Becoming a Bail Agent: Factors to Consider and Other FAQs

The Upside of Being a Bail Bond Agent

There are a lot of good reasons why people pursue a career as a bail agent. Here are some of the most common reasons.

Money

Let's be real. A lot of folks decide to try their hand at being bondsmen because they've heard the money can be pretty good. And it can be. The bail agent typically charges 10% of the total bail amount as a non-refundable fee for their services. If you set up your business in Denver or somewhere else where you're likely to have a steady stream of clients you stand a good chance of securing a comfortable income.

Independence

Bonding agents who own their own business have the ability to set their own schedule (within reason of course) and take as many or as few clients as they're comfortable with. While some bonding companies are open on a regular schedule, be that 9 - 5 or noon - midnight or whatever, keeping such a schedule is not mandatory. Of course, if you choose to work for someone else you'll likely need to stick to a predictable schedule.

Helping to Make Your Community a Better Place

When you offer affordable 24 hour bail bonds you are helping maintain order in your community and enabling basically good people who've made a mistake from being separated from their loved ones while their case winds its way through the legal bureaucracy. It's not unusual for bail agents to develop strong and enduring relationships with local business owners, lawyers, and community leaders who appreciate the work the bondsman does to facilitate the smooth operation of the justice system.

Interesting, Even Exciting, Work

If you work in an office, factory or some other job with an 8-hour per day schedule that doesn't change one day tends to meld into the next. It's rare that anything happens that's different or exciting and over time this type of work environment can be enervating. Bail bondsmen rarely have a boring day and it's unusual if two consecutive days are the same.

Anyone Can do It (In Theory)

You do not need a special degree or loads of relevant experience to become a bondsman. We say "in theory" because even though there is a pretty low barrier to entry, the barrier isn't non-existent. For example, those convicted of violent felonies typically cannot become bail agents. But beyond legal considerations, bail agents sometimes find themselves dealing with unsavory types. And not everyone is up for that.

Being There for People Who Need You

If someone has been arrested in the middle of the night and cannot come up with enough cash to bail themselves out the bondsman intervenes and secures their release, typically in a matter of just a couple of hours. By helping them secure their release in the wee hours of the morning, they help ensure the client can make it to work the next day and no one's the wiser, (that is, as long as their offense is not too serious or could otherwise impact their ability to do their job).

For a lot of the reasons already mentioned – including helping to build better communities, working with a variety of people from all walks of life and helping people in need – being a bondsman can be very rewarding work. You cannot say the same about a lot of other jobs. If you want to go home most nights feeling like you made a quantifiable difference in someone's life being a bondsman is certainly one way to do it.

The Potential Downside of Pursuing a Career as a Bail Bondsman

The advantages of being a bail bondsman are many and make a compelling case for a career in the bail bond industry. But nothing is without its downside. So in this section, we'll look at some of the potential disadvantages of being a bondsman.

• Ethical dilemmas – In some cases the bondsman ends up helping some pretty unsavory characters obtain release. If you're a bondsman you can choose not to take the person as a client, but the bottom line is that you'll often find yourself dealing with people of dodgy character with long records. Some bondsmen won't mind, others might.
• A decent chance of financial loss – It's an unfortunate reality these days that more people than ever are jumping bail. In such cases the bondsman must cover the entire bail amount and then try to recoup their losses through legal means. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.
• Being stigmatized – Like it or not the bail system that has worked so well for centuries has come under assault in recent years by self-serving lawyers, bureaucrats and media members. Because of this, you may find yourself confronted by activists intent on besmirching your reputation.
• Potentially dangerous situations – Some of those unsavory characters we referred to above can become quite aggressive if they feel they're being disrespected. You need to be on your toes at all times when talking face-to-face to clients, and in some cases, their family members.

The following video illustrates the real-world dangers facing bail agents.

Becoming a Bail Agent: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic eligibility requirements to become a bail bonding agent in Colorado?

You must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or legally present, a Colorado resident, and have no felony convictions – or be at least ten years clear since release from probation or parole

What training and education are required before the bail agent licensing exam?

The Colorado Division of Insurance mandates 50 hours of casualty insurance pre‑licensing coursework, plus 8 hours in bail bonding and 16 hours in bail recovery training

How do I get licensed as a bail agent?

After completing coursework, you must pass the state’s casualty insurance (bail bonding) examination – typically via Pearson VUE – and submit fingerprints and a full‑face photo for a background check . Bail agents must also periodically complete ongoing continuing education – normally every two years – to stay licensed and compliant.

What are the key responsibilities and financial risks of the job?

Agents issue surety bonds that guarantee defendants’ court appearances; if a defendant skips bail, the agent owes the full bail amount to the court and may hire a recovery agent to locate and return the person.

What skills or personal qualities help bail bonding agents succeed?

Success in this career relies on strong research and skip‑tracing ability, negotiation and communication skills, ethical judgment, reliability, plus physical stamina or self‑defense readiness when executing warrants or handling bail recovery tasks.

Call Tayler Made for 24/7 Bail Bonding

Being able to offer people in need affordable bail bonds 24 hours a day is a good thing. The work itself can be equal parts interesting and rewarding and there is the potential to make a comfortable living. But it's not entirely without its downside. If you're considering embarking on a career as a bondsman make sure you consider both the upside and downside before making your decision.




Need Bail Bonding in Colorado?

Learn more about the 24/7 bail bonding services we offer throughout the Denver metro area – or call our team for immediate assistance.

About Our Bondsmen