MonsteadpeakThe strongest argument for a small first deposit has nothing to do with markets. You are testing a process - signup, verification, funding, a first position and, most importantly, a withdrawal - and that test should cost as little as possible.
Run the full loop at the minimum deposit of £190. Deposit, wait, withdraw part of it, and check how long the money takes to return and whether it comes back to the method you used. A platform that handles a small withdrawal cleanly is one worth trusting with more.
Only after that round trip does it make sense to think about size, and even then in steps rather than in one move. A larger deposit does not make a strategy safer; it only makes the same outcome larger in both directions.
Why the first deposit sets the tone
The first deposit sets a habit. An amount chosen because it is comfortable tends to be followed by calm decisions; an amount chosen because it felt like the ceiling tends to be followed by pressured ones.
A sensible starting point
Money you would not need back within a year, in an amount whose loss would be annoying rather than damaging. That is a personal figure and nobody else can set it for you.
Adding to it later
Topping up a balance you already understand and trust is a far stronger position than starting large and learning afterwards.
Questions worth asking before you send anything
How do I withdraw, and to where? What is deducted, and by whom? Who do I contact if something looks wrong? A platform that answers all three clearly and in writing is behaving as it should.
Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of some or all of the capital you invest. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you originally put in. You should not invest money you cannot afford to lose.