How To Open A Trading Account

Most often, stock broking firms have thousands of clients. It is not feasible to take physical orders from every client on time. So, to make this process seamless, you open a trading account. Using this account, you can place buy or sell orders either online or by phone, which will automatically be directed to the exchange through the stock broker.

Steps To Open A Trading Account?

Step 1: Selecting The Right Stockbroker Choosing the right stocker is the first step to open a trading account. While selecting a stockbroker, make sure the broker holds a good reputation and will take your orders in a timely manner. This is important because even a few minutes can change the stock price.

Step 2: Compare The Brokerage Rates Brokerage rates impact the cost of trading. Hence it is crucial to compare the brokerage rates. Every broker charges a certain fee for processing your orders. However, charges may vary from broker to broker.

Step 3: Explore Discounted Brokerage Options Some brokers give discounts on the basis of the amount of the trades conducted. Yet, it is not necessary to choose a broker who charges the lowest fees. Good brokerage services might charge a higher fee. Furthermore, you can even pay the brokerage in advance to avoid any more fees. Here you can explore Kotak Security's advanced brokerage.

Step 4: Get In Touch With The Selected Brokerage Firm Next, thing is to enquire about the trading account opening procedure with your broker. Often, the firm would send a representative to your house with the account opening form and the Know Your Client (KYC) form.

Step 5: Fill Account Opening And KYC Form Fill out the account opening and KYC form. Make sure to submit documents that serve as your identity proof.

Step 6: Application Verification Process During the verification process, you'll be asked to provide your personal details either in person or over the phone.

Step 7: Getting Trading Account Details Once processed, you will be given your trading accounts details. You can now trade stocks.

Document Required To Open Trading Account

Just like the procedure for opening a demat account, you need to submit proof of identity and address along with a passport size photograph and the account opening form for opening a trading account. Here is a broad list of documents that can be used as proofs:

• Proof Of Identity

PAN card, voter's ID, passport, driver's licence, bank attestation, IT returns, electricity bill, telephone bill, ID cards with applicant's photo issued by the central or state government and its departments, statutory or regulatory authorities, public sector undertakings (PSUs), scheduled commercial banks, public financial institutions, colleges affiliated to universities, or professional bodies such as ICAI, ICWAI, ICSI, bar council etc.

• Proof Of Address

Ration card, passport, voter ID card, driving licence, bank passbook or bank statement, verified copies of electricity bills, residence telephone bills, leave and licence agreement or agreement for sale, self-declaration by High Court or Supreme Court judges, identity card or a document with address issued by the central or state government and its departments, statutory or regulatory authorities, public sector undertakings (PSUs), scheduled commercial banks, public financial institutions, colleges affiliated to universities and professional bodies such as ICAI, ICWAI, Bar Council etc.

Trading Account Charges

Stockbrokers often charge different trading fees for different kinds of transactions. Trading account fees and charges are one of the main sources of revenue for brokers. Here are the various trading account charges that investors like you will have to pay.

1. Trading Account Processing Charges An account processing charge is a nominal fee applied to the processing of your trading account application. Apart from a few entities, not many stockbrokers impose these charges on trading accounts.

2. Trading Account Opening Charges Stockbrokers charge a one-time account opening fee when opening a trading account. The price can range from Rs. 500 to Rs. 999, excluding GST and other taxes. Trading account opening fees are usually waived by most stockbrokers.

3. Trading Account Maintenance Charges (AMCs) This fee is imposed by the stockbroker annually for maintaining the trading account and providing trading account services. Quite a few stockbrokers don't charge this fee, as with other trading account fees.

4. Fund Transfer Charges To buy shares and other securities via the stock exchanges, you must first transfer funds into your trading account. Whenever you transfer funds from your bank account to your trading account, brokers charge you a nominal fee. The broker levies these fees to offset the costs associated with the fund transfer payment gateway.

5. Brokerage Charges One of the most important charges associated with a trading account is brokerage. Stockbrokers charge brokerage for every buy and sell transaction you make through your trading account. Depending on the stockbroker, you may be liable to pay different amounts of brokerage per transaction. It may be charged as a flat rate per transaction or as a percentage of the total transaction value.

6. Securities Transaction Tax (STT) Stockbrokers do not charge STT as part of their trading account charges. Rather, it is the tax that every trader and investor must pay to the government on their purchases and sales of securities. Depending on the trade segment, STT rates vary.

7. Transaction Charges Each time you make a trade, the broker charges you a transaction charge. Even though these charges are levied by the stockbroker, they are actually paid to the stock exchange where the trade was executed. According to the stock exchange and the trade segment, these charges are based on a percentage of the total trade value.

8. Auto Square-off Charges In case of intraday trades, you must close out all open positions by 3:20 PM (IST). Stockbrokers automatically square off open positions if they remain open beyond the stipulated time. However, brokers generally charge a nominal fee for activating their auto square-off mechanisms. Auto square-off fees usually range from Rs.40 to Rs.60 per transaction.

9. Off-Market Transfer Charges In an off-market transfer, securities are transferred from one demat account to another without the involvement of the stock exchange. A nominal fee is charged by the stockbroker for such transactions.

10. Delayed Payment Charges Your broker will charge you delayed payment fees if your trading account has a negative fund balance. A percentage of your negative fund balance is charged every day until your account is cleared.

11. Physical Client Master Report (CMR) Charges A Client Master Report (CMR) contains key information such as the name of the client, address as per the broker's records, date of birth, demat ID, BO ID, nomination details, and bank information.

CMRs are usually issued as digitally signed PDF documents. If you would like a physical copy of the CMR, you can request it as well. Such requests are typically charged by stockbrokers. The trading account fee includes printing charges, courier charges, and GST.