Like most of us, you have probably imagined buying shares of a company that skyrockets in a couple of years in value, making you enough money to travel and chill for the rest of your life. Maybe even Berkshire Hathaway was among your top picks for buying its shares, or it will be. In reality, investing is a bit more complex than waiting for the birds flying into your mouth ready roasted, but hey, you have to start somewhere right?
The good news is that unlike back in the days, today you can buy shares in companies like Berkshire Hathaway fully online.
While we do not specifically advise to buy Berkshire Hathaway shares, this article explains in layman’s terms how you can buy shares in companies in general, taking Berkshire Hathaway as an example. Whether your first share to buy should be Berkshire Hathaway or not it’s for you to decide. We strongly suggest to contact investment advisors as this article is not meant to be investment advice under any circumstance.
If you are interested in our guide about how to buy shares online, click here.
Overview of Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway is a US Financial Services company, traded on the NYSE under the BRK.A ticker. It is famous as a multinational conglomerate holding company. If you’d like to buy its stocks you need to find a broker that gives you access to the NYSE because that’s the main exchange it’s traded on (hang tight, we’ll get into this in a bit).
All of this doesn’t mean that Berkshire Hathaway is a good company or a bad one. As part of this example you might want to get reminded of what you are considering investing in though.
Let’s see the steps now!
Steps of buying Berkshire Hathaway shares
Okay so for your own reasons you have decided you’d like to buy Berkshire Hathaway. That’s a good start. Let’s see what lies ahead of you before you can officially state that you are a shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway! The process is rather similar for any company shares and again, we only take Berkshire Hathaway as an example.
Step 1: find a good online broker
One of the characteristics of an online broker is the exchanges they have access to. Not all brokers allow you to buy shares of Berkshire Hathaway, simply because they don’t have access to the NYSE. Needless to say, you need a broker that gives you access to this exchange.
The next important thing with a broker is that it should fit you as well. Not all brokers allow every citizen to open an account with them; some brokers are super expensive if you just want to buy a couple of Berkshire Hathaway shares every once in a while, some brokers can be absolutely free. You can actually get great recommendations on choosing the right broker using our questionnaire:
How to Buy Berkshire Hathaway Shares: A Step-by-Step Guide
When choosing a broker, it’s important to consider several factors such as fees, the quality of the trading platform, available markets, and how easy it is to open an account. Security is also a major consideration, but by sticking to well-established and regulated brokers, you can invest with confidence.
Step 2: Open Your Brokerage Account
After selecting your broker, the next step is to create your account. This process is similar to opening a bank account and is typically done online.
Some brokers allow you to set up your account within minutes, while others may take a few days due to identity verification procedures. This account will hold your Berkshire Hathaway shares, making it essential for both buying and storing your investments.
Step 3: Fund Your Account
To purchase Berkshire Hathaway stock, you’ll need to deposit money into your brokerage account. This step is usually quick and straightforward—often even simpler than opening the account itself.
Most brokers support funding via bank transfer or credit/debit card. Some also allow deposits through e-wallets like PayPal, offering additional flexibility.
Step 4: Buy Berkshire Hathaway Stock
With your account funded, you’re ready to invest. Log in to your brokerage platform, search for Berkshire Hathaway, select the number of shares you want to buy, and place your order.
When placing a trade, you’ll typically choose between different order types:
Market order: executes immediately at the current market price
Limit order: allows you to set your desired purchase price
Understanding these options helps you control how your trade is executed.
Step 5: Monitor Your Investment
Buying the stock is just the beginning. It’s important to regularly review your investment and ensure it aligns with your overall strategy.
If you’re investing for the long term, you may want to follow company updates, earnings reports, and industry developments. If your strategy is more short-term, you can use tools like:
Take-profit orders to lock in gains
Stop-loss orders to limit potential losses
Now that you’re familiar with the process, you can explore and compare top brokers to find the one that best suits your investing goals.
Best 5 brokers for buying Berkshire Hathaway shares
| Interactive Brokers | Interactive Brokers is a US discount broker. It is listed on a stock exchange and regulated by several authorities, including top-tier ones like the FCA and the SEC. | Visit broker |
| Alpaca Trading | Alpaca Securities LLC is US-based broker providing commission-free API stock trading. The company is regulated by the top-tier SEC and FINRA: | Visit broker |
| TradeStation Global | TradeStation Global is an introducing broker of Interactive Brokers. This practically means that assets and cash are held with Interactive Brokers, but services like fees and customer support are provided by TradeStation Global. TradeStation Global is regulated by the top-tier UK FCA. | Visit broker |
| Zacks Trade | Zacks Trade is a US discount broker that also allows international clients to open an account. Zacks Trade is a division of LBMZ Securities, which is regulated by SEC and FINRA. Customers are protected by the SIPC scheme, up to $500,000 (including a $250,000 limit for cash). | Visit broker |
| Saxo Bank | Saxo Bank is a Danish investment bank. It is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the top-tier UK FCA. | Visit broker |
Fees for investing in Berkshire Hathaway stocks
You have to count with different kind of fees when you are trading with Berkshire Hathaway shares.
Commission is a fee, based on the traded volume or a flat fee per trade. For example, 0.1% of €10,000, $5/trade or $0.005/share.
Needless to say, these are different at each broker. Let’s see the fees of trading with Berkshire Hathaway shares at our recommended five brokers
| Saxo Bank | Fusion Markets | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| GBPUSD spread | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| AUDUSD spread | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| EURCHF spread | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| EURGBP spread | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
How to reduce risks
How to Manage Risk When Investing in Berkshire Hathaway
Every investment involves some level of uncertainty, and buying shares of Berkshire Hathaway is no exception. The key is to understand the risks involved and apply strategies that help protect your capital. Below are some practical tips to guide you.
Be Aware of Investment Scams
Risk:
There are many fraudulent brokers online aiming to deceive investors. Be especially cautious when you come across ads promoting binary options or automated trading systems that promise unusually high returns—these are often warning signs.
How to manage it:
Use trusted and well-regulated brokers when investing online. Reliable platforms offer transparency, strong security, and a proven track record. If something seems too good to be true, it’s best to avoid it.
Diversify Your Portfolio
Risk:
Concentrating all your funds in one or two stocks increases your exposure to potential losses. If Berkshire Hathaway underperforms or faces unexpected challenges, your entire investment could be affected.
How to manage it:
Spread your investments across multiple companies instead of focusing only on Berkshire Hathaway. Diversification helps reduce overall risk and creates a more balanced portfolio. Many investors aim to hold between 20 and 30 different stocks to achieve effective diversification.
Bottom line
How to purchase Berkshire Hathaway shares online?
Just follow these five easy steps:
- find a broker
- open your account
- fund the account
- buy the share
- review your position
It may look tricky for the first time but all you need to do is progress step-by-step.
