Are you ready to potentially own a piece of one of the world's most successful and revered companies, led by the legendary investor Warren Buffett? Buying shares of Berkshire Hathaway is a goal for many investors, but it's crucial to understand the different share classes and the process involved. Let's dive in and guide you through every step.
Step 1: Understand the Two Types of Shares: Class A vs. Class B
Before you do anything, you need to know that Berkshire Hathaway offers two distinct classes of stock, and the difference is monumental.
Class A Shares (Ticker: BRK.A): These are the original shares. They are famous for their incredibly high price, making them the most expensive stock in the world. As of June 2025, one single share is priced at over $700,000! Yes, you read that right. The company has historically been against stock splits, which has allowed the price to climb to this astonishing level. Each Class A share comes with a significant amount of voting power. For most individual investors, buying a full share is simply not a feasible option.
Class B Shares (Ticker: BRK.B): This is the share class that makes Berkshire Hathaway accessible to almost everyone. These were created to allow smaller investors to own a piece of the company without needing a small fortune. A Class B share is worth 1/1,500th of a Class A share, and it has 1/10,000th of the voting rights. The price is significantly lower, typically in the range of a few hundred dollars. This is the ticker you'll almost certainly be using to buy shares.
So, the first question you need to ask yourself is: Which class is for me? For almost every beginner or retail investor, the answer is unequivocally the Class B shares (BRK.B).
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| How To Buy Berkshire Hathaway Shares |
Step 2: Choose and Open a Brokerage Account
You cannot buy Berkshire Hathaway shares directly from the company. To buy them, you'll need a brokerage account. Think of a brokerage account as your personal investment bank account.
Sub-heading: Finding the Right Brokerage
Consider these factors when choosing a brokerage:
Commissions and Fees: Look for a brokerage that offers commission-free stock trades. This is standard practice with many top online brokerages today, but it's always good to double-check.
Minimum Investment: Some brokerages have a minimum deposit to open an account. Others, especially those offering fractional shares, may allow you to start with as little as $1.
Fractional Shares: This is a game-changer, especially for companies with high share prices. A brokerage that offers fractional shares allows you to buy a portion of a share. This means if a BRK.B share is $480, you could invest just $100 and own a fraction of that share. This is a great way to start small and still own a piece of a premium company.
Platform and Tools: Does the brokerage offer a user-friendly website or mobile app? Does it provide research tools and educational resources to help you make informed decisions?
Account Type: Decide whether you want to open a taxable brokerage account, a retirement account like a Roth IRA or Traditional IRA, or another type of investment account. Each has different tax implications.
Step 3: Fund Your Brokerage Account
Once your account is open, you need to add money to it. This is usually a simple process.
Tip: Bookmark this post to revisit later.
Sub-heading: Funding Methods
Most brokerages offer several ways to fund your account:
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT): This is the most common and easiest method. You can link your bank account to your brokerage account and transfer funds electronically. It might take a few business days for the funds to become available for trading.
Wire Transfer: This is a faster option, but it often comes with a fee from both your bank and the brokerage.
Check: You can mail a physical check, but this is the slowest method.
Wait until your funds are fully settled and available for trading before you proceed to the next step.
Step 4: Place Your Trade
Now for the exciting part! You're ready to buy your Berkshire Hathaway shares.
Sub-heading: Searching for the Stock
Log in to your brokerage account.
Navigate to the trading or "buy stock" section of the platform.
In the search bar, enter the ticker symbol: BRK.B. Remember, unless you're a multi-millionaire, you're looking for BRK.B, not BRK.A.
Sub-heading: Understanding Order Types
When you place your order, you'll need to choose an order type. The two most common are:
Market Order: This tells your brokerage to buy the shares at the best available market price right now. This is the simplest option, but the price might fluctuate slightly between the time you place the order and when it executes. This is usually fine for long-term investors.
Limit Order: This allows you to set a specific price at which you are willing to buy the stock. For example, if BRK.B is trading at $485, you could set a limit order to buy shares only if the price drops to $480. If the price never hits your limit, your order won't be filled.
QuickTip: Skim the first line of each paragraph.
Sub-heading: Filling out the Order
Select the ticker symbol: BRK.B.
Choose the order type: Market or Limit.
Enter the quantity: You can typically choose to buy a specific number of shares or a specific dollar amount (if fractional shares are available).
Review the order details: Double-check the ticker, the order type, and the quantity.
Submit the order: Click the "Buy," "Place Trade," or similar button.
Step 5: Monitor Your Investment
Congratulations! You are now a shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway. But the journey doesn't end there.
Sub-heading: Post-Purchase Monitoring
Track Performance: Keep an eye on your investment's performance within your brokerage account.
Stay Informed: Read Berkshire Hathaway's quarterly and annual reports, and stay updated on company news. Warren Buffett's annual letter to shareholders is a must-read for any BRK investor.
Don't Panic: The stock market has its ups and downs. If you've invested in Berkshire Hathaway, you've invested in a company with a strong track record and diversified portfolio. Resist the urge to sell every time there's a market dip.
Remember, investing is a marathon, not a sprint.
10 Related FAQ Subheadings
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway shares in India?
You can buy Berkshire Hathaway shares from India by opening an international brokerage account with a platform that allows you to trade on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange). Some popular platforms for Indian investors include Groww, INDmoney, and others that offer access to US stocks.
QuickTip: Use posts like this as quick references.
How to buy a fractional share of Berkshire Hathaway?
To buy a fractional share, you need to use a brokerage that offers this feature, such as Robinhood, Stash, or others. Instead of buying a full share, you specify the dollar amount you want to invest (e.g., $50), and the brokerage will purchase the corresponding fraction of a share for you.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares?
Due to their extremely high price (over $700,000 per share), buying a full Class A share (BRK.A) requires a significant amount of capital. The process is the same as buying Class B shares: open a brokerage account, fund it, and place a market or limit order for the BRK.A ticker. Most retail investors will not have enough funds to do this.
How to find the ticker symbol for Berkshire Hathaway?
The ticker symbol for Berkshire Hathaway Class A is BRK.A, and the ticker symbol for Berkshire Hathaway Class B is BRK.B. You will use one of these symbols to search for and buy the stock on your brokerage platform.
How to determine the minimum investment for Berkshire Hathaway?
The minimum investment depends on the price of the Class B share and whether your brokerage offers fractional shares. If fractional shares are available, you can start with as little as $1. Without fractional shares, you will need to buy at least one full share, which costs a few hundred dollars.
How to research Berkshire Hathaway before buying?
Tip: Revisit challenging parts.
You can research the company by reviewing its quarterly and annual reports on its investor relations website. You can also follow news and analyst reports from financial websites like Bloomberg, Reuters, or The Wall Street Journal. Pay attention to the company's holdings and the performance of its subsidiaries.
How to decide between a market order and a limit order?
A market order is best if you want to buy the shares immediately and are comfortable with the current price. A limit order is better if you have a specific price in mind and are willing to wait for the stock to reach that price before your order is executed. For long-term investors, a market order is often sufficient.
How to track the performance of my Berkshire Hathaway shares?
Your brokerage account will have a portfolio or dashboard section where you can track the real-time value and performance of your shares. You can see your gains or losses, and often a chart showing the stock's price history.
How to receive Warren Buffett's annual letter?
As a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder, you can access the annual letter on the company's official website. Many financial news outlets also publish the letter as soon as it's released, which is a major event in the investing world.
How to reinvest dividends from Berkshire Hathaway?
It's important to note that Berkshire Hathaway does not pay dividends. This is a key part of Warren Buffett's strategy—he prefers to reinvest the company's earnings back into the business or use the cash for acquisitions, which he believes generates more value for shareholders in the long run.
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