The long term benefits of being publicly traded are numerous and can include: improved liquidity, higher company value, the ability to make acquisitions or attract and retain employees with the newly public companies stock and greater access to capital at a lower cost.

In addition, having public trading status allows a company the ability to make acquisitions with their stock, since publicly traded stock is viewed as currency for mergers and acquisitions. More over, public trading status often leads to a higher price for a later offering of a companies securities.

There are many market places you may consider to go public in the world, however, in the USA, even a Small Business still can go public. 

There are four main ways a company can "Go Public" in the USA.

• The first is issuing securities in an offering or transaction registered with all relevant securities commissions (Initial Public Offering - ["IPO"]). 
• The second is conducting a Reverse Takeover ["RTO"] of a public shell company or other public vehicle.
• The third is to merger with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company ["SPAC"].
• The fourth is registering your company and its outstanding securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") without any middle party - Direct Public Offering ["DPO"].