Get Started in Shares

Execution-only (or dealing-only) service

Here the broker carries out your purchase or sale order as instructed without offering any investment advice. It is the cheapest way to buy and sell shares. A typical minimum commission is around £10–20, but it can be as little as £6. (You need to be trading 100 times each quarter to qualify for the £6 service).

These figures would apply if you were buying, say, £1,000 of shares. Charges normally rise as the size of order increases. So for a £5,000 bargain £20–30 is more typical. However, brokers have become so keen to gain business that it is possible to deal for £8–10 or so, even for orders of £25,000.

The figures given so far are for online dealing. If you use phone and postal dealing then the typical ...