The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

What The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations does

The Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO) is a private, nonprofit national trade association founded in 1980 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. It is the only national trade association dedicated exclusively to the U.S. rent-to-own (RTO) industry, which comprises approximately 5,445 retail stores serving more than 6.7 million households annually and generating roughly $11.8 billion in industry revenue. APRO represents rent-to-own dealers and product vendors across 47 regulated states through advocacy, education, and compliance resources.

APRO's product surface is portfolio-based rather than technology-platform-based. Core offerings include the RTO 101 Knowledge Base, a State Statutes Library covering 47 jurisdictions, a Legal Hotline, a Model RTO Lease Agreement Library, the LEAP leadership development program, monthly educational webinars, an EdBot AI assistant, and six thematic Resource Hubs (AI, Cybersecurity, Advocacy, Business, Educational, Legal). Flagship events include RTO World Convention & Tradeshow (co-hosted with TRIB Group) and the annual Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. Media properties include RTOHQ: The Magazine (MarCom Gold Award 2019, 2023, 2025), the APRO Today e-newsletter, The RTO Show podcast, and the RTO Insight Review Blog. Charitable arms include the APRO Scholarship Fund (611 scholarships, $1.3M+ since 2008) and the RTO Employees Disaster Relief Fund ($675,000+ since 2005).

APRO operates on a subscription-recurring membership dues model with two primary tiers — Dealer Membership and Vendor Membership — both billed annually, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Revenue is complemented by event sponsorship, advertising through APRO channels (with member discounts), and charitable contributions. The organization is governed by an 18-member elected Board of Directors (16 staggered two-year terms plus 2 Vendor Advisory Committee seats) and staffed by a small executive team of approximately seven led by CEO Charles Smitherman (since 2023), APRO's sixth CEO. Membership value is anchored in self-regulation through the Code of Ethics, federal and state legislative advocacy, and coordinated state-association support across approximately 47 state-level RTO associations.

Name

The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Legal name

Association of Professional Rental Organizations

Website

https://rtohq.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO) is a nonprofit national trade association founded in 1980 that represents U.S. rent-to-own dealers and vendors across 47 states through advocacy, education, compliance resources, and industry events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAFAA

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Exhibitions, Fairs & Expos (Consumer/Public)

Keywords

• Trade association membership
• Rent-to-own industry
• Legislative advocacy services
• Industry compliance resources
• Professional development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: APRO generates revenue through annual membership dues from rent-to-own dealers and vendors. Membership provides access to legislative advocacy, educational resources, compliance support, networking events, industry research, and professional development initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

APRO is a nonprofit trade association that delivers membership-based services to the rent-to-own industry, including legislative advocacy at federal and state levels, compliance and legal support, industry research, professional development programs, and signature networking events such as RTO World and the Legislative Conference. Members gain access to educational resources, publications, charitable foundation programs, and a Code of Ethics framework that distinguishes compliant operators.

Product overview

APRO is a trade association serving the rent-to-own (RTO) industry, offering a portfolio of membership services, advocacy programs, educational resources, industry events, and charitable initiatives. The organization's offerings include: RTO 101 Knowledge Base (educational resource), State Statutes Library (legal reference), RTO World Convention & Tradeshow, Legislative Conference (LegCon), RTOHQ: The Magazine (publication), APRO Today newsletter, LEAP leadership development program, Legal Hotline, The RTO Show Podcast, various Resource Hubs (Cybersecurity, AI, Advocacy, Business, Educational, Legal), APRO Charitable Foundation with Disaster Relief Fund and Scholarship Fund, Model RTO Lease Agreement Library, Member Directory, and Hall of Honor awards program. The association does not offer a technology platform or SaaS product but rather serves as an industry organization providing member benefits, advocacy representation, educational content, networking events, and charitable programs to support the RTO industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dealer Membership Annual membership tier for rent-to-own retail dealers providing legislative advocacy, compliance resources, industry research, educational webinars, networking events, and Code of Ethics membership.
• Vendor Membership Annual membership tier for product suppliers and vendors serving the rent-to-own industry, providing access to dealer networks, RTO World exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, and the member directory.
• RTO World Convention & Tradeshow The premier national convention and tradeshow for the rent-to-own industry, co-hosted with TRIB Group, featuring keynote speakers, educational sessions, networking, and buying opportunities on the tradeshow floor.
• Legislative Conference (LegCon) APRO's annual Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. that brings RTO professionals together with U.S. senators, representatives, and legislative staff to advocate for the industry.
• LEAP Leadership Development Program Leadership Education and Professional Development (LEAP) program offering monthly educational sessions to cultivate leadership skills among rent-to-own industry professionals.
• Legal Hotline Exclusive member legal resource providing APRO members with guidance on regulatory and compliance matters affecting their rent-to-own businesses.
• State Statutes Library Reference library of rent-to-own statutes across 47 states, providing legal resources for RTO businesses to understand state-specific regulations.
• Model RTO Lease Agreement Library Template library of model rental-purchase agreements provided to APRO members for industry use.
• APRO Scholarship Fund Scholarship program administered through the APRO Charitable Foundation supporting rent-to-own professionals and their families; has awarded 611 scholarships totaling over $1.3 million since 2008.
• RTO Employees Disaster Relief Fund 501(c)(3) charitable initiative that has dispersed over $675,000 to RTO employees affected by natural disasters since 2005.

Quantifiable outcome

• 47 states with RTO regulations tracked and maintained
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• TRIB GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRIB Group co-hosts RTO World, the premier national convention and tradeshow for the rent-to-own industry alongside APRO. This partnership combines education, networking, and buying opportunities into an annual event experience.
• Nationwide Marketing GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide Marketing Group hosts PrimeTime conferences and provides video content featuring APRO events like the Legislative Conference. The partnership supports educational programming and industry events.
• U.S. Congress / Federal LawmakersflagshipOthersAPRO advocates for the RTO industry through direct engagement with U.S. senators, representatives, and legislative staff during the annual Legislative Conference in Washington D.C.
• State Rent-to-Own AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRO coordinates with approximately 47 state-level rent-to-own associations, providing bookkeeping services, meeting planning support, and helping organize and launch new state associations. State associations play a key role in developing positive state laws.
• Various Furniture and Appliance ManufacturersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember companies source products from manufacturers including Ashley Furniture Industries, GE Appliances, Whirlpool Corporation, and others. These vendor relationships support the supply chain for RTO dealers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Financial Services Association (AFSA): National trade association representing consumer finance/installment lenders, closely comparable to APRO in that it serves a similar subprime consumer-credit industry via dues, advocacy, compliance education, and an annual convention.
• National Pawnbrokers Association: Trade association for pawnbrokers, comparable to APRO as a membership-based industry body advocating for an adjacent subprime retail-credit sector with state-by-state regulation and similar consumer-protection optics.
• American Rental Association (ARA): National trade association for the equipment and event rental industry, directly comparable to APRO in operating model (membership dues, annual convention/trade show, state association network, advocacy, and code of ethics).
• Electronic Transactions Association (ETA): Trade association for the payments and transaction industry, comparable to APRO as a smaller, dues-funded body providing compliance education, advocacy, and an annual industry event.

Broad incumbents

• Consumer Bankers Association (CBA): Trade association for retail consumer banking, comparable to APRO as a dues-funded organization that advocates on credit, compliance, and consumer-protection issues, though at substantially larger scale.
• National Retail Federation (NRF): Largest US retail trade association, broadly comparable as a membership/advocacy body hosting a flagship annual convention (Big Show) and supplying compliance and education resources to retailers across verticals.
• Consumer Technology Association (CTA): Trade association that produces CES, a premier annual trade show, comparable to APRO in operating a flagship convention as the centerpiece of its member value proposition.
• Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA): National trade association for community banks, comparable to APRO in delivering advocacy, compliance education, and an annual convention to a regulated, multi-state member base.
• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA): Trade association representing franchised auto dealers, comparable in structure to APRO via dues-based membership, federal/state advocacy, dealer education, and an annual convention serving a multi-state regulated industry.

Regional players

• National Apartment Association (NAA): Trade association for the rental housing industry, comparable to APRO in serving a US rental sector through state affiliates, advocacy, education, and an annual convention; differs in operating scale and asset class.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/rtohq
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RTOHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/RTOHQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations