In 2021, opening your own record store sounds like a romantic daydream for most of us. These female record store owners show that, while it may not be romantic, creating a thriving and viable vinyl business can be done.

Sylvia Del Valle shares what it’s been like to hit 1 million Instagram followers and launch Dieta 911 during a pandemic that’s disproportionately impacted her Hispanic audience.

Kirsten Johnson shows what it’s like to run two businesses — as a personal chef and doula — while single parenting and recovering from cancer. “It’s no fucking joke.”

Amy Cuevas Schroeder, the founder of Venus Zine, tells the stormy story of how she came out on top after being pushed out of her own business.