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SME IPO vs Mainboard IPO

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Difference between SME IPO and Mainboard IPO in a simple way


What is IPO?

Imagine a company is like a big cake. To make the cake bigger, the company might want to get some sugar (money) from other people. So, they cut pieces of their cake and give it to people to buy. That’s called an IPO. When many people buy these pieces, the company gets money to grow bigger.


SME IPO — The Small Cake

Now, think of a small cake that’s just the right size for a little birthday party. This is like SME IPO. It’s for small companies, like a small bakery. These companies are still growing but need some money to make their bakery bigger.

Example:
Say there is a small toy shop called “Tiny Toys.” They want to sell some of their toys to more kids and need money to make more toys. They do an SME IPO, which is easier and faster because they are still small.


Mainboard IPO — The Big Cake

Now, imagine a big cake, like for a big birthday party with many guests. This is like the Mainboard IPO. It’s for big, grown-up companies that already make lots of money and are very famous.

Example:
There is a big company called “Mega Mobiles” that already sells millions of phones. They want more money to open many more shops all over the world. They do a Mainboard IPO, which takes longer but is more special because they are already big and well-known.


Why use SME IPO or Mainboard IPO?

  • The small company (Tiny Toys) can get help quickly and easily with SME IPO.
  • The big company (Mega Mobiles) needs more careful rules because they are already famous, so they do a Mainboard IPO.

Summary

Small Cake (SME IPO)Big Cake (Mainboard IPO)
For small companiesFor big, famous companies
Easier and faster to doTakes longer, more rules
Needs less money, less strictNeeds lots of money, strict rules
Example: Tiny ToysExample: Mega Mobiles

The risk is like when you share your toys with friends and hope they take care of them, but sometimes they might lose or break them. In IPO terms, risk means the chance you might lose some or all of the money you put into buying pieces of the company.


Risk in SME IPO (Small Cake)

  • The company is small and still growing, so it might not earn enough money or might face problems.
  • The price of the company’s pieces can change a lot because fewer people buy and sell these pieces.
  • Sometimes, the company might not do well, and the pieces you bought may lose value.
  • So, you might lose money if the company doesn’t grow as expected.

Risk in Mainboard IPO (Big Cake)

  • The company is bigger and more famous, so it is usually safer.
  • But still, the company can have problems, like not making enough money or facing competition.
  • The price can go up and down, but usually less than SME IPOs because more people buy and sell.
  • There is still a chance to lose money, but it’s usually smaller than with SME IPOs.

Simple Example

If you buy a toy from a new small shop (SME), it might be very fun, or the shop may close, and you lose your toy. But if you buy a toy from a famous big shop (Mainboard), it is more reliable, but sometimes toys can still break.


Summary of Risks

SME IPO RiskMainboard IPO Risk
Higher risk of lossLower risk compared to SME IPO
Small companies might not grow wellLarger companies are more stable
Low trading volume means bigger price swingsMore buyers and sellers mean smaller price swings
Less information available about companyMore regulations and transparency

So, SME IPO is riskier but can give bigger rewards if the company grows well. Mainboard IPO is usually safer but with fewer surprises. Always remember, with IPO investment, you should be careful because there is always some risk.

That’s how small companies grow by selling small pieces first (SME IPO), and big companies do it when they are already famous (Mainboard IPO).​

Refer other article :

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IPO Guide