At age 18, Potter got his first job working as a bookkeeper for the Archibald B. Rice Lumber Company; in 1881 he became a partner in the business, which was renamed A.B. Rice & Company.
At age 18, Potter got his first job working as a bookkeeper for the Archibald B. Rice Lumber Company; in 1872, he married the owner's daughter. In 1881 he became a partner in the business, which was renamed A.B. Rice & Company.