The minimum financial amount required to purchase shares of stock depends entirely on the specific brokerage platform used, the share price of the target company, and whether the broker permits fractional share investing. Many modern online brokerages allow investors to start buying stocks with as little as one dollar through fractional share programs, enabling individuals to own a slice of high-priced companies without purchasing a whole share. For traditional brokerages requiring whole shares, the minimum investment is simply the current market price of one single share of the chosen company. Additionally, investors must account for any potential account minimums, currency conversion fees, or exchange trading commissions imposed by their financial institution.