How to Start a Bail Bonds Business Do your research. Ensure you meet the requirements. Take the pre-licensing course. Pass the bail bonding license exam. Apply for your state license. Find a surety company with a good reputation. Register your bail bondsman business. Set up high risk bail bonds merchant services.
Background Check and Disqualifications A clean background is crucial. You cannot have any felony convictions. If you have a felony on your record, you are automatically disqualified from becoming a bail bonds agent.
Before giving us a call, make sure you have the following information handy: The full name of the person who was arrested. Where is the person being held for custody (you should include the name of jail, city, and county) The person's booking number.
The bail bond agent will need you to sign some paperwork in order for you to secure their services. This usually means paying an amount to the agent, usually a percentage of the total bail amount, and signing off on any collateral for the bond.
If the felonies on your record have been adjudicated by a court, in other words, not mere arrests where the cases have been dropped or dismissed by the prosecutors, then you will be prevented from qualifying for a license as a bail bond agent.
Postsecondary Training Some college-level course work in criminal justice and psychology and training in law enforcement techniques are helpful. Many of todays bail bondsmen have college degrees in criminal justice, although that is not a requirement.
APPLYING FOR A BAIL BOND LICENSE Eligibility for a license is limited to persons who have not previously been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony, or to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or dishonesty.