The market price should be fairly close to the price given in the newspaper that day. Also, you can place a limit order with your broker specifying the maximum price you will pay. The broker will not execute the order if the stock's price goes beyond the maximum price you are willing to pay. You can make the limit order good until canceled, authorizing the broker to buy the shares when they fall to or below a certain price. Although there is no minimum amount of shares you must buy, brokers have minimum commissions so it is expensive to purchase just a few shares.
Most commissions are negotiable and vary from firm to firm.
Some brokerage firms offer a wide variety of services. Prices for such services are not cheap. Costs are often based on a flat service fee plus a percentage charge figured on the basis of total money invested in stocks. If you do not need the fringe services provided by a full service stock brokerage firm, you may consider the use of a discount broker . These firms have no large staff of salespeople, investment analysts, or fancy offices.