For most international shares, the minimum buy order on CMC Invest is A$1,000.
However, eligible US shares and ETFs on our Single Share list are different. Instead of investing a minimum of A$1,000, you can buy as little as a single share. There are more than 75 eligible US companies and ETFs available, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Tesla and Nvidia.
How much you'll need depends on the share price. Keep in mind that when you buy a US share, your Australian dollars are converted into US dollars, so the amount you pay will vary with the exchange rate.
For example, Apple was trading at around US$300 at the time of writing, so buying one share would cost approximately A$430 at the current exchange rate.
By comparison, SoFi Technologies was trading at around US$18, or approximately A$26.
The important takeaway is that you don't necessarily need thousands of dollars to start investing. While your first investment in an ASX-listed share or ETF requires a minimum of A$500, some eligible US Single Share investments on CMC Invest can let you get started for less than $50. Keep in mind that brokerage and foreign exchange fees may apply, so check out our pricing page to understand the costs before you invest.
Are you financially ready to invest?
Meeting minimum investment amounts is one thing. Being financially ready to invest is another.
Just because you can invest doesn't always mean you should.
Investing works best when it's money you won't need in the immediate future.
Many financial experts suggest building an emergency fund first. This is simply money set aside for unexpected expenses like losing your job, major car repairs or medical bills. A common guideline is to have around three to six months of essential living expenses available in cash before investing.
If you're relying on your investments to pay next month's rent or cover other essential expenses, you could be putting yourself in a difficult position.
Share markets have historically trended higher over the long term, but that doesn't mean they rise every week, every month or even every year. There will be periods when your investments fall in value. That's a normal part of investing. It's much easier to ride out those ups and downs when you don't need to access that money in the short term.
Your income matters more than your starting balance
One of the biggest mindset shifts new investors can make is realising that your future savings often matter far more than your current savings.
Imagine two people. One starts with $5,000 but never invests another dollar. The other starts with $500 but continues investing every month for the next 30 years. In many cases, the second person ends up building significantly more wealth because they kept contributing over time.
That's why a better question than "How much money do I need to start investing?" is, "How much can I realistically invest on a regular basis?" Building a consistent investing habit is often more important than the size of your very first investment.
Does investing $100 even matter?
Realistically, $100 isn't going to change your life on its own. But that's not really the point.
Your first investment is less about making money and more about learning how investing works. You learn how to research companies or ETFs, place your first trade, and experience what it feels like when markets rise and fall. Those lessons are difficult to learn without actually participating.
Think of your first investment as paying a small amount of tuition to develop a skill that could benefit you for decades.
If you're just starting out
There are times when investing might not be the right priority. If you're studying full-time, working casually or only just covering your living expenses, forcing yourself to invest could create unnecessary financial stress.
Building a stable income, paying off high interest debt and establishing healthy savings can often put you in a much stronger position before you begin investing. Ideally, investing should sit on top of a solid financial foundation, not replace one.
The bottom line
You don't need a house deposit or tens of thousands of dollars to become an investor. Depending on what you're investing in, you may be able to get started with as little as the cost of a single share.
However, having enough money to place a trade isn't the same as being financially ready to invest. Before you begin, focus on paying off high interest debt, building an emergency fund and investing only money you can afford to leave untouched for the long term.
Above all, remember that consistency matters more than your starting balance. The investors who build wealth over decades usually aren't the ones who began with the most money. They're the ones who kept investing regularly, month after month and year after year.
Ready to make your first investment?
Now that you know how much you need to get started, the next step is deciding what to invest in and how to place your first trade.
Read our guide, How to invest your first $500, for a practical, step-by-step walkthrough that covers choosing an investment, placing your first order and building confidence as a new investor.
New to CMC? Sign up to start investing when you’re ready.
