Yes. Many modern brokerages have no minimum deposit requirements and offer commission-free trading, making it easy to start investing with as little as $1000—or even less. Thanks to fractional shares, you can also buy into expensive stocks without needing to purchase a full share.

One of the simplest ways for beginners to start investing is by opening an account with a discount brokerage. Retirement accounts such as IRAs are especially useful since they provide tax advantages while helping you grow wealth over time. Many brokers now offer low-cost or even free account options.

While it isn’t possible to invest with absolutely no money, you can begin with very small amounts. Many online brokers allow you to open an account with no minimum balance and offer commission-free trades, so even small deposits can be put to work in the stock market.

Investing helps your money grow instead of losing value over time due to inflation. Keeping savings in cash means it slowly declines in purchasing power, while even conservative investments can generate returns. Over time, compounding allows your gains to build on themselves, creating long-term financial growth.

The best time to start investing is as early as possible. Thanks to the power of compounding—where your returns generate additional returns—the sooner you begin, the more time your money has to grow and multiply.

In the U.S., major stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq are open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Trading hours differ around the world, and markets may close on national holidays.