The short version: public adjusters take a percentage of whatever they recover for you, typically 10 to 20 percent. Some states cap that percentage by law. North Carolina caps at 10 percent, Florida at 20 percent (10 percent after declared emergencies), New York at 12.5 percent, and California has no percentage cap but requires written disclosure and bars unconscionable fees.
The contingency model
You pay nothing upfront. The adjuster is paid a share of the settlement, so their incentive is aligned with the size of your recovery. The tradeoff: if the adjuster increases your settlement from 30,000 to 50,000 dollars at a 15 percent fee, you net 42,500, more than you would have gotten alone, but 7,500 less than the full improvement.
When the math works
On large or contested losses, professional scope documentation routinely moves numbers far more than the fee. On small, clean claims, it may not. An honest adjuster will tell you when your claim does not need one.
The contract is the law of your deal
Whatever your state cap, the written contract controls. Read the percentage, the scope of work, and the cancellation terms. State fee caps are ceilings, not requirements; you can negotiate less.
Verify before you sign
Every state that licenses public adjusters runs a lookup. Our directory displays verification status per license, and we explain our method on the data page. Check any firm yourself before signing.