Optencis
Invest 1 to 2% of your trading capital per trade, keep that amount for the whole session, and start your first live trades at 1%. It is the same rule as in classic trading, and it is what lets you survive the losing streaks that every trader goes through. Enter your capital in the calculator to get your amount.
Trade size calculator
The amount stays the same all session: you only recalculate it when your capital changes.
Start from your trading capital
Your trading capital is the money you set aside for trading and could lose entirely without changing your life: not your savings, not money for rent or bills. Everything is calculated from this amount, and only from it.
Why 1 to 2%
Losing streaks are normal, even with a good method: a run of 6 or 7 losses happens to every trader sooner or later. Here is what 7 losses in a row do to your capital, depending on the share you put on each trade (the amount is recalculated on what remains):
| Share per trade | After 7 losses in a row | Gain needed to get back |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | −6.8% | +7.3% |
| 2% | −13.2% | +15.2% |
| 5% | −30.2% | +43.2% |
| 10% | −52.2% | +109.1% |
At 1 or 2%, a long streak is a bad afternoon. At 10%, it is half your account, and you need to double what is left just to get back to where you started.
Keep the same amount all session
Write your amount down before you start, and do not change it during the session: not after a loss to “win it back”, not after a win because you feel confident. Increasing the amount after losses is the martingale, which turns rare losing streaks into large losses: see why the martingale ruins accounts. Recalculate your amount only when your capital has changed, for example once a week.
Set a daily stop
Decide in advance when you stop for the day: for example after 3 losing trades, which is 6% of your capital at 2% per trade. When you reach it, you close the platform and come back the next day. A daily stop protects you from the urge to win back losses, the most expensive habit in trading. Our lesson on trade size and daily limits goes into detail.
Small capital and the minimum trade
Platforms set a minimum amount per trade, often $1. With $50 of capital, $1 is already 2% per trade; below $50, even the minimum is above 2%. With a very small capital, the honest options are to practise on a demo account first, or to accept a higher share knowing that a losing streak will cost more.
Start live at 1%
Your first real trades test your routine, not your luck. Start at 1% of your capital, on the setups that proved themselves on demo, with the same rules. Move to 2% only once your journal confirms your results over enough trades. Our 30-day plan shows each step.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a beginner invest per trade?
1% of their trading capital for the first live trades, then 1 to 2% once their results hold over enough trades. On a $400 capital, that is $4 to $8 per trade.
Should I increase my amount after a win?
Not during the session. Recalculate your amount from your capital at fixed times, for example every week, whether you are up or down.
How much capital do I need to start?
There is no right amount: only money you can afford to lose entirely. What matters is that each trade stays a small share of it.
The amount per trade does not change the odds: to be ahead, your win rate must still beat your break-even win rate. Binary options are high-risk products: you can lose all the money you invest.
