How Do Bail Bondsmen Make Money? Myths vs. Facts
Bail bondsmen make money from the non-refundable fee a family pays to post a bond, which in Alabama is normally 10% to 15% of the bail amount. In exchange, the bail bond company guarantees the full bail to the court and carries the risk of paying all of it if the defendant misses court. Most myths about bail bonds come from misunderstanding that trade.
Questions before you sign anything? Call today: 205-401-8052. Bail Bonds of Alabama answers 24 hours a day.
Key takeaways
- A bail bondsman’s income is the fee, normally 10% to 15% of the bail in Alabama, and it is earned once the bond is posted.
- If the defendant misses court, Alabama law starts a forfeiture against the defendant and every surety on the bond.
- The co-signer promises to cover the full bail amount if the defendant fails to appear.
- Skipping court is its own crime in Alabama, called bail jumping.
- Bail bonds are available for misdemeanors, felonies, and traffic charges, and misdemeanor bail starts at $300 per charge.
How do bail bondsmen make money?
A bail bond is a promise to the court. The company promises that the defendant will come back to court, and it backs that promise with the full bail amount. The family pays the company a fee for making that promise.
That fee is the bondsman’s income. In Alabama it is normally 10% to 15% of the bail. On a $10,000 bail, the fee is about $1,000 to $1,500, and the company is on the hook for all $10,000.
Alabama regulates who can do this work. The Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board licenses professional bondsmen and recovery agents under Ala. Code § 15-13-202. A professional surety company also needs a court order authorizing it, reissued every year by the presiding circuit judge of each county where it writes bonds, under Ala. Code § 15-13-159.
That is how bail bondsmen make money in Alabama: a regulated fee for carrying a large, real risk. Want to see the fee on your bail amount? Call today and we will run the numbers with you.
Myth: Bail bondsmen keep the money if he skips court
Fact: a missed court date puts the full bail amount at risk for the company and the co-signer. The fee pays for the promise. The forfeiture is what happens when the promise breaks.
Here is how Alabama law handles it:
- Conditional forfeiture. When a defendant misses court with no sufficient excuse, the court orders a conditional forfeiture and show-cause order against the defendant and the sureties, under Ala. Code § 15-13-131.
- Notice. The clerk issues the notice within 90 days of that order, under § 15-13-132.
- 28 days to respond. The defendant or sureties must file a written response within 28 days of service explaining why the bond should stay in place. With no response, the court can enter a final judgment forfeiting all or part of the bond, enforceable like any civil judgment.
- A path back. If the surety returns the defendant to custody, the court may send back some or all of the forfeited amount within six months of the final judgment, under § 15-13-139.
That is why bail bond companies work hard to keep defendants coming to court. A bail bondsman makes money on the fee and loses money on a forfeiture, so every kept court date protects the business. Call today if a court date has already been missed, because acting fast protects everyone who signed.
Myth: The co-signer only risks the fee
Fact: the co-signer, also called the indemnitor, promises to cover the full bail amount if the defendant misses court. Knowing how bail bondsmen make money explains your side of the deal. The fee is what you pay to get him out. The full bail is what you could owe if he fails to go back.
Every release order in Alabama requires the defendant to appear in court, commit no new offense, stay in the state unless the court allows travel, and report any change of address, under Rule 7.3(a) of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure. As the co-signer, you are trusting him to keep all four.
Read bondsman payment plans in Alabama for what you pay and what you promise, then call today to have every term explained before you sign.
Myth: You get the fee back if the case is dismissed
Fact: the bail bond fee is non-refundable. It pays for posting the bond, and that service is complete once the bond is posted at the jail. A dismissal, an acquittal, or a new arrest later leaves the fee earned.
The same goes for a payment plan. A financed fee stays due until it is paid in full, whatever happens in the case. At Bail Bonds of Alabama, creative financing is available, upon approval, with 0% interest when the plan is paid in full within 12 months.
Myth: Skipping court is just a missed appointment
Fact: skipping court is a separate crime in Alabama. It is called bail jumping, and the level depends on the original charge:
- Bail jumping in the first degree applies when the original charge is murder or a Class A or Class B felony. It is a Class C felony under Ala. Code § 13A-10-39.
- Bail jumping in the second degree applies when the original charge is a Class C felony or a misdemeanor, under Ala. Code § 13A-10-40, and is a Class A misdemeanor.
A missed court date also brings a warrant. Read failure to appear in Alabama for how to fix it, and call today for help clearing it.
Myth: Cash is the only way to post bail
Fact: Alabama allows several kinds of release. Under Rule 7.3(b), a judge can order an appearance bond, a secured appearance bond, supervision by a designated person, travel limits, or other conditions. Some defendants are released on personal recognizance, which is a signed promise to return with no money posted.
A bail bond lets you pay a fee instead of the whole bail. Cash paid in full to the court is the money that can come back at the end of the case, and it ties up the entire amount until then. Many families with savings still choose a bail bond so rent, car payments, and childcare stay covered.
Myth: Bail bonds are only for serious charges
Fact: bail bonds cover misdemeanors, felonies, and traffic charges. Alabama’s bail schedule in Rule 7.2(b) starts at $300 for violations and misdemeanors, and Ala. Code § 15-13-105 sets $300 as the minimum bail for each misdemeanor charge.
Some charges have no bail at all. Under Aniah’s Law, a judge can deny bail for certain violent offenses after a pretrial detention hearing. Read Aniah’s Law in Alabama for the list. For every bondable charge, from a Class C misdemeanor to a federal case, call today: 205-401-8052.
Frequently asked questions
How do bail bondsmen make money?
From the non-refundable fee, normally 10% to 15% of the bail in Alabama. In exchange, the company guarantees the full bail amount to the court.
Do bail bondsmen lose money if someone skips?
They can. When a defendant misses court, Alabama law starts a conditional forfeiture against the defendant and the sureties, and a final judgment can make them pay all or part of the bond.
Is a bail bond premium refundable in Alabama?
No. The fee is earned when the bond is posted, and it stays earned even if the case is dismissed.
What happens to the co-signer if the defendant misses court?
The co-signer can be responsible for the full bail amount. Acting quickly to get the defendant back to court gives everyone the best chance to limit the loss.
Is bail jumping a felony in Alabama?
It can be. Bail jumping in the first degree, tied to murder or a Class A or B felony charge, is a Class C felony. Bail jumping in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
Where to go next
- Find an Inmate: find the jail holding your loved one
- How do bail bonds work in Alabama? The whole process, start to finish
- Bail vs. bond: what’s the difference?
- Failure to appear in Alabama
- Bail Bonds 101 and Co-Signers, Costs & Financing
- Bail bonds in Jefferson County, Shelby County, and St. Clair County
Bail Bonds of Alabama has served Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair Counties since 2014. One call. That’s all. Call today: 205-401-8052, 24 hours a day.
This article is general information about bail bonds in Alabama. It is not legal advice. For advice about a specific case, talk to a licensed Alabama attorney.