$100 is enough to start, because fractional shares let you buy a slice of anything. What matters isn't the amount — it's starting and adding consistently. Educational only, not financial advice.
Most major brokerages offer fractional shares, so $100 buys a piece of a fund that costs more per share. There's no minimum wealth required to begin — only to begin well.
Before investing, keep a small emergency buffer and knock out high-interest debt — a card at 24% beats almost any investment return. Budgeting and debt payoff come before the brokerage.
Open a brokerage, or better a Roth IRA for tax-free growth. Rather than pick stocks, most beginners start with a broad, low-fee index fund — one purchase spreads your $100 across hundreds of companies. Watch the expense ratio; lower is better.
Set an automatic monthly contribution, even $50–$100, and buy through ups and downs. At a ~7% average return, $100/month is roughly $17,000 in 10 years and over $120,000 in 30 — most of it growth, not deposits. Starting early beats starting big.