06/24/2025
The U.S. rent-to-own market reached $12.31 billion in 2023 and is projected to expand to $19.39 billion by 2031 (CAGR 6.8%). (1) Rent-to-own has traditionally worked through standalone storefronts, offering underserved consumers vital alternatives to financing.
Today, that model is being complemented by lease-to-own (LTO) solutions. LTO solutions integrate directly with the retailer and extend similar benefits to brick & mortar and eCommerce storefronts across furniture, electronics, appliances, tires and more.
LTO solutions, such as those offered by Acima, build on the foundation of rent-to-own models. With a proven footprint in thousands of brick-and-mortar locations, Acima’s in-store presence shows how LTO can lift conversion at the register. It gives consumers an added, flexible alternative to credit at checkout and can become a key part of a retailer’s business strategy.
Retailers control their inventory until purchase, receive funding quickly and shift payment risk to the LTO provider. These benefits work together to broaden access for customers who may not be able to pay with cash or qualify for financing.
Partners integrating LTO with Acima report improvements in sales growth and customer reach. This solution gives retailers a reliable path to serve more customers. This solution gives retailers a reliable path to serve more customers.
It’s especially valuable for reaching those who might otherwise have to walk away from a store empty-handed or abandon an online cart due to their less-than-perfect credit.
The impact is visible across retail segments, from home furnishings to auto services, with results pointing to sustained performance improvements. Retailers are meeting these challenges head-on with tailored solutions from Acima, producing measurable, real-world results such as:
Woodstock Furniture Outlet
Appliance Warehouse
Chuck Wait Tires
Why it matters: With Acima Leasing, retailers receive the full value of the merchandise from Acima. Since Acima owns the item, the retailer doesn't need to handle returns or customer follow-ups about the product. (2)
Operational Fit That Makes LTO Easy to Adopt
For enterprise retailers, execution matters as much as strategy. Evaluating LTO solutions often begins with one question: will it work with our existing operations?
Key areas of focus include:
Simple, fast setup helps explain why retailers like Woodstock Furniture Outlet have adopted Acima so successfully:
"There is no other way to describe it [Acima]. It's just simple. It was simple for us to begin using; it's simple for our customers to apply and the most important part is that we are now making sales and additional revenue in an important area that we couldn't serve before. It provides an exceptional service to our customers." – Brian Aaron, VP and COO
Enterprise retailers exploring new ways to increase customer reach without adding financial complexity should take a closer look at LTO. Proven results across retail segments show it delivers measurable returns and sustained impact.
Whether you're a brick-and-mortar, ecommerce or hybrid retailer, Acima offers a flexible, low-friction path to expand your customer base without sacrificing margin or adding operational strain.
Explore how Acima can support your business strategy today by connecting online through the Partner page.
The content of this article is provided solely for general interest and should not be relied upon or construed as any form of advice, whether legal, financial, or otherwise. Receipt or use of this information does not create any sort of relationship between us.
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