An initial public offering (IPO) describes the classic, traditional route to the stock market, in which a company's shares are included in trading on a stock exchange for the first time. The lengthy , costly process involves a consortium of banks, auditors, financial analysts and legal advisors who together make the company ready for the stock market, determine the value of the company and thus determine the price range for the subscription phase before listing.

A traditional IPO usually takes over a year of planning and, depending on the size of the company, costs a seven- to eight-figure amount. As an independent stock listing agency, the stock market professionals at INSTANT IPO like to compare which route to the stock market is the most advantageous for their company. The alternatives to an IPO are the listing and the shell transaction (SPAC).