Flexible Model Lets Moms Scale at Their Own Pace Without Franchise Fees or Royalties
For Autumn Tonic and Amber Smith, owning a Naturals2Go vending business has been a game-changer. It allowed them to build a business and spend more time with their families. With flexible hours and a simple setup, vending was the perfect fit for their busy lives.
Both women came from seasoned careers, and Naturals2Go gave them a business that they could grow on their own terms. The vending business offers all the perks of a franchise, like training, support and a proven system, but without the ongoing royalties or strict territories. Their stories show how women can find success with the freedom to build a business that fits their lives — not the other way around.
Amber Smith
“We’re not just selling snacks, we’re showing up for our community.”
Her “Why“
“My husband and I wanted something that allowed us to be present parents and still contribute to our community,” she says. With two small children, seven pets and a garden to tend on their mini farm, time is precious. “We’ve created a life that aligns with what matters most — our faith, our family and helping others.” That’s what led her to Naturals2Go, a vending business that fit their lifestyle without stretching them too thin.
Her Story
Smith lives with her husband and two young kids just outside of Savannah, Ga., in a small, family-oriented town. They have been entrepreneurs for over 12 years and continue to run other businesses. “We wanted to diversify, but not at the expense of our values or family.” After exploring over a dozen franchise opportunities, Smith found that Naturals2Go stood out. “Vending has been the perfect fit for us from a time and money perspective.” The couple wanted a business that allowed them to balance raising kids, running other ventures and living a faith-based life. “Systems and structure” keep their household and business on track.
With no employees yet, they’ve built the business as a team and plan to keep growing. “We’re actively building and scaling — we see a massive need for top-notch vending in our area.” Smith says the support from Naturals2Go has made a huge difference. “It’s a proven system, and we’re in business for ourselves but not by ourselves.”
Relationships have also been key to their success with Naturals2Go. Smith and her husband treat everyone with respect — whether it’s the janitor or the CEO. “You never know who you’re talking to — that’s why relationships matter. We are so proud of the community we live in and love serving the community where we’ve chosen to plant our roots.”
Best Part
For Smith, the best part of owning her business is the impact it has on others. “I love when someone tells us we made their day. That kind of feedback is everything,” she says. “We’re not just selling snacks, we’re showing up for our community.”
Autumn Tonic
“We wanted our children to see how business really works.”
Her “Why”
“We wanted our children to see how business really works— inventory, customer service, profit and loss,” Tonic says. With two other businesses already under their belts, she and her husband were looking for something new their kids could be part of and learn from. Naturals2Go checked all the boxes. “It gave us a way to teach them real-world skills while also contributing to their financial future.”
The couple now employs their kids to roll coins, prep inventory and handle cash. “We call them our Shark Tank babies— they’ve been learning this stuff since birth.”
Her Story
Tonic has an impressive corporate background in operations management, having worked at Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Amazon. She left her most recent role at Amazon in September 2024 to focus on the vending business full-time.
She and her husband placed their first Naturals2Go machine in September 2021 and have been growing steadily ever since. They already owned an accounting firm and a real estate investment company when vending caught their attention. “We weren’t specifically looking for vending, but it kept popping up because of the tech and algorithms,” she says. Their machines are located throughout Houston, Katy and Cypress, Texas. “We’ve got machines in a private airport, a motorcycle dealership, office buildings — you name it,” she says. “The key is high foot traffic and being picky about locations so we can beat average sales.”
Naturals2Go stood out for its simplicity and flexibility. “It’s basically a business-in-a-box— but without the franchise fees and territories. That really appealed to us.” They started with a 12-machine commitment, and the business took off. “Now we have 17 machines and just had a meeting to add two more,” she says. They’ve also hired two part-timers to handle day-to-day operations, freeing up their time. “We’re only putting in about three hours a week now. The rest is handled.”
The Best Part
Tonic says her favorite part of vending is the freedom it gives her family — both financially and logistically. “We love to travel. We have been to 43 countries and counting,” she says. “We want to be able to show our kids the world and still have money coming in.” She also appreciates the ease of the model. “This is the first business we didn’t build from scratch. The support and structure of Naturals2Go helped us avoid so many pitfalls.”
Learn more about Naturals2Go vending.
