The minimum to start investing today is dramatically lower than most people assume — a outdated assumption from before fractional shares became standard.
The Current Minimums
Major brokers now let you start with $1 to $5 via fractional shares — Fidelity supports buying slices of stock for as little as $1, Schwab from $5, and Interactive Brokers accepts fractional trades from $0.01. There's no meaningful minimum "worth" investing anymore — the more important question is whether the amount you're starting with is comfortable to have invested (subject to market fluctuation) rather than money you might need imminently.
The meaningful lever isn't your starting amount — it's consistency. A $50/month automatic contribution started today, given enough time and compound growth, can meaningfully outperform a larger one-time amount invested years later, simply because time in the market is the dominant variable.
Someone Waiting Until They Have "Enough" to Start: The data doesn't support waiting — fractional shares mean there's no meaningful minimum threshold left.
Someone With Only a Small Amount to Invest: Consistency matters more than starting size — a small, automated recurring contribution compounds meaningfully over time.
Start With What You Actually Have
- Confirm the amount is comfortable to have invested, not money needed soon.
- Use fractional shares if the amount is small.
- Prioritize starting consistency over waiting for a larger lump sum.
See fractional shares explained and the power of compound growth.
