Reed began the business side of his career in 1836 as an apprentice to a firm of woolen manufacturers at Leeds. In 1839, with his friend Thomas Edward Plint, he started and edited a magazine called "The Leeds Repository", and on returning to London he co-founded the firm of Tyler & Reed, printers and typefounders in 1842. Reed changed business partners several times, becoming a partner in the famous Fann Street Foundry in Fann Street off Aldersgate Street in 1866 (which thereby became 'Reed & Fox'). The Fann Street business formed the basis for his own type-founding business "Sir Charles Reed & Sons", whose office at 33 Aldersgate Street is illustrated.