[header] How to take a company public [title] Hire an investment bank. [step] If you decide that you want to go public, the first step is hiring an investment bank, or a syndicate (group) of investment banks, as underwriters. The investment bank vets you by analyzing your financial performance. 
It works with you to register your ipo with the securities and exchange commission (sec) and to determine a price for your ipo. Then, on the day of the ipo, the investment bank purchases all of the shares you are offering.