What is Minimum Investment?

Minimum investment is the least amount of money an investor must invest to take part in a specific investment.

How Does Minimum Investment Work?

Many types of investments have a minimum investment, including mutual funds, certificates of deposit (CDs), unit trusts, limited partnerships and hedge funds. Minimum investment can range from a few hundred dollars to several million dollars, depending on the investment.

Why Does Minimum Investment Matter?

By requiring a minimum investment, investment managers can put a barrier in front of short-term investors who may be inclined to jump in and out of a fund at a moment's notice. It helps provide a certain amount of consistency to the fund manager -- he/she should have a rough idea of how much money is in the fund and available to invest.