EXPANDING THE ON-RAMP: Recommendations to Help More Companies Go and Stay Public

Going public” has long been the goal of entrepreneurs who start a business from scratch, grow it into a thriving enterprise, then have the opportunity to offer shares to the general public through an initial public offering (IPO). Completing an IPO allows our nation’s fast-growing and most innovative companies to raise the capital needed to create jobs and expand opportunities for their employees and the customers they serve. Public offerings also allow “Main Street” investors to own a direct economic stake in the success of American enterprises. With a decline in companies going public policymakers need to seriously address the impediments both to launching IPOs and to reverse the increase in costs associated with remaining a public company.