A share is a portion of equity or ownership in a company. Shares are normally listed on a stock exchange, which allows them to be traded between investors.

Why become a shareholder?

Over a long period, investing in shares is a great way to build your wealth. Owning shares can make you money in two main ways - from the share appreciating in value or through dividend payments. The ASX 200, an index of Australia's 200 largest companies, has returned shareholders 9% over the last 30 years. While this doesn't mean you'll receive 9% every year (some you'll be down, others up), over time the stock market has offered a reliable average return to investors. Of course, if you invest in stocks that fall in value you will underperform this average. As such, you should do your research before buying any shares. Past performance is also no guarantee of future performance.

What shares can I buy online?

This will depend on your brokerage platform. Some platforms will allow you to purchase a wide variety of exchange-listed shares and some will even allow you to purchase international shares or even OTC (over-the-counter) shares. Research the different share trading platforms to see which stocks each provider will let you trade.

What is the minimum trade value?

It depends on the investment platform you use. If you don’t already own stock in an Australian company, you’ll typically be required to purchase over $500 worth during your first trade. Once you own stock, you can buy further shares with no minimum. For US or other global stocks, the minimum can range anywhere from a few cents to a few hundred dollars, depending on the platform you use.

What is the maximum value I can buy?

The maximum value of shares you can buy online will again depend on your brokerage platform. Some platforms will have no maximum amount but will require you to have the necessary funds for your purchase in your trading account.

How long will it take for my order to be processed?

The time it will take for your buy or sell order to go through will depend on whether you lodge your order at market or at limit. For example, if you’re buying shares at market value, the order will be placed as soon as possible and the shares purchased at the best price available at the time. However, if you place your order at limit, you can stipulate the maximum price you are willing to pay and how long you will wait for the right market conditions to arise. The limit order will then stay on the market until your designated expiry date, and if it has not been executed by then, your order will be cancelled.

Can I change or cancel my order?

If you’re lodging a market order, your brokerage platform will most likely provide you with the opportunity to review and modify your order before submitting it. However, once it has been submitted, it will be processed as soon as possible. If you decide to place a limit order and it has not yet been executed, you will be able to amend or even cancel the transaction.

What happens once I purchase my shares?

Once you have purchased shares in a company, you become a part owner of that company. As the stock market fluctuates each day and the value of shares rises and falls, the value of your shares will similarly change. You’ll receive company reports and news updates so you can stay abreast of its performance and direction, while many companies will also pay out dividends (your share of the company’s profits or earnings) twice a year. It’s up to you to monitor the performance of your shares in line with your investment strategy and decide whether to sell, hold or buy more shares.

How do you invest with little money?

One option for those who have little money is to start investing through micro investment apps or through fractional shares. Micro investing lets you round up transactions, set up smaller weekly deposits and with some providers allows you to get cash back on your shopping. These apps will then invest your money into index or exchange-traded funds. Your other option is to look into fractional shares. Some brokers will let you buy a portion of shares instead of having to save enough to buy a full share. While both of these strategies have drawbacks, they can help you get started investing with little money.

How do I invest in American stocks from Australia?

If you want to invest in American stocks from Australia, you'll need to find a broker that allows you to buy US shares. Once you have found a broker, you'll need to fill out your basic information and provide some proof of identification. After that you can begin buying US shares. For more information, see our how to invest in US stocks from Australia 2025 guide.

How do I invest in Chinese stocks from Australia?

If you're looking to buy shares in Chinese stocks, you'll need a brokerage account that allows you to access the right stock exchanges. However, it can be tricky to trade on Chinese stock exchanges directly and in many instances it is easier to invest in Chinese companies that are listed on other exchanges. Chinese stocks are in 3 categories: Chinese A stocks: These are listed on the Shanghai or Shenzhen stock exchange, are traded in local currencies and are usually exclusive to Chinese investors except for foreigners with a special licence. Chinese B stocks: These are stocks of Chinese companies listed on the Shanghai or Shenzhen stock exchange and can be traded by international investors. But with more access to A stocks in recent years, these shares are losing some of their liquidity. Hong Kong H stocks: These are stocks that are on the Hong Kong exchange, and you'll need to transfer your money to Hong Kong dollars before trading. This market is open to foreign investors. Many Chinese stocks are also listed on overseas markets such as the US and Australia. These include Alibaba, Baidu and NIO. In this case, you need to sign up to a broker with access to those markets.

How do I invest in gold stocks?

In order to buy gold stocks, you'll need to find companies that mine gold. After that, you'll need to sign up with a broker and begin trading. While you won't directly be exposed to the gold price, the miners themselves are pretty closely aligned to the gold price. This goes without saying, but the higher the price of gold, the better it is for gold miners and vice versa. Alternatively, you can choose to invest in gold ETFs that are also traded on the stock exchange. These are either physically backed by gold or trade futures contracts. Finally, if neither of these options appeal to you and you would like to own gold you can buy gold bullion or even jewellery.

How do I invest in stocks with $1,000?

You can start investing in Australian shares from as little as $500 if they are CHESS-sponsored and as little as $10 at a time into US stocks – depending on your online broker. If you choose to have a custodian model of ownership, you start buying Australian shares for even less. Regardless of what or where you choose to invest, you'll need to follow the same steps. You will need to research businesses that you would like to buy, sign up to a broker and purchase the shares.

Kylie Purcell

Investments Analyst

With over a decade of experience in finance journalism, Kylie Purcell is an investments analyst and a sought-after commentator, regularly sharing her expertise on investment strategies with media outlets across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Specialising in a broad spectrum of financial products — from online trading platforms and robo-advisors to stocks, ETFs, digital assets and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin — Kylie helps investors navigate a rapidly evolving market. Kylie’s career spans writing, producing and presenting market updates for major outlets including Sky Business (Your Money), TVNZ, SBS, and The Advisor magazine. She is also the host of Finder’s Investment Finder video series, providing expert insights to guide investors through the complexities of the market.

Kylie is actively involved in the investment community as an industry awards judge and panellist, where her deep knowledge of financial products and market trends shapes her perspectives on the future of investing. Kylie’s expertise has been featured in many prominent publications, including the Australian Financial Review, Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, Cointelegraph, My Millennial Money and News.com.au. Kylie holds a Master of Arts in International Journalism from Cardiff University, a Graduate Diploma in Economics from the University of New England, and a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television from Charles Sturt University. She also holds two ASIC-recognised certifications: a Certificate of Generic Knowledge, and a Certificate of Securities and Managed Investments, both of which meet the requirements of ASIC’s Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).

If you’re interested in a media interview with Kylie, please reach out to our PR team at aupr@finder.com.

Expertise

Investment strategies
Financial platforms
Stockbrokers
Robo advisors
Exchange traded funds (ETFs)
Ethical investing
ASX stocks
Stock and forex markets

Experience

Certificate of Generic Knowledge, which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146)
Certificate of Securities and Managed Investments, which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146)
Annual Finder Innovation Awards judge for banking and investment categories
Moderator at the Inside ETFs Australia 2021 annual conference.
Webinar presenter and podcast guest for the Australian Shareholders Association
Host of the Investment Finder YouTube channel