Samuel Need was born in Nottingham in 1718 and took up an apprenticeship as a framework knitter, probably with his uncle John Need. He developed a hosiery business in Nottingham, expanding a row of three houses on Low Pavement into a warehouse in 1747 and later adding a silk mill to the site. In 1759, Need invested in Jedediah Strutt's patented rib knitting machine, establishing a business partnership between the two men that led to them investing in Richard Arkwright's cotton spinning business. He became a partner with Strutt in Richard Arckwright & Co in January 1770, and remained a partner until his death in 1781.