Charles Schwab requires $0 to open a standard brokerage account or IRA. There is no minimum deposit — you can open with $0 and invest whenever you’re ready. Schwab’s index mutual funds start at $1, and Schwab Stock Slices allows fractional investing in S&P 500 stocks from $5.
Schwab Account Minimums at a Glance
| Account Type | Minimum to Open | Ongoing Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Standard brokerage | $0 | $0 |
| Traditional IRA | $0 | $0 |
| Roth IRA | $0 | $0 |
| Custodial account | $0 | $0 |
| Margin account | $2,000 | $2,000 equity |
| Intelligent Portfolios (robo-advisor) | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Intelligent Portfolios Premium | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Schwab Managed Portfolios | $25,000 | $25,000 |
Schwab Index Fund Minimums: From $1
Schwab’s proprietary index mutual funds have a $1 minimum investment, making them the most accessible mutual funds in the industry alongside Fidelity ZERO funds:
| Fund | Expense Ratio | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| SWPPX — S&P 500 Index | 0.02% | $1 |
| SWISX — International Index | 0.06% | $1 |
| SWSSX — Small-Cap Index | 0.03% | $1 |
| SWAGX — Aggregate Bond Index | 0.04% | $1 |
With $1 minimums and expense ratios as low as 0.02%, Schwab index funds are a compelling option for IRA investors who want to invest every dollar including small amounts.
Schwab Stock Slices: Fractional S&P 500 Investing
Schwab’s Stock Slices program lets you invest as little as $5 in any S&P 500 company in fractional dollar amounts. You can buy up to 30 S&P 500 stocks in a single transaction.
This is useful for investors who want exposure to high-priced stocks — Amazon, Alphabet, or Nvidia — without needing to buy a full share. Note that Stock Slices is limited to S&P 500 stocks. For fractional ETF investing, Fidelity is more flexible.
ETF Minimums at Schwab
Schwab ETFs (SCHB, SCHX, SCHF, SCHZ) require the price of one full share with no fractional support through standard orders. However, prices are typically affordable:
- SCHB (US Broad Market ETF): ~$25–$30/share
- SCHF (International ETF): ~$35–$40/share
- SCHZ (Bond ETF): ~$45–$55/share
These low share prices make full deployment of contributions practical even without fractional shares.
Intelligent Portfolios: The $5,000 Threshold
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios is one of the best robo-advisor values available — $0 management fee — but requires $5,000 to start. The portfolio is automatically built and rebalanced across 20+ asset classes.
A key nuance: Intelligent Portfolios holds a cash allocation of roughly 6–10% that earns interest Schwab keeps. On a $10,000 account, $600–$1,000 may sit in cash rather than invested. This is how the $0 fee model is funded.
See the full Schwab Intelligent Portfolios review for a complete analysis.
How Schwab Compares on Minimums
| Broker | Account Minimum | Index Fund Min | Fractional Shares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab | $0 | $1 (index mutual funds) | Yes (S&P 500 stocks via Stock Slices) |
| Fidelity | $0 | $0 (ZERO funds) | Yes (all US stocks/ETFs) |
| Vanguard | $0 | $1,000–$3,000 (mutual funds) | No |
| E*TRADE | $0 | Varies by fund | Yes (S&P 500 stocks) |
| Merrill Edge | $0 | Varies by fund | No |
Schwab and Fidelity are the most accessible brokers for small starting balances. Fidelity has a slight edge due to ZERO funds and fractional ETF support.
For the full comparison, see Fidelity vs Schwab.
Trading Costs After You Open
- Stocks and ETFs: $0 commission
- Options: $0.65 per contract
- NTF mutual funds: $0
- Non-NTF mutual funds: $49.95 transaction fee
- Bonds: $1 per bond ($10 minimum, $250 maximum)
See the full Schwab fees guide.
How to Open a Schwab Account With No Minimum
- Go to schwab.com and click “Open an Account”
- Select account type (brokerage, IRA, custodial)
- Enter Social Security number and personal details
- Link your bank account for funding
- Deposit any amount — even $1 for index funds — or fund later
Approval is typically same-day. ACH transfers take 1–3 business days to settle.
Bottom Line
Schwab’s $0 account minimum and $1 index fund minimum make it one of the most accessible brokers for new investors. The main minimums to know: $5,000 for Intelligent Portfolios and $2,000 for margin accounts. For everyday IRA and ETF investing, any amount works.
For the full Schwab overview, see the Charles Schwab Review 2026.
The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy