Starting a side business can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re involved in a busy corporate career. But what if the skills you’ve developed in your 9-to-5 job could set you up for success? That’s exactly what Autumn Tonic discovered when transitioning from corporate leadership to owning a Naturals2Go vending business. In a recent VIBEcast episode, Autumn shared her journey, her lessons learned, and why vending was the perfect fit for her family.
From Corporate Life to Business Ownership
Autumn spent over 20 years in operations management across banking, finance, and technology. Like many professionals, she initially didn’t consider vending as the path to entrepreneurship. But after researching various options, including franchises with high startup costs, she found vending – and, more importantly, Naturals2Go.
“I never thought of vending, just literally never thought of it,” Autumn recalls. “When I looked into vending, there were three companies that I looked into, Naturals2Go being one of them. I immediately eliminated one company because it seemed a little sketchy. Then another company seemed similar to Naturals2Go, however, as I gained a deeper sense of their business acumen and their operations, they were not set up as tight as I would like, so I eliminated them.”
Why Vending? Why Naturals2Go?
When evaluating vending opportunities, Autumn was drawn to Naturals2Go for its structured approach and strong operational support.
“I asked tons of questions about, how does this work? How does that work? What if a machine breaks down? What if this happens? What if it’s not a great location? And every single question I asked, my consultant was able to answer. This told me, from my corporate experience, that their operating procedures are in place and they are foolproof.”
Naturals2Go’s focus on customer service, streamlined processes, and scalability made the business model feel familiar and manageable. While not quite passive income, the side hustle felt right for her and her family, teaching good skills to her children as a semi-absentee model that grows.
13 Benefits of a Vending Business, from Autumn’s Experience
- Low Barrier to Entry – “We were looking for a franchise that had an entry point under $1 million… then I found vending.”
- Semi-Absentee Unlimited Income – “We thought this would be a way for another stream of income for the kids. Boy, were we wrong when we saw the potential of how much money we were making.”
- Scalability & Growth – “We started with 12 machines… now we’re up to 16, about to order our 17th, and planning to add 12 per year.”
- Structured & Foolproof Operations – “Every single question I asked, [my consultant] was able to answer, which told me their operating procedures are in place and they are foolproof.”
- Teachable to Kids & Family-Friendly – “We were looking for a business where our kids, who were ten and nine years old at the time, could participate and learn about profit and loss, marketing, customer solutions, inventory.”
- Tax Advantages – “I’m able to pay my children a little over $13,000 a year… That money is tax-free to my vending company. That money is tax-free to my kiddos if I do it properly.”
- Flexibility & Semi-Absentee Management – “We initially thought this would be a semi-passive business we could do while keeping a 9-to-5.”
- Support & Community – “The support that we’ve received through Naturals2Go… I’ve tapped into the coach a lot… The social media groups have been invaluable.”
- Standard Operating Procedures Help Growth – “We documented our processes early on, we could hire employees and scale efficiently.”
- Easy to Learn & Replicate – “What you’ll find in vending is that it is very blueprint-oriented, especially going with a company like Naturals2Go that gives back-end support.”
- Great Return on Investment – “It’s not a matter of whether will you make money. It’s a matter of how much money you will make.”
- Opportunities for Networking & Expansion – “We try to look for companies that have 100 or more people that will see our machine a day… We focus on networking at Chamber of Commerce events and the Small Business Administration.”
- Long-Term Business Potential – “We don’t have an end goal for how many machines, but 100, 200—we are on board because we’ve done the work and believe the sky is the limit.”
What She Wishes She Knew Earlier
Looking back, Autumn has two pieces of advice for new vending operators:
- Network Before You Launch – She says she wishes she had used her pre-business downtime more to connect with her Small Business Administration and the networking groups, local area business groups, Chambers of Commerce and the surrounding areas.”
- Start Bigger If You Can – “I purchased 12 machines because Naturals2Go is so great at locating, I wish I would have purchased 20. Because what that would have done is alleviated me having to go out and find these additional locations.”
Her ultimate goal? Growth without sacrificing efficiency.
“Because we documented our processes early on, we could hire employees and scale efficiently. So what does that look like? That looks like networking at other businesses, whether it’s the Chamber of Commerce, whether it’s through your local chapter or the Small Business Administration, really getting in front of the people who make decisions for other businesses.”
Final Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
“If you have a strong foundation, you can always pivot and navigate challenges. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself, build your systems, and connect with your community. Vending is a simple yet scalable business, and if you take it seriously, the sky is the limit.”
Autumn’s journey is a testament to the power of transferable skills, strategic planning, and the right business opportunity. If you’re considering vending, take her advice: get connected, start strong, and think long-term.
Are you ready to explore if Autumn’s journey with Naturals2Go is a journey you’d like to consider to?
If you want to learn more about the Naturals2Go business opportunity, sign up here.
Subscribe to the Naturals2Go VIBEcast here.
