A share dealing account could help you to add value to your portfolio whether you are a new or experienced trader.
You'll only find results from genuine companies. Our data experts check each company before we add them to our comparisons.
1
Compare share dealing accounts
Use this share dealing comparison table to compare and find an online share dealing account.
2
Open a share dealing account
Once you've opened your chosen share dealing account, you can transfer in as much money as you want to buy shares.
3
Start trading shares
Choose which shares you want and buy them through your account. Then you can start share trading.
Your investments are not guaranteed; they can decrease in value as well as increase and you may not get back the full amount you put in.
Share dealing is process of buying and selling shares in publicly listed companies or investment funds, letting you build your own investment portfolio.
A 'share' is a unit of ownership in a particular company. Share dealing allows you to buy stock in companies such Apple, Facebook or Google and then sell that stock for a profit if the price of the stock rises in future.
Brokers as as an intermediary between you and the stock market. A broker will buy stocks and shares, and sell them, on your behalf, with the aim of getting the best price possible to maximise your returns.
There are three types of share dealing brokers who can buy shares on your behalf:
Execution only brokers
These brokers follow your instructions to buy shares - and sell them - without giving you any advice.
Advisory brokers
These brokers advise you on the best shares to buy and sell but leave the final decision up to you.
Discretionary broker
These brokers take complete control of buying stocks and shares for you based on their expertise.
If you're interested in buying shares online, you'll need to choose an online share dealing platform. When you're deciding which platform to buy shares on ask yourself these questions:
How often do you want to trade?
How experienced are you?
How much money do you want to invest?
It's important to think about your own personal needs and goals when choosing a share dealing platform.
You'll use your trading platform to buy and sell stocks and shares.
When you want to sell, you can either sell a specific number of shares, or sell your shares by their value.
If you want to sell all the shares you own in a company, you'll have to sell them by number, for example 1,000 shares.
Once you make the order to sell, the transaction's done. The money from the sale will then appear in your trading account.
Keep in mind that when you sell your shares, you might be quoted a price that's lower than what you originally paid to buy them.
Before you open a share account and start looking at how to buy shares, there are some share dealing costs to think about.
Charge per trade
This is how much you pay for each time you make a trade and varies depending on your account provider.
Frequent trader rate
This is a discounted charge per trade for a minimum number of trades per month.
Platform fee
This is the annual cost for transferring money in or out of your account.
When you're buying and selling shares, you'll need to think carefully about what you choose to invest in based on:
How much you want to invest
This is the amount of money you've set aside for investing. Always invest an amount that you're willing to lose.
How long you want to invest for
This is the amount of time you want to take between buying and selling shares.
How much risk you're willing to take
Risk is the degree of uncertainty or potential financial loss in a given investment decision.
If you're looking for help on which companies or stocks to invest in, it's a good idea to get the advice of a financial adviser or broker.
You will not need to pay tax on your profit or purchases if your shares are held in an ISA. If they are not, you may need to pay two forms of taxes.
Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT). This charges 0.5% of the trade's value if you buy UK shares that are settled through CREST (the UK electronic settlement system).
Capital Gains Tax (CGT). When you sell your shares and make a profit, you are required to pay tax on the gains you made. The rate at which CGT is charged depends on which income tax bracket you are in and how much money you make from the sale.
In the 2021/22 tax year ...
Basic rate taxpayers pay 10 %
Higher and additional rate taxpayers pay 20%
However, for every tax year you receive a capital gains tax-free allowance. For the 2021/22 tax year the capital gains tax-free allowance is £12,300¹.
Your gains would need to exceed this in order for you to be required to pay capital gains tax on your profits from any trades you make.
There are a couple of ways you can earn money by share dealing.
Growth. That's when the shares you own increase in value and you can sell them at a profit.
Dividends. These are paid out a few times a year, based on company performance. Remember that not all shares offer dividends. If yours do, the amount they'll pay out is based on how many shares you own.
When it comes to investing in shares, patience is a virtue. Keep your emotions in check and avoid making snap decisions. Do your research and and execute your plan, and if it doesn't go your way, look at things objectively and reassess. If you're unsure seek the help of an independent financial advisor.”Salman Haqqi, Personal Finance Editor
Think long term
Unless you're seasoned trader, you should typically invest for at least five years. This protects you from any fluctuations in the market that might see you lose your money. If you think you'll need to access your money in that time frame, investing in stocks may not be a feasible option for you.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
It's always wise to spread your investments across a variety of different companies and industries. That way your returns aren't dependant on the performance if a single stock or commodity.
Don't worry about market dips
The stock market can dip drastically at times due to a number of external factors. But that's not a reason to panic and sell because everyone one else is. When investing in shares, patience is a useful virtue.
Before you begin to buy and sell shares you need to know the costs, and if there are any ways to save money. Here is how to start share dealing and what costs to look out for.
Read MoreIf you want to buy shares in companies in the UK or abroad then share dealing lets you do this. Here is how share dealing works.
Read MoreThe thrills and spills of the stock market can be exciting and lucrative, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start with investments. Ask yourself these 7 questions to work out how and where to invest your money.
Read more about questions to ask before investingComparing share dealing accounts could help you save money. Our multiple award-winning comparison service makes sure you get our lowest fees and charges. Our aim is to provide you with the most up-to-date information, as well as useful tools and calculators so to help you make life's most important decisions and take control of your money.
We have always aimed to provide the best possible services to bridge the gap between our users and our clients. Over the years, we have been thrilled to be recognised by various prestigious bodies and organisations for those efforts.
¹According to information on Gov.uk
Last updated: 24 January, 2022
