In my opinion you should actually try to open a PDT account with a decent amount above $25k such as $30k or more. If you open with just $25k then data fees and/or platform fees will take you under $25k and your Acct will be restricted. Also good to have at least $5k (Or more) buffer in general above PDT $25k threshold
That's best, of course. It is pretty hard for some folks to raise that much disposable cash, though. And some peeps just don't want to put that much money into it, but have all the time in the world to trade up. Also, learning to trade live, with real money, can be a perilous process. If you start with $5k and blow your account, you are only out $5k and you can always start over after saving up the coin to re-fund. Or just stay out of trading and only be out a small sum of money. But yeah if possible, definitely just go in with $30k or so and try to contain the losses during the learning process by playing small positions with minimal risk. unfortunately I didn't do that last year, though I started out that way. I was doing really well last year with a $50k account and I got a grandiose idea for a campaign that ended up losing nearly half my account because not only was I very stubborn about bailing out, but the whole play was all about high risk on a bet that should have made me a good pile of money. Contrast that to this year when I started with $2k and yeah I have about $12k of my money in there now, but I am also up over $1k profit and doing a pretty good job of riding this powerful bull market now that I have really found my pace again. PDT hurts and it has cost me a couple thou when I wasn't able to bail out of a trade, but I am living with it. And I have $9k in another account that will be seeing some action when the most recent deposit settles, giving me twice as many day trades. I could take the same approach with two $2k accounts. Not enough profit to live on, but enough to grow the accounts if I can keep them averaging 1% per day. If the market stays bullish long enough, I will be trading with the big kids again in two or three months. If not, well we will see how well I can run with the bears.
Sometimes the best option isn't an option. But trading over the PDT threshhold is definitely easier, that's a fact. I really miss being able to get in and out of a position multiple times in a day, and being able to sell off at the closing bell. Holding even a "sure thing" overnight definitely adds risk to the play.
My needs are simple and I had a fair amount of cash in personal checking. Mrs Monster said she would not raise a fuss if I used money out of checking to trade with, or proceeds from selling the big boat (we had three, and I just divested us of two of them) which I do not want to sell. If I wanted to sell it I would immediately be trading with a full day trader account but this way, in my situation and in light of my preferences, is the best way FOR ME. And for some others. Not for everyone.
