Holland was in business as a partner in Richards & Co., a linen manufacturer and merchant.[3] The firm founded by John Maberly brought in new finance with John Baker Richards as a partner, in 1825, trading as Maberly & Co. James William Freshfield and Robert Langford became involved as property trustees, in 1829.[4]
Maberly during the 1820s introduced steam power in the linen factories; but ran into trouble in financial operations.[5] He was in the end bankrupted by 1832. Others brought into the firm included William Leader (died 1828), to whose son John Temple Leader debts owed by Maberly passed. The name of the firm became Richards & Co. from 1831, and that year Lancelot Holland became involved.[4]
Henry Lancelot Holland joined Richards & Co. in 1837.[6] He became one of the partners, with his father, John Temple Leader, George Edwards and others.[3] He was later head of the company, and its Broadford Works in Aberdeen.[6] The company had also spinning and power looms at Montrose, and bleachfields at Rubislaw and Craigo.[7]