3 Statistics About the Growth of Bail Bond Companies

You may have heard about the bail bond industry and wondered if it's growing or declining. With all the discussion around criminal justice reform, what does the future look like for commercial bail bonds? Here are three interesting statistics that shed light on the size and growth of bail bond companies across the country.

1. The Total Revenue of the Bail Bond Industry

You might assume the bail bond industry is relatively small, but it generates big revenue. According to research by IBISWorld, an expert business intelligence database, bail bond companies in the United States bring in $2 billion total per year. To put it in perspective, that's more yearly revenue than many well-known companies, like Dunkin' Donuts, Domino's Pizza, or Chipotle. The size of the bail bonds services industry market was expected to increase by 1.6% in 2021. The commercial bail bonding industry may operate behind the scenes, but it has grown into a sizable market.

2. The Number of Bail Bond Companies Nationwide

About how many bail bond companies do $2 billion in revenue represent? According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there are approximately 25,000 bail bond companies nationwide. Most companies are small operations with just a handful of staff. The bail bond industry is highly fragmented, with lots of mom-and-pop style businesses. Major national chains are rare in this market. Instead, independent agents and small firms dominate the landscape.

3. Bail Bond Industry Growth Projections

The bail bond industry has seen steady growth for decades. And forecasts suggest more growth is coming. According to IBISWorld, the bail bonding market is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.5% through 2027. What's fueling this continued expansion? A growing prison population and increasing demand for pretrial release services. The growth of bail bond companies reflects just how embedded bondsmen have become in the criminal justice process. While bail reform efforts could disrupt the bail industry's trajectory, there are no signs yet of slowing demand. These companies seem well-positioned to continue seeing their customer base and bottom lines grow.

Understanding the size and growth trends within the bail bond agent industry tells you that this is a durable business model that shows no indications of faltering. In many ways, the ongoing success of bail bonding reflects some broader realities around criminal justice practices in America. If you are in need of bail bond services, give Shane's Bail Bonds a call.