When starting a bail bond agency, knowledge is power, and the more resources you start with the better prepared your agency will be to thrive. From the help and knowledge of fellow bond agencies to technology that can help your business become fully streamlined, here are some of the best resources out there to help your company gain a strong foothold in the market.
1. Facebook Groups
Having a community to bounce ideas off of, share experiences with and ask questions is an invaluable resource that has become so much more accessible thanks to the internet and social media. Facebook in general offers groups for every type of subgroup imaginable and it is no different for bail bond companies. The two most prominent bail bond agency groups are The National Association of Bail Agents and the US Bail Enforcement and Bail Bond Agencies. These groups have thousands of members all in the same boat that are looking to grow their businesses and talk shop with others who go through relatable situations. Facebooks groups can be a fantastic place to ask very specific questions about the industry and get quick feedback in a way that no other platform probably could, which makes this resource possibly one of the most useful.
2. Ebail for Streamlining
Running a bail bond agency requires going in a million different directions at one time. From creating bonds to collecting payment, keeping track of defendants as well as managing all the other aspects of running a company. Unless you hire on a pretty extensive staff, the mountain of tasks within a day would be too much for anyone to handle on their own. To have your business run as smoothly as possible, you have to find ways to organize and streamline whatever possible. Our Ebail app was made just for this purpose. With our easy-to-use and intuitive app, you can send out contracts and notifications to your clients, collect a payment, create bonds, organize bookkeeping and even track defendants through GPS all at the touch of a button. Not only does the Ebail app save on time and stress but you can also grow your business without having to hire on extra employees or add more hours to the ones you have which in turn saves money as well!
3. Rankbail for Marketing
Whether you are just starting your business or already have it running like a well-oiled machine, marketing will be the key to success. Finding a consistent stream of high-quality clients can be a difficult feat at times even if you didn’t have to spend the majority of your waking hours running the business, but if the thought of having to run all your social media accounts, writing blogs posts and maintaining SEO sounds like more than you can or want to handle than hiring out may be worth it. Our Rankbail SEO services can get you high up in the ranking on search engines while also taking care of posting relevant and engaging content for your brand through blog posts and social media platforms. Rankbail does the work so you can focus on helping clients and growing your business.
4. Official Associations
One major resource that many businesses do not think about is official associations. These entities are essentially the main representatives for any specific industry and for bail bonds the official association would be The Professional Bail Agents of the United States. Associations not only offer robust networking opportunities, but it is also one of the main ways that many learn about current news regarding the industry including shifts in policy and laws. This is because associations typically use the dues charged to become the lobbying arm of the industry. This means that when members pay into an association, they are often paying for a lobbyist who works with lawmakers to help move forward an agenda that is beneficial and supportive of the bail bonds industry. This, of course, is crucial right now as many bail bond businesses are being threatened with changing laws in regards to cash bail.
5. Administrative Automated Infraction Databases
As a bail bonds agency there is the benefit of having access to certain resources that are not offered to the general public. One of these is automated infraction databases run by local state’s administrative departments. These are usually free to access by licensed bail bond agencies who follow the correct protocol required by their specific state. With these databases, you can search for warrants seamlessly as opposed to having to search public records district-by-district. This is a huge resource for any bail bonds agency because it allows them to easily perform walk-through bond services for people who have pending arrest warrants which are an added revenue stream. More information on how to gain access to these databases are typically available on a state’s judicial branch site.
Save Time and Money: Grow Your Agency
As you can see, each of these resources can give you an edge to save time, save money, and keep growing your business. Running a bond agency takes a lot of work, but if you want to succeed, you can get a leg up by working smarter, not harder. Streamline your process, use automation services, and if you just don’t have the time, interest, or manpower, think about outsourcing some of those tasks so that they get done correctly and on time. Additionally, by tapping into those big networks of other bail agents, you can have a resource of timely information, answers to questions, and a possible referral network. Utilizing your professional associations can also make sure that your voice for your business is heard at the local, state, and national levels. Putting all of these things in place will set you and your bond agency up for success.