$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 now offer fractional shares, so $100 buys a piece of a fund or stock 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 credit card at 24% beats almost any investment return). See debt payoff and budgeting first.
Open a brokerage account, or better, a Roth IRA for tax-free growth if you're investing for retirement. The process is online and takes minutes.
Rather than pick stocks, most beginners start with a broad, low-fee index fund or ETF — one purchase spreads your $100 across hundreds of companies, cutting single-stock risk. Watch the expense ratio; lower is better.
Set an automatic monthly contribution, even $50–$100. Consistent buying through ups and downs (dollar-cost averaging) beats waiting for the "right" time, which no one can call.
At a ~7% average annual return, $100/month is roughly $17,000 in 10 years and over $120,000 in 30 — most of it growth, not deposits. That's compounding, and it's why starting early matters more than starting big — see how much to save by age.