a nice side hustle and I think it should be embedded like I described above. If you knew someone was locked up and you in the hood, then the guy who is the candy store/liquor store is probably the only cat you know who to go to and handle it for you.

    2. R&G wrote:
      September 30, 2010 at 7:44 am

      Unfortunately a lot of us know people who went to jail, going to jail or currently in jail. It’s a strategic move along with fulfilling a need for someone to logically become a Bail Bondsmen.

      It’s a transaction based business and that’s why most of the Bail Bondsmen are near the courthouse as the family member comes out looking for someone to bail their loved one out.

      Again, there are a lot of jobs that kind of repulse us but this is where the money is. We have to learn to sell a product instead of thinking we are selling ourselves and our reputation is stained by the product.

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