Definition of Initial Public Offering (IPO) | "Going Public"

Accounting Definitions

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

IPO (Initial Public Offering) Definition

An IPO (Initial Public Offering) is the stock that is sold when a company goes from being a private business to a publicly held business.

IPO Expanded Definition
A business may choose to “go public” in order to get a large influx of cash. The process involves working with an investment bank or underwriting firm to set the date and opening price. The business is commonly in a growth stage, and will need to communicate with shareholders when it becomes publicly traded.

Related Articles
What Is An IPO? | Patriot Software
Understanding an Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Patriot Software

Last Updated By

Jenna Hutkowski | Apr 12, 2023

Back to Top