Companies start as privately held and are not listed on any stock exchange. Its leaders must decide to start selling shares to the general public through an initial public offering (IPO).
There are a few basic ways to make money from investing in stocks. You can make the stock market work for you, buy and sell for quick capital gains, or grab stocks that pay dividends.
When you buy stocks at low prices and selling when prices are higher results in a capital gain, earning you the difference between the buy and sell price.