How does a Bondsman make money?

A bondsman makes money by charging a fee on top of the bail bonds they provide as a service. Most bail bondsmen in the United States charge around 10% of the bail bond as a fee. For example, if a person's bail is set at $10,000, the bail bondsman charges a $1,000 fee as a down payment before they pay for the person's bail.

The bail bonds industry is regulated on a state-by-state basis, meaning bondsmen can charge different amounts for fees in each state. The payment a bail bondsman receives acts as a premium paid by the cosigner or defendant. This means the bondsman is assuming the risk of having the defendant show up in court on a specific date.