{"id":782,"date":"2022-06-29T18:48:26","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T18:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/?p=782"},"modified":"2025-08-19T15:31:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T15:31:31","slug":"how-to-buy-stocks-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-stocks-online\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Buy Stocks Online: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Buying stocks online isn\u2019t as complicated as it seems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, I\u2019m confident you can make your very first investment in the next 30 minutes (or less if you already know what stock you want to buy!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If none of that made sense, don\u2019t worry, I was in your shoes not too long ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, I\u2019ll walk you through the financial jargon you need to know then lead you through the 5 steps for buying stocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the end of this article, you\u2019ll be teaching your friends how to get into stocks and how to buy shares in a company.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div id=\"callout-box-block_bf031ca5dae3acf859a6c8e7128edc58\" class=\"callout-box promo\">\n        <div class=\"callout-box__icon-wrapper\">\n            <svg focusable=\"false\" class=\"callout-box__icon promo\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                <path d=\"M21.41 11.58l-9-9C12.05 2.22 11.55 2 11 2H4c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2v7c0 .55.22 1.05.59 1.42l9 9c.36.36.86.58 1.41.58.55 0 1.05-.22 1.41-.59l7-7c.37-.36.59-.86.59-1.41 0-.55-.23-1.06-.59-1.42zM5.5 7C4.67 7 4 6.33 4 5.5S4.67 4 5.5 4 7 4.67 7 5.5 6.33 7 5.5 7z\"><\/path>            <\/svg>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"callout-box__content\"><p><strong>Special Offer: Moomoo x WSZ<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We have partnered with moomoo, one of the top trading brokerages in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>On moomoo, you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trade stocks, ETFs, and options commission-free<\/li>\n<li>Access moomoo&#8217;s Earnings Calendar and Earnings Hub<\/li>\n<li>Get real-time Level 2 market data for free<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Plus, our readers can get an incredible sign-up bonus below&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/moomoo\" target=\"_blank\">Claim your free shares<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get started by covering a few of the most important terms you\u2019ll need to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"mtr-table mtr-thead-th\"><thead><tr><th data-mtr-content=\"Term:\" class=\"mtr-th-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">Term:<\/div><\/th><th data-mtr-content=\"Also known as:\" class=\"mtr-th-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">Also known as:<\/div><\/th><th data-mtr-content=\"Definition:\" class=\"mtr-th-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">Definition:<\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td data-mtr-content=\"Term:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\"><strong>Stockbroker<\/strong><\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Also known as:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">\u201cBrokerage\u201d, \u201cBrokerage firm\u201d, \u201cTrading platform\u201d, \u201cInvesting platform\u201d<\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Definition:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">An agent that allows investors to buy and sell stocks.<\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-mtr-content=\"Term:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\"><strong>Brokerage Account<\/strong><\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Also known as:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">\u201cInvesting account\u201d<\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Definition:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">An account in which you can buy and sell investments, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.<\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-mtr-content=\"Term:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\"><strong>Ticker Symbol<\/strong><\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Also known as:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">\u201cTicker\u201d, \u201cStock symbol\u201d, \u201cSymbol\u201d<\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Definition:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">A unique series of letters assigned to a security for trading purposes.<br>Apple\u2019s ticker symbol is AAPL.<\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-mtr-content=\"Term:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\"><strong>Buy<\/strong><\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Also known as:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">\u201cBuying\u201d, \u201cPurchasing\u201d, \u201cGoing long\u201d, \u201cOpening a position\u201d<\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Definition:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">To take a position by buying shares of a company.<\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-mtr-content=\"Term:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\"><strong>Sell<\/strong><\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Also known as:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">\u201cSelling\u201d, \u201cClosing a position\u201d<\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Definition:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">To sell some or all of the shares you currently own.<\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-mtr-content=\"Term:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\"><strong>Stock<\/strong><\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Also known as:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">\u201cAn equity\u201d<\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Definition:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">A stock is a security that represents the partial ownership of a corporation.<br>For every public company, there is 1 stock.<br>\u201cApple stock\u201d, \u201cMicrosoft stock\u201d, \u201cI bought Tesla\u2019s stock\u201d<\/div><\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-mtr-content=\"Term:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\"><strong>Shares<\/strong><\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Also known as:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\"><\/div><\/td><td data-mtr-content=\"Definition:\" class=\"mtr-td-tag\"><div class=\"mtr-cell-content\">A share is a fractional unit of a stock.<br>For every stock (public company), there are many shares.<br>\u201cApple shares\u201d, \u201cshares of Microsoft\u201d, \u201cI bought Tesla shares\u201d<\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we have our key terms defined, let\u2019s discuss how to buy a stock and where to buy a stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>How to Buy Stocks Online: The 5 Steps for Beginners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the outline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><p>Step 1: Select an online <strong>stockbroker<\/strong> and open a <strong>brokerage account <\/strong>(15 minutes)<\/p><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol><p>Step 2: Research the <strong>stock<\/strong>(s) you want to <strong>buy <\/strong>(varies)<\/p><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol><p>Step 3: Decide how many <strong>shares<\/strong> to buy (&lt; 1 minute)<\/p><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol><p>Step 4: Choose your stock order type (&lt; 1 minute)<\/p><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol><p>Step 5: Monitor and manage your investments with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/best-stock-portfolio-tracker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stock portfolio tracker<\/a><\/p><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s take a closer look at each of these steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feel free to follow along in another window!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Step 1: Select an online stockbroker and open a brokerage account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to buy stocks is by searching for and opening a brokerage account that has all the features you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are <em>a lot <\/em>of options available.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, here\u2019s what a good brokerage account will have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><ul><li>Commission-free trading<li>Access to fractional shares investing<li>Access to stocks, bonds, and ETFs<li>Security<\/ul><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>You can ask your family or friends what they use, or you can do your own research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you asked me, my 3 favorite brokers for stock investing (especially for beginners) are <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/etoro-sign-up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eToro<\/a><\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/moomoo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>moomoo<\/strong><\/a>, and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/m1-finance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">M1 Finance<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2> <strong>eToro<\/strong>:<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/etoro-sign-up\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/us-download.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-793\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"is-layout-flow wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<h2>moomoo:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/moomoo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/moomoo-review.png\" alt=\"moomoo review\" class=\"wp-image-6372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/moomoo-review.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/moomoo-review-768x403.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>M1 Finance<\/strong>:<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/m1-finance\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"498\" height=\"452\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/m1_finance_app_and_logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-792\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>You can\u2019t go wrong with either one of these options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In my opinion, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/etoro-sign-up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eToro is the best trading platform for beginner investors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/moomoo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">moomoo<\/a> is also great for beginners \u2014 the fact that you can get an awesome sign-up bonus doesn&#8217;t hurt. (Check out our post: &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/how-to-get-free-stocks-for-signing-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Get Free Stocks for Signing Up<\/a>&#8221; \u2014 the current sign-up bonus is also detailed below.)<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-code-snippets-content\">Up to $1000 in NVDA shares with qualified deposit+ limited time 8.1% APY \r\n\r\n 1. 8.1% APY Cash Sweep: Enroll and activate to get 4.1% APY base rate + 4% APY booster for 3 months\r\n\r\nNVDA Promotion \r\n\r\n-Deposit $100 and get $20 NVDA shares\r\n-Deposit $2,000, and receive total $50 NVDA shares\r\n-Deposit $10,000 and receive total $300 NVDA shares\r\n-Deposit $50,000 and receive total $1000 NVDA shares<\/div>\n\n\n<p>But if know you want a more \u201cset-it-and-forget-it\u201d approach, where you can contribute and invest on autopilot, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/m1-finance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">M1 Finance<\/a> is the obvious choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve chosen a broker, you can open and fund your brokerage account in a matter of minutes (get started by clicking the links above).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need to input some personal information (including your social security number) and connect your bank account, debit card, or provide another source of funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a short tutorial on setting up an account on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/etoro-sign-up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eToro<\/a> (even if you choose <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/moomoo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">moomoo<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/m1-finance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">M1 Finance<\/a> or another broker, the process will be similar):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/-2dyeDPk4cc\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>See? That wasn\u2019t so hard!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-code-snippets-content\"><div class=\"disclaimer\">\r\n\t<p>eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.<\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3>Step 2: Research the stock(s) you want to buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/etoro-sign-up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opened your brokerage account<\/a> and funded it, it\u2019s time to start picking stocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Related: Learn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/how-to-know-when-to-buy-and-sell-stocks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to know when to buy and sell stocks<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There have been many books written on this topic, and diving into the details of each method is outside the scope of this article, but here are a few tips to get you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A great place to start is by researching companies you already know as a consumer &#8211; what products do you buy and love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you own a MacBook and an iPhone? Maybe you want to buy Apple stock (ticker: <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/stocks\/us\/nasdaq\/aapl\" target=\"_blank\">NASDAQ:<\/a><a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/stocks\/us\/nasdaq\/aapl\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/a><a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/stocks\/us\/nasdaq\/aapl\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>AAPL<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you own a Tesla Model 3? Maybe you want to buy <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/stocks\/us\/nasdaq\/tsla\" target=\"_blank\">NASDAQ: <strong>TSLA<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, each share of stock is part ownership of a company &#8211; look for companies in which you want to become a part owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote is-style-default\"><blockquote><p>\u201cBuy into a company because you want to own it, not because you want the stock to go up.\u201d<\/p><cite>-Warren Buffett<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We should take his advice seriously &#8211; he\u2019s worth nearly $100 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve identified a few potential companies to invest in, it\u2019s time for some research (hint, this is where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WallStreetZen<\/a> comes in).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like everything you buy, there are 2 components: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><ol><li>What you get (value)<li>What you give up (price).<\/ol><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If you wanted to buy a pencil and I offered to sell you mine for $100, would you buy it? Of course not. What you\u2019re getting (a pencil) is not worth what you\u2019d be giving up ($100).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same can be true for stocks, companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a company\u2019s value is not worth its current price, you shouldn\u2019t buy it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This concept is what <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/best-fundamental-analysis-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\">fundamental analysis<\/a> is based on, and why we built <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WallStreetZen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can learn more about fundamental analysis on our blog or perform your own research on our website &#8211; we\u2019ve automated much of the fundamental analysis process, which is why we think <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WallStreetZen<\/a> is the <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/best-fundamental-analysis-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\">best fundamental analysis tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also see what the best performing analysts on Wall Street have to say about your stock, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/analysts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see what companies they\u2019re recommending right now<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suffice it to say, picking stocks is as much art as it is science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every investor\u2019s exact process looks a bit different &#8211; there\u2019s a million ways to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the bottom line is two-fold: 1) Find a company you want to own, and 2) Buy it for a fair price (or better).<\/p>\n\n\n    <div id=\"callout-box-block_7e7ecd4cba805b2f4aade1f69216e28b\" class=\"callout-box promo\">\n        <div class=\"callout-box__icon-wrapper\">\n            <svg focusable=\"false\" class=\"callout-box__icon promo\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                <path d=\"M21.41 11.58l-9-9C12.05 2.22 11.55 2 11 2H4c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2v7c0 .55.22 1.05.59 1.42l9 9c.36.36.86.58 1.41.58.55 0 1.05-.22 1.41-.59l7-7c.37-.36.59-.86.59-1.41 0-.55-.23-1.06-.59-1.42zM5.5 7C4.67 7 4 6.33 4 5.5S4.67 4 5.5 4 7 4.67 7 5.5 6.33 7 5.5 7z\"><\/path>            <\/svg>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"callout-box__content\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we move on, a quick Q: <em>Ever wish you had a smart investor buddy who could help you pick out awesome stocks? <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If so, you might be interested in our new stock-picking newsletter, <strong>Zen Investor<\/strong>. As a member, you receive stock picks, commentary, portfolio updates, and webinars from stock market veteran Steve Reitmeister, who hand-selects stocks through a proprietary 4-step process using WallStreetZen tools.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The result? You get additional focus in your investing and more free time. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/stock-picks\/\" class=\"zi-cta\" id=\"calloutbox-cta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Try Zen Investor now for just $79.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Step 3: Decide how many shares to buy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If step 2 felt daunting, don\u2019t worry, the hard part is over &#8211; the rest is essentially personal preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\ud83d\udca1 Note: <strong>A stock\u2019s price per share (\u201cshare price\u201d)<\/strong> is the most recent price that stock has traded for &#8211; it is not the value of a business. The value of the business is the share price multiplied by the total number of shares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If stock ABC trades for $10 per share and there are 100,000 shares outstanding, the company is worth $1 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If stock XYZ has 10,000 shares outstanding but trades for $100\/share, this company\u2019s total value is also $1 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Right now, AAPL has a price of $136.50 with 16.19 billion shares outstanding, giving it a total value (\u201cmarket capitalization\u201d) of $2.21 trillion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each share of AAPL is currently trading for $136.50. If you want to buy 2 shares of Apple stock, that will cost you $273.00. Knowing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/how-to-read-a-stock-quote-prices-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to read a stock quote<\/a> will be useful here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to invest $500 into Apple and if your broker provides access to fractional shares, you could buy 3.663 shares (both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/etoro-sign-up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eToro<\/a> and <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/m1-finance\" target=\"_blank\">M1 Finance<\/a> allow fractional share purchases).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\ud83d\udca1Note: <strong>Fractional shares <\/strong>allow you to buy a portion of a share rather than a full share, allowing you to invest specific dollar amounts into your stocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The quantity of shares you purchase is completely up to you, but don\u2019t forget to diversify across various investments so you don\u2019t have all your eggs in one basket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Step 4: Choose your stock order type<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/go\/etoro-sign-up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opened your new brokerage account<\/a>, deposited your funds, found a stock, researched the company, and decided on how much to invest, it\u2019s time to place your order.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"wall-article__table\">\n                    <h4>There are 2 main order types:<\/h4>\n        \n        <ul>\n                            <li>A Market order is an order to buy or sell a stock immediately, at the best available price. The exact price at which a market order will be executed is not guaranteed.<\/li>\n                            <li>A Limit order is an order to buy or sell a stock at a specific price or better. A buy limit order can only be executed at the limit price (or lower), while a sell limit order can only be executed at the limit price (or higher).<\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to buy or sell a stock quickly, <strong>market orders<\/strong> work well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to ensure you\u2019re getting an exact price while buying or selling, <strong>use a limit order<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Personally, I tend to use market orders when buying and selling stocks because I\u2019d rather have my orders filled quickly (so I can move on with my life) than trying to squeeze out a few extra pennies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To place your order, click \u2018Trade\u2019 (or the equivalent, depending on your broker), type in the ticker symbol, select \u2018Buy\u2019, enter the number of shares or dollar amount you want to buy, select your order type, and hit \u2018Submit\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve done it! The 4 steps above are the only 4 you need to invest in stocks. And don&#8217;t forget, you can <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/how-to-invest-in-stocks-for-beginners-with-little-money\/\" target=\"_blank\">start investing with little money<\/a> by using eToro&#8217;s fractional shares.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div id=\"callout-box-block_bada40b0e1419d8555f9140d75bc55b4\" class=\"callout-box info\">\n        <div class=\"callout-box__icon-wrapper\">\n            <svg focusable=\"false\" class=\"callout-box__icon info\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                <path d=\"M12 3c-.46 0-.93.04-1.4.14-2.76.53-4.96 2.76-5.48 5.52-.48 2.61.48 5.01 2.22 6.56.43.38.66.91.66 1.47V19c0 1.1.9 2 2 2h.28c.35.6.98 1 1.72 1s1.38-.4 1.72-1H14c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2v-2.31c0-.55.22-1.09.64-1.46C18.09 13.95 19 12.08 19 10c0-3.87-3.13-7-7-7zm2 16h-4v-1h4v1zm0-2h-4v-1h4v1zm-1.5-5.59V14h-1v-2.59L9.67 9.59l.71-.71L12 10.5l1.62-1.62.71.71-1.83 1.82z\"><\/path>            <\/svg>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"callout-box__content\"><p>When investing, your capital is at risk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3>Step 5: Monitor and manage your stock portfolio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>By now, you\u2019ve made your first investment and begun your lifelong journey of successful investing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There will be a lot of ups and downs in the stock market over the course of your lifetime, so make sure to keep a long-term perspective and concentrate on the things you can control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If one of your company\u2019s stock prices rapidly increases, beyond what you think the company should be worth, it may be time to sell some or all of your position for a nice profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If one of your stocks falls on hard times, you may need to reevaluate if your investment thesis still exists or if it\u2019s time to cut your losses and find a new opportunity elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Here&#8217;s an article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/what-makes-stocks-go-up-and-down\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">what makes stocks go up and down<\/a> and another one on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/how-to-predict-stocks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to predict stocks<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you need a place to keep track of your investment portfolio &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com#sign-up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">create a free Watchlist on WallStreetZen<\/a> and get alerted to the latest market news affecting your companies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"wallstreetzen.com#sign-up\" style=\"color:#ffffff\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Create your Watchlist<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations &#8211; you\u2019re now an investor!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now your friends will be asking you, \u201cHow do you invest in stocks?\u201d, \u201cHow do you buy shares of a company?\u201d, and \u201cWhat\u2019s the difference between a stock and a share?\u201d &#8211; and you\u2019ll be able to answer them all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Select an online <strong>stockbroker<\/strong> and open a <strong>brokerage account <\/strong>(15 minutes)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research the <strong>stock<\/strong>(s) you want to <strong>buy <\/strong>(varies)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decide how many <strong>shares<\/strong> to buy (&lt; 1 minute)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose your stock order type (&lt; 1 minute)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitor and manage your stock portfolio<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Still not sure how to buy your favorite stock? Here are buying guides for some of the most popular stocks on WallStreetZen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-apple-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Apple Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-facebook-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Facebook Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-nike-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Nike Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-realnetworks-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Realnetworks Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-carrier-global-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Carrier Global Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-ibm-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy IBM Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-zoom-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Zoom Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-hilton-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Hilton Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-block-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Block Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-sony-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Sony Stock<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/how-to-buy-activision-blizzard-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Buy Activision Blizzard Stock<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Want some portfolio inspiration? Click here to see <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/example-stock-portfolios\/\" target=\"_blank\">examples of a diversified stock portfolio<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-code-snippets-content\"><div class=\"disclaimer\">\r\n\t<p>\r\nMoomoo is a financial information and trading app offered by Moomoo Technologies Inc. Securities are offered through Moomoo Financial Inc., Member FINRA\/SIPC. The creator is a paid influencer and is not affiliated with Moomoo Financial Inc. (MFI), Moomoo Technologies Inc. (MTI) or any other affiliate. The experiences of the influencer may not be representative of the experiences of other moomoo users. Any comments or opinions provided are their own and not necessarily the views of MFI, MTI or moomoo. Moomoo and its affiliates do not endorse any strategies that may be discussed or promoted herein and are not responsible for any services provided by the influencer. This advertisement is for informational and educational purposes only and is not investment advice or a recommendation of a security or to engage in any investment strategy. Investing involves risk and the potential to lose principal. Investment and financial decisions should be made based on your specific financial needs, objectives, goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Any images shown are strictly for illustrative purposes. Past performance does not guarantee future results. U.S. residents trading in U.S. securities may trade commission-free using the moomoo app through Moomoo Financial Inc. (MFI). Please see our pricing page for other fees. Level 2 data is free to moomoo users that have an approved MFI brokerage account. Trading during Extended Hours Trading Sessions carries unique risks, such as greater price volatility, lower liquidity, wider bid\/ask spreads, and less market visibility, and may not be appropriate for all investors.\r\n\t\t<\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-faq-schema-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>FAQs:<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-faq-schema-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>How much money do I need to buy a stock?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With fractional share buying, many online brokerages allow you to get started with just $10.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>How do you buy stocks?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Follow the 5 steps outlined above to buy stocks online.<\/p>\n<p>Another great way to practice buying stock is by using one of the best paper trading platforms.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>What\u2019s the best way to buy stocks?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We recommend creating on online brokerage for free with either eToro or M1 Finance.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>What\u2019s the best trading platform for beginners?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The best trading platform for beginners is eToro.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>What are the best stocks for beginners?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I typically recommend ETFs for their easy diversification.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>How do I get started with fundamental analysis?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Head to the fundamental analysis section of our blog to learn how to make better investing decisions in less time.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Buying stocks online isn\u2019t as complicated as it seems. In fact, I\u2019m confident you can make your very first investment in the next 30 minutes (or less if you already know what stock you want to buy!). If none of that made sense, don\u2019t worry, I was in your shoes not too long ago. In [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Buy Stocks Online: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-stocks-online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Buy Stocks Online: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Buying stocks online isn\u2019t as complicated as it seems. In fact, I\u2019m confident you can make your very first investment in the next 30 minutes (or less if you already know what stock you want to buy!). If none of that made sense, don\u2019t worry, I was in your shoes not too long ago. In [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-stocks-online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WallStreetZen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-06-29T18:48:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-19T15:31:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/jeremy-bezanger-glY0yf3lxA4-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lincoln Olson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@wallstreet_zen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@wallstreet_zen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written 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