Risk four ticks per trade and two percent of the account, and you only need to maintain a balance of $2,500. Some futures brokers require a $10,000 minimum deposit to start day trading futures. Check with potential brokers for such limits.
https://www.thebalance.com/minimum-capital-required-to-start-day-trading-futures-1031173
Getting Started in Options Trading. To start trading options, you will need to have a trading account with an options brokerage. Once you have setup your account, you can then place options trades with your broker who will execute it on your behalf.
http://www.theoptionsguide.com/getting-started-in-options-trading.aspx
Initial margin is the amount needed to open a futures position, and the amount varies with the type of futures contract and the policies of the futures exchange. For instance, the initial margin on an S&P; 500 index futures contract worth $350,000 is $19,250 on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
http://finance.zacks.com/much-money-needed-start-trading-futures-5965.html
Initial Margin. Margin is cash you deposit in your futures brokerage account to partially pay for your trades. In futures trading, you must put down from 2 to 10 percent of the contract value as margin, which acts as collateral and is mandated by the futures exchanges.
http://finance.zacks.com/much-money-needed-start-trading-futures-5965.html
Before even discussing the minimum starting capital for day trading futures, risk management needs to be addressed. Day traders shouldn't risk more than one percent of their account on any single trade. If trading a $10,000 account, that means the maximum loss a trader should take is $100 on any given trade.
https://www.thebalance.com/minimum-capital-required-to-start-day-trading-futures-1031173
To trade two contracts the recommended amount is $7,500 and to trade three contracts the recommended balance is $11,250. By allowing risk to equal two percent of the account instead of one percent, the recommended day trading account minimum is reduced by half.
https://www.thebalance.com/minimum-capital-required-to-start-day-trading-futures-1031173
What is the minimum account you recommend to start day trading? Scared money is money that a trader cannot lose because it is needed for something else; for example, money needed to pay the rent, money needed to feed the family, money needed to pay the bills, cash advances from credit cards, money obtained from loans, etc.
http://www.mydaytradingtutor.com/daytrading-minimum-account/
There are a variety of online brokers, like Scottrade for example, that let you set up an account with very little money. I would encourage you to speak with a CFP professional to get some perspective and objective advice, perhaps it will help you crystallize how you should set up and fund your trading account.
http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/08/minimum-amounts-of-money-to-start-trading.asp
Minimum Deposit. There is usually a minimum deposit required to open a trading account. The amount required depends on the type of account that you are opening as well as the brokerage firm. Little or no deposit is required to open a cash account while federal regulations require a deposit of at least $2000 to open a margin-enabled account.
http://www.theoptionsguide.com/getting-started-in-options-trading.aspx
For example, a brokerage may say that you need a minimum of $3,000 to open a margin account, the type of account you would need to make short sale trades or to purchase or sell options. For a good start, be sure to look out for account minimums at the brokerages you investigate. This number usually is set for a reason because it is in the brokerage's best interest to keep you trading for as long as possible to ensure that they continue to collect commissions.
http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/08/minimum-amounts-of-money-to-start-trading.asp
minimum amount in account to start trading options
The minimum amount in account to start trading options is $3,000. The minimum amount in account to start trading options is $3,000.   