Adam has no aptitude for business

Adams studied Latin, philosophy, and law throughout his time at Harvard. His mother forbade him from becoming a lawyer because she did not want him to. The recent graduate chose to pursue an apprenticeship in commerce rather than law, but shortly realized he lacked the necessary commercial acumen and gave it up.

Adams started out in business. Samuel's father gave him a loan to help him launch his own firm, but he gave a friend half of it instead. He ran out of money quickly. He accepted a position with his father, although he wasn't particularly interested in running a business or making money.

Adams took over the family business of producing malted barley and selling it to brewers after his father passed away in 1748. According to a newspaper advertising from 1751 that advertised "strong beer, or malt for those who desire to brew it themselves; to be sold by Samuel Adams, at a reasonable fee," he may have also tried his hand at brewing. Adams, however, struggled to manage the company and ultimately declared bankruptcy. He had a similar lackluster performance as the city's tax collector, and his ledgers were hundreds of pounds short.