It is easy to be sold more than you need, and equally easy to launch missing something that turns out to be load-bearing. This is a checklist organised by when you actually need it.
Essential before you take a single client
- Trading platform — own server or white-label arrangement.
- Manager access — you must be able to create and configure accounts.
- Client portal — registration, KYC submission, account overview, funding requests.
- CRM and admin — client records, document review, funding approvals, role separation.
- Payments — at least one working deposit and withdrawal route, tested with real money.
Missing any of these means you cannot operate. The last one is worth emphasising: test withdrawal end to end with real money before you open. A broker that cannot pay a client out is a broker with a reputation problem measured in days.
Effectively essential in a competitive market
- WebTrader — removes the install step from your conversion funnel.
- Branded mobile app — in many markets this is the primary client interface.
- IB and commission system — if partners are your distribution, this is not optional.
You can technically launch without these. In most markets you will be competing against brokers who have them.
Products that can follow
- Copy trading — strong retention and differentiation, but not a launch blocker.
- MAM and PAMM — needed when you start onboarding professional managers.
- Custom modules — build these once you know what your business actually needs, not before.
Questions worth asking any vendor
- 1What happens when an operation against the trading platform times out?
- 2Can I see who approved a withdrawal and when?
- 3Can support staff be prevented from approving payouts?
- 4Can partners see their own commission numbers without asking my team?
- 5Can I export my client and account data if I leave?
- 6What is configuration and what is custom development, for my specific requirements?
The answers to these tell you considerably more than a feature comparison will.
Ask us these questions directly
We would rather answer them now than have you discover the answers later.