What is APRO? - Membership Benefits

APRO saves you money!

APRO Government Relations: Federal and State Legislative Protection

Since 1993, there have been seven federal bills that would cripple the national rent-to-own industry pre-empting every state RTO law that protects the right for rent-to-own dealers to conduct business. In the past two Congressional sessions, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) has introduced Senate bills to basically legislate the rent-to-own business out of existence. Sen. Charles Schumer is one of the most powerful members of Congress and APRO's grassroots and government relations efforts have saved the industry each congressional attack. Your membership helps guarantee your right to do business. Join APRO dealers across the nation in Washington, D.C. for APRO's annual Legislative Conference where you and hundreds of your colleagues meet with tyour U.S. House of Representatives and Senators to protect and promote the rent-to-own industry.

APRO also monitors every state legislature to protect your rent-to-own from state legislative attacks. There are an average of 25 bills introduced each session year throughout the country that affect your business. Most are negative. APRO is there to make sure your business continues its legal right to thrive and serve customers. Join APRO to help your business stay in business.

APRO general counsel
Ed Winn III, APRO's general counsel, provides limited free legal advice to members. Winn is the leading legal rent-to-own expert in the country with nearly 30 years experience. Your membership gives you the access to the most important legal expert and the legal issues affecting your business.

APRO means business and industry networking
The most valuable way to save money or become more profitable is learning the lessons from others. Join APRO's family and learn the best operating tips, vendor contacts, customer retention tips, advertising techniques, etc. You will also make lifelong friends as well. Every APRO member will testify that networking is one of the most valuable assets to your APRO membership. Join APRO and join us at one of meeting events at our annual convention, legislative conference, state association meetings or one of the many hospitality suites APRO co-sponsors at product trade shows.

Public Relations: Increasing customers through improved image, the media and community relations
The second highest priority for rent-to-own dealers after legislative protection is image improvement to generate additional customers into your stores. Join APRO for the most powerful marketing research studies to keep your customers satisfied and to reach new customers. And, it is evidently working with 400,000 additional customers in the past three years. Join APRO and become part of the media network generating positive media stories throughout the nation giving your company free advertising that boosts your revenues. On the flip side, APRO' s media relations also helps you navigate from negative media attacks that has crippled the industry for decades. Rent-to-own customer demographics show there are 37 million potential customers that rent-to-own is not reaching.

APRO's Educational Scholarship Fund, Computers for Kidz and the many other charitable efforts APRO members and state associations are involved help your business and the industry promote a positive image to the public. APRO's annual Employee and Customer of the Year contest is also one of the most important events that generate positive press for your company and the industry. Find out how your company can get involved to help our communities and show that rent-to-own is an important contributor to our society.

These are just a few examples APRO's public relations efforts achieve and execute. Join APRO to help the industry's image and your business generating a new customer base through APRO's public relations efforts.

Wage-and-hour consultation
Harry Weisbrod Associates Inc. provides limited free wage and hour consultation to members.

Credit/debit card program
Moneris Solutions is dedicated to providing cost effective payment solutions tailored to the needs of the RTO Industry.  APRO members receive exclusive rates for processing credit/debit cards and electronic check transactions.

Commercial insurance
RTO Systems Inc./Walter Clark & Associates, the commercial insurance agency endorsed by APRO, offers property, liability, auto and workers' compensation insurance programs customized to fit the needs of rent-to-own dealers.

Group health insurance
RTO Insurance LLC, along with Trustmark Affinity Markets and Integrated Insurance provide an exclusive health insurance program for APRO members.The program offers discounted rates, group buying power, more than 40 networks of participating doctors and the power of a claims stabilization fund. Member companies are able to choose from different plans with deductibles ranging from $500 to $2,000.

E-Communities
Member surveys have shown that the most valued return from APRO membership is the information shared by fellow dealers. To enhance member communications, APRO launched E-Communities in 2006-an online forum for rental dealers and vendors. This APRO-member-only resource gives dealers and vendors a place where they can share ideas, post questions for fellow members, learn how others in the industry are managing their businesses and much more.

Research - statistical surveys, customer and potential customer surveys and investor relations
The industry research and surveys that APRO has available to members are invaluable tools. The customer research, industry survey and potential customer research are the only studies of their kind that smaller rent-to-own companies that otherwise could not afford these kinds of studies can use for their marketing purposes. These studies help your bankers, and give financial credibility for your business to thrive and grow. Many of these surveys are only available to APRO members.