Verified answer

Usually you need to have a large brokerage account, and for really popular offerings, an account with the company that is underwriting the stock IPO. It really isn't worth it, almost all IPOs increase for awhile, then go down below IPO levels. Buy it then.

It helps greatly if you have a million dollar account at the brokerage firm. Good IPOs are allocated to their best customers. Actually, I have not seen an IPO in the past 12 month I would spend a dime on. They appear mostly to be a bunch of crap.

Sometimes brokerages give notices about IPOs and will offer prospective buyers to get on a list. I remember ETrade doing that.