I started with TDameritrade, they have cheaper ones out there but, It was recommended to me by a trader, because it is 9.99 for all trades, they don't sell your info to solicitors.

1. Open an Account with TD ameritrade
2. Start with 2,000 because they will give you 30 free trades(trades are a buy and a sell) $9.99 per trade. You can make trades and it will not cost you, A good way to learn with out paying for it. (I started with 2,000 then I added a lot more)

3. You have to do your homework. "A leader has the right to be beaten, but never the right to be surprised."-- Napoleon Bonaparte

We are in a bear market not a bull market, things are cheap but unpredictable and a little risky. Things seem to be picking up and stabilizing but we are not there yet. A bull market has more trends, fundamental, less risky.

4. Buy low sell high, Example DRYS is at $7 I watched it go from $8 to 4.80 now it is back to 7

This is how you limit your risk. I would invest $2,000 in DRYS you don't know where the stock is going to go, unit it goes there, then it's too late, you have to do your homework everyday, read all about the company, all its news, read all the SEC filings. A company is required to report everything to the SEC. Never spend all your money at one price, I would buy some at 7, a 50 shares at 7, then 100 shares at 6, 200 shares at 5. Your average cost per share will be a lot less than 7, it will be closer to 5, but by the time it hits 5 it should get ready to make a turn to the upside, soon it will go back to 8 dollars and you would make a quick 1,000. As you know , the higher the risk the higher the reward.