FirstCash, Inc. is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and operates as the leading international pawn store operator with over 3,300 retail locations spanning 29 U.S. states, Washington D.C., the United Kingdom, and Latin America including Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and El Salvador. The company serves cash and credit-constrained consumers who need quick access to funds without traditional credit requirements. FirstCash is publicly traded and included in both the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index, employing approximately 22,000 people globally.
FirstCash's core business model centers on pawn loans—non-recourse loans secured by pledged personal property—along with retail buying and selling of merchandise. Customers can pawn jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments, and other items for short-term cash access. The company also operates layaway services with a 10% down payment structure, buys gold and precious metals for cash on the spot, and through its subsidiary AFF, provides lease-to-own and retail finance solutions through 15,000+ merchant partner locations nationwide.
FirstCash distinguishes itself through its massive scale and geographic reach as the dominant international pawn operator, offering consistent pawn loan products across thousands of locations. The company provides same-day cash lending with eligibility claims to verify, layaway options for budget-conscious shoppers, and operates retail inventory with diverse merchandise categories. Their technology infrastructure and national presence enable standardized operations across diverse markets.
For consumers, FirstCash offers accessible short-term lending for those without traditional credit access, though pawn loans involve forfeiting collateral if unredeemed. The business model depends on inventory markup and loan fees, which may result in higher effective costs than traditional lending. This is best suited for consumers researching emergency-cash options who have valuable items to pledge and can verify redemption terms within the loan term.
