Bail bondsmen get their money back by charging a non-refundable fee, usually 10% of the bail amount, in exchange for posting the bail bond. This fee is typically paid upfront by the individual, their family, or friends posting bail on their behalf.

The bail bondsman then assumes the risk of the defendant failing to appear in court. If the defendant fails to appear, the bondsman can hire a bounty hunter to track down and capture the defendant, who will be returned to jail. The bondsman can also sue the defendant or their cosigners for the total bail bond amount, which can be significant.

If the defendant does appear in court and complies with all of the conditions of their release, the bail bond will be discharged, and the bondsman will keep the non-refundable fee as their profit. In this way, bail bondsmen can make money by providing a valuable service that allows individuals to be released from jail while awaiting trial without paying the total amount of their bail upfront.