Most of the biographies of Joan March have a common characteristic, they make reference to his birth in 1880 and then pass directly to 1906, the year in which he settled down in business. But, what happened during those 26 years? Until now a black hole existed, which was filled by the myths which always surround men of great fame. History relates that Joan March started his first business when he went to Palma, Mallorca to sell a pig that his father had given him. None of this is certain.
For a variety of reasons, Joan March did not finish his studies in any of the commercial schools to which he went when he was young. He learned how to manage the accounts of the family business at the side of his uncle, Sebastian March Estelrich.
The books recently discovered by a descendant of March confirm that the young March worked in the family business from about the age of 16 until he started his own business in 1906.

Pere Ferrer, Doctor of History at the University of the Balearics, author of the book Joan March, is one of the world authorities on the life of Joan March Ordinas. Ferrer states that "the smuggling of tobacco already existed at the time that March was born so he only profited from an existing oppportunity and over a period of time organised his activity to great advantage. March was a very intelligent man, with a great capacity for business. He combined 17th Century Mallorcan commercial traditions with his managerial skill to multiply his wealth a thousand times."
Ferrer is one of the specialists who agrees that the discovery of the March family account books will be very useful in providing more details about the youth of one of the most influential world figures of the 20th Century.