On 27 July 1917, Joakim Puhk's father died and he, 29 years old at the time together with his younger brothers Eduard, Voldemar, Aleksander and Evald continued to run the business.

Besides been involved with the family business Puhk became the director of a factory Ilmarine, and member of the board of an insurance company Estonian Lloyd Ltd. After the February Revolution Russia granted autonomy to Estonia, Puhk hold the chairman of the Food Office of the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia in 1917–1918.

Puhk was an elected member of the Estonian Constituent Assembly that adopted the first Constitution of Republic of Estonia on 15 June 1920.

Joakim Puhk, one of the richest person in Estonia in the 1930s [6] was an active sponsor of sports that resulted nomination for candidacy of membership for the International Olympic Committee.

The submission for candidacy was supported by the Finnish and Swedish Olympic Committees and Puhk became a member in July 1936.