An important note:

There are two bills currently working their way through the New York State Legislature — Senate Bill 1726 and Assembly Bill 4918 — both pose a serious threat to every rent-to-own business operating in New York State. Both bills propose reclassifying the rent-to-own transaction as a "financing arrangement," which would subject it to New York's usury law and its interest-rate caps. That definition lumps RTO agreements in with merchant cash advances, buy-now-pay-later products, litigation funding, and earned wage access transactions — financial products that have nothing in common with a traditional rental-purchase agreement. Under New York's General Obligations Law §5-501, the civil usury cap sits at 16% per year, and applying that formula to a weekly or monthly rental transaction makes it mathematically impossible for dealers to cover their real operating costs — merchandise, delivery, servicing, maintenance, and the no-credit-check access that RTO customers depend on. The result wouldn't be cheaper rent-to-own. It would be no rent-to-own at all.

What makes this fight even more frustrating is that New York already has a strong, working law governing the RTO transaction. Article 11 of the New York Personal Property Law — Sections 500 through 508 — defines a rental-purchase agreement as a rental, not a loan, and explicitly states that a compliant agreement is not a retail installment contract and does not create a security interest. That statute has been on the books since 1986, with APRO's direct involvement in shaping it, and it already provides meaningful consumer protections. APRO and the New York Rental Dealers Association (NYRDA) have been actively fighting these bills, participating in a New York Legislative Day where they met with fifteen Assembly and Senate members to educate lawmakers on the damage SB 1726 and AB 4918 could cause to the more than 200 dealers and 1,500-plus RTO employees across the state. The bills have not passed — but they are moving, and the industry needs every informed voice it can get.

For a full breakdown read the RTO Show Blog Post

Interviews:

Released: May 18, 2026 - Season 8 Episode 2

Title: Building Beyond RTO: Mark Connelly on Expansion Done Right

Mark Connelly, a Marine Corps veteran whose rent-to-own career spans Remco, Renters Choice, Color Time, and eventually a 48-store Arona Home Essentials franchise — a journey that took him from answering a job fair flyer in 1989 to overseeing nearly 1,800 employees across a diversified portfolio that includes Valvoline locations, real estate, a barbecue restaurant, banks, Pet Supply Plus stores, a construction company, and an equipment rental business under the banner of Bernau Capital Partners. Mark credits his success to the same principle that drove him as a young store manager: hire for personality and work ethic, because you can't coach either, and grow the people around you relentlessly. His advice for operators looking to expand is as direct as you'd expect from a former officer — don't open a second store until your first is genuinely profitable, never grow beyond your people, and if you're going to move into an adjacent business, look for opportunities where you already know the customer, like RNR Tire Express, or buy existing profitable operations with strong leadership already in place rather than building from scratch in unfamiliar territory.

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Released: May 25, 2026 - Season 8 Episode 3

Title: Should AI Be Your Next New HIre

Host Pete Shau sits down with Vraj Parikh, co-founder and CEO of Atlog, for a return visit that makes clear a lot has changed in a year. What started as a discovery-phase AI startup visiting RTO stores across the country has grown into a working partner for major operators like RNR Tire Express — handling inbound calls, appointment scheduling, collections, and even payment negotiation, all while staying compliant with state-by-state regulations. The results are hard to argue with: top stores are booking 15 to 20 extra leads per week, collections are running at up to twice the rate of a human caller, and dealers are saving thousands per month in labor costs — not by replacing their people, but by freeing them up to do what AI can't: build real relationships on the floor.

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Special Events

RNR Tire Express - Mother's Day Car Give-A-Way

RNR Tire Express corporate stores in Florida celebrated Mother's Day by surprising a truly deserving recipient — Katelyn, a single mother nominated by her best friend and co-worker. Katelyn dedicates her life to her five-year-old son and to the children she serves daily as a behavioral specialist working with kids with autism and emotional behavioral disorders ranging in age from 3 to 22. Known for her heart of gold and unwavering positivity, she shows up for everyone around her despite her own personal challenges — and if that wasn't enough, she also authored a book for children with autism this year and is actively pursuing her PhD in behavioral neuroscience. RNR was proud to give back to someone who gives so much to so many.

Majik Kicks Off a New Era with Its First Store Opening Under New Leadership

APRO member Blue Ocean Brands, LLC dba Majik Rent-To-Own recently opened its 14th location in Hanover, Pennsylvania — a milestone made more meaningful as the first new store under CEO Mike Simoncini's leadership. Simoncini cited Hanover's growing community as a natural fit for the brand's continued expansion, with longtime Majik team member Kelly Lorah stepping up to manage the new store. The grand opening was celebrated with support from the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce, with Simoncini emphasizing the company's commitment to community involvement, employee development, and staying true to the culture that built Majik from the ground up.

RNR Tire Express in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

RNR Tire Express Goes International with 1st Canadian location

RNR Tire Express hit a major milestone earlier this month with the opening of its first-ever international location in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada — a landmark moment for a brand that has grown to over 200 locations across 30 U.S. states since its founding in 2000. The new store, located at 1080 Simcoe St. N, is operated by business partners Rakesh Jegganolla and Sravan Sharma, two technology professionals turned entrepreneurs who were drawn to RNR's unique rent-to-own model and franchise support system. The Oshawa store marks the first step in what could become broader expansion across Ontario and additional Canadian markets as the brand continues to grow its footprint across North America.

RTO Industry News

Article: Best Prefab Garages & Storage Buildings to Buy in 2026 with Rent to Own

The Rent to Own Shed industry is growing fast. Sheds Store, a Midwest-based prefab building dealer, released its 2026 ranking of the best prefab garages and storage buildings, topping the list with its own 12x32 Garage available on-lot in Vincennes, Indiana. The 384-square-foot structure is built with LP SmartSide siding, fits a full-size vehicle plus workshop space, and can be delivered in under two weeks — a major selling point as rising lumber costs and contractor backlogs continue to push buyers toward ready-built options. The list also includes national names like Tuff Shed, Heartland Industries, Arrow Storage Products, and Cook Portable Warehouses, which offers a rent-to-own delivery model with no credit check required.

Source: OpenPR.com - 5.26.26

Article: Key Strategic Developments and Emerging Changes Shaping the Rent-to-Own Platforms Market Landscape

The rent-to-own platforms market is on a strong growth trajectory, projected to reach $13.25 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 11%, driven by the rise of digital and hybrid RTO models, growing demand for smart home appliances and electric vehicles, and the expansion of flexible payment options. Key players shaping the space include familiar names like Snap Finance, Katapult, FlexShopper, and Premier Rental-Purchase, alongside newer entrants pushing innovation in subscription and lease-to-own frameworks. The market spans consumer electronics, furniture, appliances, and automobiles across both residential and commercial segments — a reminder that the RTO model continues to prove its relevance well beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar store.

Source: OpenPR.com - 5.25.26

Article: 2026 Rent-to-Own Industry Report: A Resilient Industry Serving Millions of American Households

APRO's 2026 Industry Health Survey shows the rent-to-own industry is alive and well, generating $11.8 billion in annual revenue, serving more than 6.7 million American households, and supporting over 34,000 full-time jobs nationwide — with roughly one in every twenty U.S. households using RTO services during 2025. The report also challenges common misconceptions about who uses rent-to-own, revealing a customer base that spans a wide range of income levels and age groups, with the largest segment falling between ages 35 and 54. Perhaps most telling is the industry's outlook — 96% of dealers surveyed reported being optimistic about the future, with active plans for store openings, acquisitions, and continued growth heading into 2026.

Source: RTOHQ.org - 5.26.26

Article: Acima Leasing Reviews and Ratings

Want to know more about Acima and how it works? Here's the breakdown: Acima Digital, is a lease-to-own platform operating under Upbound Group (formerly Rent-A-Center), partners with over 15,000 retailers nationwide and offers approvals up to $5,000 for consumers with less-than-perfect credit — covering everything from furniture and tires to electronics and appliances. The most critical thing any potential customer needs to understand is the total cost: Acima's own disclosures state that completing the full 12-month lease "may cost more than double the cash price," meaning a $600 item could end up costing $1,200 or more. The platform is best suited for credit-constrained shoppers who have no lower-cost financing alternative and can commit to using the 90-day early purchase option — which brings the total cost down to roughly the retail price plus a small fee — making it a choice for those in need.

*This article breaks down most aspects of Acima and how V-RTO (Virtual RTO) stacks up against tradition Rent to Own.

Source: Inquirer.net - 5.28.26