By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Jen and Kris Keegan are owners and operators of Next Step Vending. There is no store front for their business, but they are located off Chicago St. in Geneseo, with business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday Through Friday. For more information, call the business at 309-945-7472. Contributed Photo
Jen and Kris Keegan looked to the future when they opened Next Step Vending in Geneseo.
The couple was looking ahead for their next step in life after retirement and that is how they chose their business name, Next Step.
Next Step Vending is a business that specializes in Vending Machines, coffee stations, and open markets. The Keegan couple bought into the Naturals 2 Go franchise utilizing a lot of their machines, and Kris Keegan added, “But we have access to all makes and models to fit anyone’s needs.”
Owner Kris Keegan said, “Our machines are set up to the client’s needs and wants. Our base machine is refrigerated and can carry up to 60 different products. We can offer chips, candies, cold foods such as wedge-style sandwiches, and even sodas out of the same machine.”
He added, “We are not tied to any specific brand of drink, we can offer any brand. If they need peanut free, sugar free, or healthy options, we are able to fulfill their needs.”
When asked why he started the business, Kris Keegan replied, “I was intrigued by the idea and looked to lower the life stress and escape the 9-5.”
He hired a broker to locate small business ideas as he had been searching for passive incomes…”When this one came across my desk, it just seemed to fit,” he said.
After initiating the business in August of last year, Kris and Jen Keegan went to Savannah, GA, for training in September, 2024, and Keegan added, “with the first machine hitting the ground just before the end of 2024. We are adding machines to our fleet every month.”
When asked, “What was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome,” he answered, “As much as I like learning new things, learning a new industry was a little bit of a challenge. But the one biggest hurdle was landing the supplier contacts to bring my products into the mainstream. We have access to hundreds of different products and currently carry over 200 products in stock.”
Next Step Vending is the Keegan’s second business. In early 2024, they purchased an apartment building in Geneseo, “Next Step Rental Properties LLC.”
