Brent worked in a loose partnership with John Brocas and Stephen Powell from 1697 to 1698. From 1689 to 1703 Brent and Powell worked without Brocas, sometimes trading as 'John Brent & Stephen Powell' (Pollard).

Brent and Powell's edition of William Barton's Psalms, 1698 was one of the earliest Irish publications to include music printing.

[Details differ according to sources: Boydell (Calendar) gives the date of 1698 only at the back of Dick's Coffee House, Skinner's Row. Munter gives Capel Street from 1687 to 1691?; the Post Office Coffee House, Fishamble Street from ? to 1697 and the back of Dick's Coffee House, Skinner Row from 1697 to 1701. Pollard gives Over against the Sign of the Cock, Capel Street from before 1691 to after 1681; Weigh-house, Essex Street from before 1696; the Post Office Coffee House, Fishamble Street in 1697 and At the Back of Dick's Coffee House, Skinner Row from 1698 to after 1704. Munter gives the Brent, Powell and Brocas partnership dates as 1697 to 1701 but Pollard gives them as 1697 to 1698.]