The capital required to start trading depends entirely on the financial instrument, the chosen brokerage platform, and your personal risk tolerance. Many modern online brokerages allow individuals to open accounts with minimal deposits, sometimes as low as ten or one hundred dollars, or even trade fractional shares. However, starting with a very small sum limits diversification and can make it difficult to manage risk effectively, especially when factoring in commission fees and spreads. Experts generally recommend starting with an amount you can afford to completely lose, and many platforms offer simulated demo accounts so beginners can practice executing orders without risking real capital.