This is not investment advice. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any financial product.
Zero is the new standard for brokerage account minimums. Every major US broker now lets you open an account with no deposit. The real minimum is what you need to buy your first investment.
Account minimums by broker
| Broker | Standard Account | Margin Account | IRA | Robo-Advisor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | $0 (Fidelity Go) |
| Charles Schwab | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | $5,000 (Intelligent Portfolios) |
| Interactive Brokers | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | N/A |
| Robinhood | $0 | $2,000 (Gold) | $0 | N/A |
| Vanguard | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | $3,000 (Digital Advisor) |
| Webull | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | N/A |
| E*TRADE | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | $500 (Core Portfolios) |
| SoFi Invest | $0 | N/A | $0 | $0 (Automated) |
What you can buy with different amounts
| Deposit | What You Can Do |
|---|---|
| $1 | Buy fractional shares of VTI, VOO, AAPL at Fidelity or Robinhood |
| $5 | Buy fractional shares at Schwab or Webull |
| $100 | Buy a full share of most mid-cap stocks |
| $500 | Buy a full share of VOO or most ETFs; meet most robo-advisor minimums |
| $2,000 | Open a margin account at any broker |
| $3,000 | Buy Vanguard mutual fund Admiral shares |
Practical minimums beyond the account
Stock price. Without fractional shares, you need enough for one full share. Apple trades around $200-250. Amazon trades around $200. One share of each requires that amount in your account.
ETF price. VTI trades around $250-300. VOO around $500. With fractional shares, this is irrelevant — you invest $5 and get a fraction.
Mutual fund minimums. Fidelity Zero funds: $0. Vanguard Admiral shares: $3,000 initial, then $1 minimum. Schwab funds: $1 minimum. Most brokers require an initial deposit of $500-$3,000 for non-proprietary mutual funds.
Robo-advisor minimums. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios requires $5,000. Vanguard Digital Advisor requires $3,000. E*TRADE Core Portfolios requires $500. Fidelity Go charges no fee and has no minimum.
Common questions
Is there any benefit to depositing more than the minimum? Larger deposits unlock margin trading (over $2,000), portfolio margin (over $100,000), and lower margin rates at tiered brokers.
Can I open an account without depositing anything? Yes, at every major broker. You open the account, link your bank, and can browse the platform without funding. You only need to deposit when you are ready to buy.
Does the account minimum include the investments I buy? No. The minimum is the cash deposit required to open the account. Once the account is open, your investments are in addition to this.
Where to start
If you have under $100, choose a broker with $1 fractional shares: Fidelity or Robinhood. If you have over $2,000 and want margin, Interactive Brokers has the lowest rates.