In 1872, he went into business for himself as "John B. West, Publisher and Book Seller", reprinting legal treatises, publishing legal forms, and producing an index to the Minnesota statutes. He even arranged for a Swedish-language version of the state's rules of practice, for the state's many Scandinavian-born lawyers and judges.
In 1872, John B. West began his own business as "John B. West, Publisher and Book Seller", producing reprints of legal texts, publishing templates for legal documents, and creating an index to the Minnesota statutes. He also facilitated a Swedish-language version of the state's judicial procedures, which was designed to serve Scandinavian-born lawyers and judges.