From one man's dream, Aaron's rent to own became 1500 business dreams come true

Aaron's rent to own stores started out as a chair-rental service for estate sales. The original 1955 capital investment by founder R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. amounted to $500, for the purchase of 300 chairs which were rented for ten cents each per day. From these humble beginnings, Aaron's has risen to become a leader in the rent to own industry, with over 1500 company-operated and franchised dealers in the U.S. and Canada. Aaron's is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is a strong participant in APRO, the industry-wide rent to own advocacy organization.

Aaron's rent to own company is a leader in the industry in helping moderate income customers to acquire top-quality merchandise financed by affordable payment plans. It is estimated that franchising accounts for over one and a half trillion dollars (40% of all retail sales) annually. Moreover, two-thirds of independent start up businesses fail within 3 years, only one-tenth of franchises fail. Franchises have a back-up of experienced and knowledgeable Aaron's experts to advise them every step of the way and help them make the winning business decisions.

At Aaron's experienced rent to own specialists help to analyze and advise on the market; they help to find and arrange financing; they provide mass-buying advantages and an umbrella of national advertising and brand-name recognition publicity. The model for Aaron's rent to own business is based on a solid success formula, combined with a well-organized, well-oiled operation. Aaron's has been a proven success 1500 times, because the Aaron's philosophy is a win-win proposition for Aaron's rent to own customers, employees, and franchisees alike.

One basis of Aaron's success lies in giving its customers three good reasons to shop here:

1. Everybody is pre-approved
2. Guaranteed low price
3. Own the merchandise within a year

Moreover, customer satisfaction is assured because Aaron's has its own in house manufacturing and distribution facilities which enable same day or next day merchandise delivery.

The second basis of Aaron's success lies in giving its employees a working environment which is competitive with retail. An Aaron's rent to own store is typically open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 7 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. The Aaron's model is streamlined so that it only requires six to nine employees to keep an Aaron's rent to own franchise operating.

The third basis of Aaron's rent to own success lies in giving its franchisees proven business models which are based on over half a century's success by a New York Stock Exchange-listed company with over a billion-and-a-half dollars in system-wide revenues. As a franchisee, you take advantage of Aaron's wide industry experience; proven norms and standards of operation; and access to nationwide brand-name manufacturing, distribution, and national advertising systems. Aaron's has experienced specialists ready to help its franchisees every step of the way, from site selection through management and operations training for you and your employees. Aaron's ”University“ has a complete thirteen-course curriculum to provide franchisees with the knowledge needed to guarantee success. Ongoing success is fostered with Aaron's Franchise Association, and Aaron's Management Team, both of which facilitate continuing good communications within the Aaron's organization.

Aaron's has won national publicity sponsoring the Drive Dreams Home NASCAR championship race when it sponsored Michael Waltrip, driving Aaron's car #99 in Aaron's 312 Bush series of races.