How does a bondsman make money in the bail bond industry?

A bondsman makes money in the bail bond industry by charging a non-refundable fee, typically around 10 of the total bail amount, to post bail for a defendant. This fee is the bondsman's profit for taking on the financial risk of ensuring the defendant appears in court. If the defendant fails to appear, the bondsman may also collect collateral, such as property or assets, to cover the full bail amount.