If you’re just getting started in the markets and staring at a tiny account balance, it’s easy to feel like the odds are stacked against you.
You might be wondering if it’s even worth it…
Are you wasting your time?
Or is there any path forward when you’ve got more ambition than capital?
My answer to the first question is, ”No, not at all…”
And to the second, it’s a resounding “Yes!!”
First off, it doesn’t take much capital to use my Monday Setup…
Don’t already know about this pattern? Listen up!
Every Monday, the market kicks back into gear after a weekend of rest… And that reset creates a unique opportunity!
As the first session of the week gets started, we look for a very specific pattern that often shows up like clockwork.
And it has delivered some incredible wins!
Look at yesterday morning…
Biopharma Soligenix (NASDAQ) gained an incredible 144%* after announcing a promising FDA designation for one of its treatments.
These are the kinds of morning spikes we hunt for every Monday!
Want to learn how to spot them for yourself?
Watch the video below for the full trade breakdown and strategy tutorial for my Monday Setup.
If your account is small, I get it — I’ve been there.
But what if I told you that the real advantage isn’t in the size of your account…
Stick with me because what I’m about to show you could completely shift how you approach trading.
Table of Contents
Start Day Trading With Just $100
Can you start day trading with just $100?
The short answer is, yes.
Are you going to retire with $100?
No.
Are you going to buy a yacht, a vacation home, or a Lambo with a few quick trades?
Nope.
But here’s what you can do…
You can start learning how to trade. You can build habits. You can develop a system that might one day allow you to scale up.
I’ve said it a million times and I’ll keep saying it: Your #1 goal as a new trader is not to make money.
Your #1 goal is to learn how to trade.
If you focus on the right things early, even with just $100, you can absolutely build a foundation that sets you up for long-term success.
Step 1: Understand What You’re Really Doing Here
You’re not just trading, you’re building skills.
Yes, that $100 account might grow to $500 in six months. But more importantly, you’ll have six months of market experience, chart time, and lessons under your belt. And that’s priceless.
Focus on staying in the game and building discipline. The money comes later.
Step 2: Learn Chart Patterns
When we talk about day trading, we’re talking about repeatable price action.
Key levels like:
- Red-to-green moves
- Previous day highs
- VWAP bounces
- Whole and half-dollar breaks
- Low-of-day bounces
These are setups you can study, recognize, and trade with confidence.
The patterns I traded 20 years ago still work today.
Day trading is one of the few places where history really does repeat itself, over and over again.
Learn the patterns. Start recognizing them. That’s how you build success.
Step 3: Focus on Percentages, Not Dollars
This is important, especially when you’re starting with a small account.
Let’s say you make $30 on a trade. I know, that’s not life-changing money. It can barely even cover lunch these days.
But what if that was a 30% return in one hour?
Now that’s a win.
It’s not about the dollar amount but about the percentage gain and the process. If you keep making those kinds of trades, and your account grows, then your profits will grow too.
One day, that same setup could make you $300. Or $3,000…
But it starts with focusing on good trades, not flashy P&L screenshots that you see from the big shots on social media.
Step 4: Develop Market Awareness
News moves stocks, especially the low-priced, volatile ones we love to day trade.
That’s why I love the Breaking News Chat tool inside the StocksToTrade platform.
It’s run by two market veterans with 25+ years of experience each. They filter out the noise and deliver actionable headlines in real time.
Knowing what’s moving a stock gives you a major advantage against other traders.
Right now, get two weeks of both Breaking News Chat AND the StocksToTrade platform for $17.
Grab your 14-day StocksToTrade + Breaking News Chat trial today for only $17.
Step 5: Risk Management Is Everything
If you’re trading without a stop loss, you’re not trading. You’re gambling.
Especially with a $100 account, you cannot afford to blow up on one trade. One bad move without a stop, and it’s game over.
Never enter a trade without a stop loss in place.
I don’t care if it’s a penny below your entry or a full dollar. You need a clear line where you say, “I was wrong and I’m out.”
Professional traders don’t avoid losses. They manage them.
Step 6: Build a Watchlist and Set Alerts
Many of the biggest movers we trade are multi-day runners. That means they keep showing up… but most traders forget about them after day one.
Don’t be that trader.
Use tools like StocksToTrade to set alerts on the biggest movers from previous days. That way, when the setup comes back, you’re ready before the crowd.
You don’t need to manually scan 500 stocks every day. Let STT’s built-in scanners do the heavy lifting and help you create a watchlist.
My Final Thoughts…
You can start trading with $100…
But you can’t expect to get rich overnight.
Focus on building good habits. Stick to the process. Learn the patterns. Use the tools. Respect your stops. And stay in the game.
Success doesn’t come from chasing…
Success comes from showing up, day after day, and making smart decisions.
You’ve got $100? Great.
That’s enough to start learning to trade like a pro.
Now, get to work!
Have a great day, everyone. See you back here tomorrow.
Tim Bohen
Lead Trainer, StocksToTrade
P.S.
Learn how to properly scale into winning trades.
These are the charts to trade… and the ones to avoid.
Here’s how you can grow your small account.