Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)

Rent-to-Own 101

New to rent-to-own? Explore the basics to understand how it works and why it matters to millions of Americans.

What Products Are Offered Through Rent-to-Own?

Last Updated on April 29, 2026

Rent-to-own dealers typically offer essential household goods such as appliances, furniture, electronics, computers, and mobile devices. These products can be obtained through a Rental-Purchase Agreement that allows customers to take the item home immediately and make flexible renewal payments over time with the option to obtain ownership.

Common Products Available Through Rent-to-Own #

Rent-to-own dealers focus on products that households rely on for everyday living. These items are often expensive to replace all at once, but they are also difficult for families to go without.

As a result, rent-to-own stores offer durable household goods that are practical, essential, and used regularly in the home.

Rent-to-own is often associated with furniture and appliances, but the range of products available through rent-to-own is broader than many people realize.

So what exactly qualifies?

Rent-to-own is designed for durable, tangible goods that can be delivered, used, maintained, and – if needed – returned.

This principle explains both:

  • What products are commonly offered
  • And why certain products are not

The Core Criteria: Durable and Returnable #

Products that qualify for rent-to-own generally share a few key characteristics:

  • Durable – Built for long-term use
  • Tangible – Physical goods, not services
  • Recoverable – Can be returned or picked up if the agreement ends
  • Maintainable – Can be serviced or repaired over time

These characteristics support the defining structure of rent-to-own:

A flexible lease with no long-term obligation and no continuing debt.

Common Rent-to-Own Product Categories #

Appliances #

Household appliances are one of the most common product categories in the rent-to-own industry.

These may include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Freezers
  • Washers and dryers
  • Ranges and ovens

Appliances are essential to daily household life, and they often need to be replaced unexpectedly. Rent-to-own allows customers to obtain a working appliance immediately rather than waiting to save the full purchase price.

For example, if a refrigerator stops working, a household may need a replacement the same day to prevent food from spoiling.

Furniture #

Furniture is another major category offered through rent-to-own dealers.

Common items include:

  • Sofas and living room sets
  • Recliners
  • Dining room tables and chairs
  • Bedroom sets
  • Mattresses and box springs

Consumers often use rent-to-own when furnishing a new apartment or replacing worn-out furniture.

Because furniture purchases can involve multiple items at once, spreading payments over time can make the process more manageable for many households.

Televisions and Home Electronics #

Rent-to-own stores frequently offer a variety of entertainment products and home electronics.

These may include:

  • Televisions
  • Sound systems
  • Home theater equipment
  • Streaming devices

Televisions and entertainment systems are widely used household items, and rent-to-own allows customers to obtain them without paying the full cost upfront.

Computers and Gaming Systems #

In recent years, computers and gaming systems have become increasingly common in rent-to-own stores.

Examples include:

  • Laptop and desktop computers
  • Gaming PCs
  • Video game consoles
  • Monitors and related accessories

These products are often used for work, school, and entertainment. For many households, having access to a working computer is increasingly important for everyday activities such as remote work, online learning, and communication.

Mobile Phones and Technology #

Some rent-to-own dealers also offer mobile devices and other personal technology products.

These may include:

  • Smartphones
  • Tablets
  • Smartwatches
  • Wireless accessories

Technology products play a central role in modern life, and rent-to-own provides another way for consumers to obtain these devices when they need them.

Tires and Wheels #

Many rent-to-own dealers also offer tires and wheels, which have become an increasingly important category in the industry.

Reliable transportation is essential for many households. Tires wear out over time and often need to be replaced unexpectedly, which can create a significant expense for drivers.

Rent-to-own programs allow customers to obtain a new set of tires or wheels and make payments over time rather than paying the full replacement cost at once.

This can be particularly helpful for drivers who depend on their vehicles for:

  • Commuting to work
  • Transporting family members
  • Daily household responsibilities

By offering flexible payment structures, rent-to-own dealers provide another way for consumers to maintain safe and reliable transportation.

Portable Buildings and Sheds #

  • Storage sheds
  • Workshops
  • Backyard utility structures

Portable buildings are a natural extension of the rent-to-own model. They are:

  • Delivered to the customer’s property
  • Not permanently affixed to land
  • Treated as personal property rather than real estate

Because they are movable and recoverable, they fit squarely within the definition of a rent-to-own product.

Why These Product Categories Fit the Rent-to-Own Model #

These categories share something important: They meet real, practical needs in everyday life.

Rent-to-own is most effective when applied to goods that are:

  • Immediately useful
  • Necessary or highly functional
  • Replaceable or serviceable over time

This is why rent-to-own is often used for:

  • Storage and workspace solutions
  • Household essentials
  • Transportation-related goods

Service and Maintenance for Durable Goods #

Another reason many of these products are offered through rent-to-own is that they may require service or maintenance over time.

Appliances and electronics can occasionally stop working or require repair. In many rental-purchase agreements, dealers provide service or replacement during the Rental Period depending on the circumstances.

This support is especially important for products that households rely on daily.

What Does Not Qualify for Rent-to-Own #

Just as important as what qualifies is what does not.

Rent-to-own in this context is not designed for:

Real Estate or Housing #

  • Homes
  • Land
  • Permanent structures tied to property ownership

These involve legal frameworks – such as deeds, mortgages, and property law – that are fundamentally different from lease-based transactions for goods.

Services #

  • Subscriptions
  • Professional services
  • Intangible offerings

Rent-to-own applies to physical goods, not services.

Non-Recoverable or Perishable Items #

  • Consumables
  • Items that cannot be returned or reused

Because the model relies on flexibility and returnability, products must be capable of being recovered if the agreement ends.

The Role of Flexibility #

The ability to return or discontinue is central to rent-to-own.

For that to work, the product itself must support that flexibility.

This is why the model consistently focuses on:

Durable goods that can be used, maintained, and, if necessary, returned.

How This Connects to the Rent-to-Own Model #

Across all product categories, the structure remains the same:

  • The transaction is a lease, not credit
  • The customer has no obligation to continue
  • The product can be returned if the agreement ends

This consistency is what allows rent-to-own to expand across categories while maintaining its core identity.

Final Thought #

Rent-to-own is not defined by a single type of product – it is defined by how the transaction works.

Whether the item is:

  • A refrigerator
  • A sofa
  • A set of tires
  • Or a portable building

The same principles apply:

  • Access without long-term debt
  • Flexibility over time
  • The ability to continue, purchase, or return

Understanding which products qualify – and why – provides a clearer picture of what rent-to-own is designed to do: deliver practical access to essential, durable goods in a flexible, consumer-driven way.


Frequently Asked Questions #

What types of products are most commonly offered through rent-to-own? #

Rent-to-own dealers most commonly offer appliances, furniture, electronics, computers, and tires.

These products are widely used in the home and often need to be replaced quickly when they stop working.

Why are appliances and furniture common in rent-to-own stores? #

These products are essential household goods that many families rely on daily.

Rent-to-own allows customers to obtain them immediately while making renewal payments over time.

Are rent-to-own products new? #

In most cases, rent-to-own dealers offer new products from major manufacturers, though availability may vary by store.

Can customers obtain ownership of these products? #

Yes. Customers who continue the Rental-Purchase Agreement through the full term or exercise an Early Purchase Option can obtain ownership of the item.


Related Topics #

To learn more about how rent-to-own works, explore these related pages:

Mike Lewis

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.