4. Meep records.

• Author: Peterson, Eric
• Position: SMALL BIZ: MADE IN COLORADO

Adam Baumester has played guitar in Denver bands like Bad Weather California, managed landmark record store Twist & Shout, and collected vinyl records since he was a kid. So he took the natural next step: He bought a lathe on eBay and went into the record-making business with Meep Records in 2012.

"Vinyl is on the uptick," he says. "Music sales are going down, but people like records and still collect records." Baumester says he "cuts the grooves in real-time," typically making one to 50 records for customers, and specializes in picture discs that showcase artwork as the record spins on the turntable. "It's a handmade...