[[quoteright:340:[[{{Webcomic/Skullkickers}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ypwk_3917.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:340:[[http://comic.skullkickers.com/comic/2012-06-26 Read the sign]].]]

->''"Private military companies are best known for their bodyguard work. It's a big part of their business, but it's not the only part. For a big enough check, they'll rain hot lead down wherever you want. It's not work that attracts "service-with-a-smile" types."''
-->-- ''Series/BurnNotice'', "[[Recap/BurnNoticeS2E1BreakingAndEntering Breaking and Entering]]"

Also known as mercenaries (mercs for short), soldiers of fortune, and a dozen other names. These characters can have a wide range of personalities, some with honor, or codes, or limitations, and others who will kill anybody to get the job done. The only common thread is that whatever they're into, [[OnlyInItForTheMoney it's a job, and they're getting paid]]. This is a SuperTrope of many, many tropes surrounding people who are hired to kill people or engage in other violent jobs in exchange for payment, from experienced {{Bounty Hunter}}s and {{Professional Killer}}s to lowly {{Mooks}} and anything else in between, as mentioned below:
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!!Tropes:
[[index]]
* AdventureGuild
* AmbiguouslyTrained
* ArmyOfThievesAndWhores
* AssassinsAreAlwaysBetrayed
* AssassinOutclassin
* BanteringBaddieBuddies
* BattleButler
* BodyguardBabes
* BodyguardingABadass
* BountyHunter
* BringingInTheExpert
* BumblingHenchmenDuo
* CadreOfForeignBodyguards
* CarnivalOfKillers
* ConsummateProfessional
* ContractOnTheHitman
* CorporateSamurai
* CorporateWarfare
* EliteMooks
* EvilDebtCollector
* EvilMinions
* TheExpyWithNoName
* FormerRegimePersonnel
* FromCamouflageToCriminal
* HeroSecretService
* HiredByTheOppressor
* HitmanWithAHeart
* HolyHitman
* HunterOfMonsters
* ImmortalAssassin
* IndispensableScoundrel
* InexperiencedKiller
* TheInformant
* InLoveWithTheMark
* KnowledgeBroker
* LawEnforcementInc
* LegionOfLostSouls
* LovableRogue
* TheMagnificentSevenSamurai
* MercenaryUnits
* {{Mooks}}
* MurderInc
* MysteriousMercenaryPursuer
* NinjaMaid
* NothingPersonal
* NotInMyContract
* TheOneWithAPersonalLife
* OnlyInItForTheMoney
* PinkertonDetective
* PriceOnTheirHead
* {{Privateer}}
* PrivateDetective
* PrivateIntelligenceAgency
* PrivateMilitaryContractors
* ProfessionalKiller
* PsychoForHire
* PunchClockHero
* PunchClockVillain
* RecruitingTheCriminal
* RogueAgent
* RogueSoldier
* {{Ronin}}
* ShadyLadyOfTheNight
* SociopathicSoldier
* StreetSamurai
* ToCatchHeroesHireVillains
* WantedPoster
* WeHelpTheHelpless
* WhoYouGonnaCall
[[/index]]
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