One of the things that most occupied the young printer's mind was how to get rid of this "horse-work," for such it was, in the business of printing.

He was not, however, over-burdened with means, though he devised a machine with this object.

But to make a little money, he made translations for the publishers.

In 1803 Koenig returned to his native town of Eisleben, where he entered into an arrangement with Frederick Riedel, who furnished the necessary capital for carrying on the business of a printer and bookseller.

Koenig alleges that his reason for adopting this step was to raise sufficient money to enable him to carry out his plans for the improvement of printing.
The business, however, did not succeed, as we find him in the following year carrying on a printing trade at Mayence.